The Hauraki Gulf, just off Auckland’s eastern coast, contains a collection of islands that serve as ecological and recreational treasures. Rangitoto, with its distinctive symmetrical cone, is the newest and largest of Auckland’s volcanoes. Its neighboring island, Motutapu, offers rolling pastoral landscapes and rich birdlife. Meanwhile, Waiheke Island is a celebrated mix of art, wine, and wilderness — vineyards on one side, native bush on the other.

Further afield, marine reserves like Goat Island and the Poor Knights Islands provide pristine underwater environments where divers and snorkelers can see snapper, stingrays, and colorful reef fish — sometimes alongside dolphins and orcas.