The rocks you see here are volcanic rock from Lake Pupuke
The island in the distance is Rangitoto, the most recent and the largest (2311 hectares)
of the approximately 50 volcanoes of the Auckland volcanic field.
It is separated from the mainland of Auckland's North Shore by the Rangitoto Channel.
The 5.5 km wide island is an iconic and widely visible landmark of Auckland
with its distinctive symmetrical shield volcano cone rising 260 metres (850 ft) high over the Hauraki Gulf