RANGITOTO ISLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 89

RANGITOTO ISLAND.

By A. H. Bbbmkeb.

That Auckland is the beet city in New Zealand for one's" headquarters duiinig a iioliday jaunt is, I think, an indubitable fact. In the first place, its climate during tiie holiday season is glorious ; there is no such thing as a cold day in thai favoured spot, nor does one ever feel the heart to lie oppressive. It must be admitted, however, tihat occasionally it blows prertty strongly, but if a place is wanted where sbioqg winds are unknown New Zealand must be left and a spot sought furtiher afield. The chief attractions of Auckland toe its environments. Its picnic grounds and pleasure resorts are legion, and niuAti : fcudes of ferry boots, small, swift, busy, Belf-important little oraft, ply vigorously to and fro between the city and tihe chosen spots of ewsursioniiets. " These picnio resonts are so plentiful thai to visit them all jrould require more time than is usually at the disposal of the holiday-maker, so one must fee satisfied with a trip to the mostinteresting, among whiah is the well-known Rangitoto Island. Situated in the magnificent Waitemoitia Hapbour, about an hour's steaming from Auckland, it is an ideal spot to spend tihe day. The fact of Sts being uninhabited lends additional <jhia.rm and a slight touch of romance t& the outing. It is a real desert island, standing- up like a grim, lone sentinel fruarding fche Approach to, the beautiful city lying at the placid water's edge a few miles away. On tihe south-west of the island is a jetty, yrihere visitors are landed, 'and from which place a sinuous track winding in and out fcbrough a congiomeratioin of lava runs* to the nunmit, 900 ft above sea level, a walk t>i about one mile and a-half. When about .half the distance has been 'traversed a splendid spring enclosed in a footed ooncrobe tank is -reached. .This is I/he hadting 1 place for picnic parties, and all around are- strewn eanpAy bosbfcles and fans, evidence of many an appetising meal, ffhe walls and roof of the. tank are covered iwtih a profusion of names and addresses. Here, written in Bancil, may be seen the „ p-ppellations of visitors from all pax.!* of the pivilieed world. The path, being covered with scoria and lave, is not very even ia walk upon, the scoria, as mar be imagined, being 1 very JJestruetive to footgear. Indeed, strangers in Auckland, on inquiring about Rangiitoto, are usually informed, in addition to other things, that the bootmakers run free excursions to it on account of its leather-wearing propensities. Rougih walking and steep plani/binsr make the ascent of the cone Souther tiresome, but the view gained from {•hot point of vantage far more than eortrpen«utes the excursionist for his exertions. j(>n a dear day the Great Barrier may be elaitdy seen, while ail around the harbour i studded with small islete looking green \&d tropical ; an every nook and cove in ;1m "mainland lies some pretty little yilage/^calm, peaceful, reposeful, glistening n ma sun. *■ Scorea of motor launches go raffing - noisily through tie calm water, - pihdle numerous yacihts, like gigantic whiteAnnged birds, sail majestically along, iddlncr fo the enchantment of the place; ndoed, the whole scene has a fairy-like iftopmn appearance. Methinks one would I ravel many a mile ere a more beautiful X '&&tf than that obtained from the summit igjH Bangitoto Island would be obtained. • Th« crater on top of the island is an one, measuring 200 ft in width and

150 ft in depth. Its sides are covered! with a profusion of rate and bracken, the former when in bloom presenting a glorious appearance. On the north-east aide is a. track leading down to the bottom of the crater, from which place its dep/th may be fully appreciated. On the summit and along the track are wooden seats, on wfaioh the visitors may rest. Like the well, these seats are covered with names, some of them being a complete mass of cuts. The exourfeion boats run on almost every public holiday, and the visitor to Auckland on any such day should avail himself of the opportunity afforded and take a trip to RangAtoto— a trip which he will never regret having taken, and to whioh he will always look baok with pleasant memories.