A Hauraki motu within ferry-ride of Auckland has been selected as one of the best islands in the world. No, there isn't a vineyard in sight but there's plenty of volcanic adventures.
Rangitoto has been selected as one of the world's greatest islands by the Big Seven.
Among the blue shores of the Azores (12) to the frigid archipelago of Iceland (7) - the island was chosen in a poll by the 2.5 million-large social following, the top fifty is a list to suit all tastes.
New kid on the block, the volcanic cone is the youngest of Auckland's many maunga. A youthful 550 years old, the island erupted onto the scene when the rest of the list were already ancient.
Fellow top fifty Ille de Saint Michel (36) in France, already had a medieval Benedictine fort Abbaye du Mont-Saint-Michel on top of it, while Rangitoto was still submerged below Auckland harbour.
Landing at number 28 on the list, the 260-metre cone is hard to ignore.
It quickly became a focal point of the skyline in Tamaki Makaurau.
Reachable by boat or ferry from downtown Auckland today visitors can enjoy the breathtaking walk to the summit, or black lava caves in the pōhutukawa forest.
Doubling up the day-adventure, at low tide Rangitoto is joined to Motutapu Island by the Gardiner Gap causeway.
Across the bay Waiheke - AKA Auckland's wine island - has been snubbed. Popular with by international superstars Justine Beiber and Serena Williams (who accepted a marriage proposal on the island) its accolades include back to back listings in the Travel + Leisure Island awards and place on the Conde Nast Gold list.
However, the masses have chosen the rugged, volcanic Rangitoto over the easy charms of Waiheke.
Also making an appearance in the list is the lagoon of Aitutaki in the Cook Islands. A short hop away from Rarotonga, the desert island is number 24 for its crystal blue lagoon and white sand motus. "what more could you ask from one of the best islands in the world?" ask Big Seven editors.
Top place was taken by Lummi Island near Seattle. The US island has gained huge popularity with American holidaymakers looking for some outdoor adventure during the pandemic.
50 Best Islands 2021
- Côn So'n, Vietnam
- Mallorca, Spain
- Chiloe, Chile
- Paros, Greece
- St. Lucia, Caribbean
- Öland, Sweden
- Tobago
- Formentera, Spain
- Culebra, Puerto Rico
- Koh Rong Samloem, Cambodia
- Cozumel, Mexico
- Jicaro, Nicaragua
- La Digue, Seychelles
- Laucala Island, Fiji
- Mont-Saint-Michel, France
- St. Barts, Caribbean
- Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada
- Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
- Pulau Tengah, Malaysia
- Gozo, Malta
- Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
- Sir Bani Yas – Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Rangitoto Island, New Zealand
- Curaçao
- The Maldives
- Cebu, Philippines
- Aitutaki, The Cook Islands
- Colonsay, Scotland
- Kauai, Hawaii
- Havelock Island, Andaman Islands, India
- Santorini, Greece
- Corsica, France
- Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Ibiza, Spain
- Bali, Indonesia
- The Aran Islands, Ireland
- Capri, Italy
- Koh Tao, Thailand
- Azores, Portugal
- Rawa Island, Malaysia
- Bora Bora, French Polynesia
- Flatey, Iceland
- Barbados
- Pemba Island, Zanzibar
- Fraser Island, Australia
- Korcula, Croatia
- Sommarøy, Norway
- Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu
- Palawan, Philippines
- Lummi Island, Washington