Volcanic Island!

The Rangitoto Volcano is an island near Auckland that has become a tourist attraction accessible by boat only. The island has a strict policy of leaving no man made materials behind to not interact with the natural landscape and you can learn about the different types of rocks, volcanic eruptions and also see great views of Auckland. Ferries to the island start at 9.30 and run until 3.30 and cost around 20 NZ Dollars. The ambience is very calm and there are different hikes that you can do. The ferry terminal is at the main sea terminal in Auckland. I would recommend 2 hours to visit the whole island and you are given a map to show where key points are. My reason to recommend is that it is a slice of quiet haven but still very close to Auckland and cost effective!