FIELD TRIPS
| Field Trip | Date | Cost | Included | Fitness Level |
| MAGMATIC MYSTERIES: The Secrets of Rangitoto | Saturday 18 October 8.30am – 4pm | $120 + GST | Packed Lunch & Snacks Return Ferry to Rangitoto Bus Transport | Moderate |
| SLIP‘N’SLIDE: The Chronicles of Ground Movement | Saturday 18 October 8.30am – 4pm | $120 + GST | Packed Lunch & Snacks Bus Transport | Low to Moderate |
*Field trip routes provided below are subject to change.
MAGMATIC MYSTERIES: The Secrets of Rangitoto
Rangitoto emerged from the sea approximately 600 years ago in a series of volcanic explosions. It is the youngest volcano in Tāmaki Makaurau and sits right next to the oldest island, Motutapu, which is estimated to be more than 160 million years old.
We will take a ferry from Auckland downtown to Rangitoto island and walk through ancient lava fields and see the world’s largest pōhutukawa forest on the Rangitoto Island Summit track before giving way to stunning panorama of Auckland City and the Hauraki Gulf. At the summit, we will have a morning tea break and enjoy the views.
We will have lunch on the ferry ride back to Auckland and then travel by bus to go to along Tamaki Drive to see East Coast Bays Formation cliffs along the coastline and see an active landslide on Kepa Road.
Please bring
- Drink bottle with water (there is nowhere on the island to buy or refill drinking water)
- Sturdy, comfortable walking shoes (we do not recommend jandals, the terrain is rough, uneven and includes a gradual incline up to the summit which is a 7km return trip)
- Sun protection such as sunscreen and sunhat
- Wet weather gear (if required)
Moderate fitness required including walking up slopes and walking duration of at least 2 hours (approximately 7 km for Rangitoto). Please note the Rangitoto Island is not accessible for pushchairs or wheelchairs.
Start/End Points
To be confirmed but will be central Auckland with opportunity to enjoy a complimentary post field trip drink with other attendees in central bar.
To be confirmed but will be central Auckland with opportunity to enjoy a complimentary post field trip drink with other attendees in central bar.
SLIP‘N’SLIDE: The Chronicles of Ground Movement
Leaving Auckland City, you will travel by bus to Takapuna Beach, located approximately 20 mins north. Upon arrival, you will see the remnants of an ancient forest formed approximately 200,000 years ago during a local eruption. Lava flows engulfed the forest and encased the lower trunks of these trees and what remains are the shape of the tree trunks and fallen branches. We will be working our way along the coastline to see some of the highly disturbed and vertical beds of Waitemata Group through Thorne Beach and Campbells Bay Beach.
After Campbells Bay, you will hear about the challenges and geotechnical complexities going into construction of the Puhoi/Warkworth motorway including slope remediation works for this key piece of infrastructure. We will hear this commentary on the bus from key personnel from BECA and Tonkin+Taylor who oversaw this work.
We will then head to Tahekeroa to see some large scale instability and debris flows which occurred during the severe weather events in early 2023, impacting railway and Tahekeroa Road. While on route, we will learn about the emergency response and recovery led by Auckland Council before returning to Auckland City.
Please bring:
- Drink bottle with water
- Sturdy, comfortable walking shoes
- Sun protection such as sunscreen and sunhat
- Wet weather gear (if required)
Fitness Level
Low to moderate fitness required. This involves walking along beaches and areas of uneven terrain.
Start/End Points
To be confirmed but will be central Auckland with opportunity to enjoy a complimentary post field trip drink with other attendees in central bar.
NZGS Symposium 2025 is managed by Conferences & Events Ltd.
Conference Manager: Amy Abel
+64 4 384 1511
nzgs2025@confer.co.nz
www.confer.co.nz
This event is organised by Conferences & Events Ltd. We are a New Zealand business.