Day 44: Rangitoto Volcano

With our last day in Auckland upon us, we set out at 8:00 for the island of Rangitoto, a mere forty minute ferry ride away. The volcano is said to have finished erupting a mere 600 years ago, and was the result of thousands of years of plastic flow from multiple hot spots on the island. The landscape was unlike any I had ever seen. Large, loose lava rock littered the pathway to the summit, and flora clung to the barren rock in every direction. The hour hike resulted in a beautiful view of the city and the bay out to the Pacific Ocean, and we made our way down, swam at the dock, and returned to a nap and casino night. Lost another NZ$50 or so, and enjoyed several hours of computer black jack and the $2.50 roulette table. I now understand why people are so easily addicted to gambling... I worked on thesis until 3:30 in the morning, as sleep wasn't really an option with the best part of the trip just over the horizon.