Champagne on Rangitoto Island

After my last surgery on 26th June I set myself three goals.
1. Walk 1k from home to the Thai restaurant within a week of leaving hospital.
2. Walk the length and back of Takapuna Beach  within 1 month.
3. Walk to the summit of Rangitoto Island within 3 months.

Yesterday we carried a picnic lunch and a bottle of champagne to the top of Rangitoto to complete the final goal.... with two weeks to go before my three months is up.  On Tuesday we are off to Australia for two months and this week was my last opportunity to achieve goal three. We had planned on going with some friends this weekend, but the weather forecast wasn't looking good.  Yesterday when the day dawned fine without rain on the horizon  we grabbed food, water and champagne, rushed down to Devonport Wharf in time for the 9.25AM ferry and set off. And as much as we missed the company of John and Mo we didn't have to share the champagne.

Rangitoto Island is a 15 minute boat ride across from Auckland. Unspoilt by tourism there are no shops. One set of  toilets at the base of the summit are the only facilities.

At 260 metres it is recommended you allow 1 hour to reach the summit. In the past I've made it there in 45 minutes. Yesterday I was a bit slower at 1 hour 20 minutes. And here was my reward.

Here are a few pics of the walk to the summit. Click on photos to enlarge.