This island is nothing like the Waiheke Island I told you about a few weeks ago. The one with the wine and touristy stuff? Let's just say, we were advised to bring food, water, and toilet paper.
Rangitoto is more the hiking destination. When I say hiking, I mean walking straight up an incline for 45 minutes between dirt and steps.
In order to get there, we had to take a ferry. My host mum offered to drive me to Devonport, where the ferry would then take me across. She suggested we walk up Mount Victoria, also home to Devonport Primary School and The Signalman's House since we were early and overlook the Northshore and islands.
As we trudged up the hill, we passed the Devonport Primary School looped around the trail and the Michael King Writer's Centre diagonal across. The buildings were cute and old looking, but ya, definitely out-of-date color schemes.
Finally reaching the top, I found an old cannon and bunker-type cave above and below the trail. Rock climbing class in high school really did prepare me for this adventure. We snapped a few pictures, including the ones of me on mushrooms posing with Rangitoto Island in the background (ooh, ahh, what foreshadowing)!
All before noon, my host mum and I thought we deserved a little breakfast and well-deserved mimosa before I headed off on my ferry over.
Once we got there, the blood, sweat, and tears came. Okay not really, just a lot of sweating. Let me remind you, it's "winter" here in NZ. I assumed wearing a long sleeve and bringing a jean jacket in case I got chilly was the move. Well, IT WASN'T. Traveling Tip #27: Always check the weather and look up ideal attire for your trip or activity (cruise, hiking, inside/outside). I was dripping sweat because we were really burning calories walking up these trails.
Along the way, we learned a few things:
Make sure you enjoy your water sparingly
Take advantage of rest stops
Look and read the bulletins or info boards
Try routes that look reliable and safe
Wear comfy shoes, layers, and a hat
Make friends because they work as a buddy system and then will invite you out afterward! (no I'm not talking about the old man in the bottom middle picture)
My two friends from America and I met a group of travelers from around the world and got to take turns playing photographer for each other. We stuck together and headed to explore the lava caves after having plenty of time looking over the summit at the top of Rangitoto.
I didn't know much about volcanoes before I got here and now I've stood right on top of like 4 now! It was interesting to learn the cycles and when the last one erupted...just casual things you don't see first-hand in Chicago, I guess (including the silver fern).
After about 8 miles later, we called it a day. Walked out, back down to the wharf and relaxed until the final ferry of the day came. So yeah, if you missed the last one, you better have brought a tent. Traveling Tip #28: Make sure to have accommodation to and from every excursion.
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