Massive sea plane anyone? I wouldn’t mind retiring to one of these.
The two campuses are linked by a very classic tram (trolley) which was rescued from Melbourne's previous tram system and restored.
The next day we took the ferry to Rangitoto. We had originally wanted to go the day before, but our bus never showed up! Apparently the rail worker union was on strike, so buses were diverted to cover the shortfall.
Rangitoto is the newest island in NZ, and still shows plenty of signs of its violent volcanic birth. Starting as a hot spot in the upper mantle, a blob of magma rose to the surface in a few hours, setting off an eruption that raised the seafloor, and formed a the nearly perfect cone of Rangitoto.
Remains of a previous military outpost dot the island. This is the toilet entry arch. The toilets were just seats over the ocean.
Plants have made huge steps towards transforming this once-barren island. On high ground, the nearly bare lava flows remain, though not for long. A triple threat combo of lichens, moss, and alpine plants break down the rock, and start forming topsoil. In less than 800 years, the island has become a forest haven. Invasive pests such as rats and hedgehogs have been eliminated here, and it is a wildlife refuge.
The view from the top was excellent. Here is the crater, just starting to fill in. Less than 50 years ago this was not much more than bare rock.
We also spotted a family of quail wandering about on the trail.
On the “back” side of the island, a partially-collapsed lava tube or cave is open to exploration.
On the way back we spotted the van again, still waiting, with less company than before.
Lots of boat and air traffic to be seen. Several of the islands are inhabited.
It was just a little windy!
Very cool! Definitely would love to see that museum one day!
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