Raoul Island

Anvil-shaped Raoul Island (Sunday Island), the largest and northernmost of the main Kermadec Islands, 900km south south-west of 'Ata Island of Tonga and 1100km north north-east of New Zealand's North Island, has been the source of vigorous volcanic activity during the past several thousand years that was dominated by dacitic explosive eruptions.The area of the island, including fringing islets and rocks mainly in the northeast, but also a few smaller ones in the southeast, is 29.38km2. The highest elevation is Moumoukai Peak, at an elevation of 516m.Although Raoul is the only island in the Kermadec group large enough to support settlement, it lacks a safe harbour, and landings from small boats can only be made in calm weather. The island consists of two mountainous areas, one with summits of and, and the other with a summit of, the two separated by a depression which is the caldera of the Raoul volcano.Considering offshore islets and rocks, the northernmost island of New Zealand is Nugent Island, about 100m in diameter, located 3.6km northeast of Raoul Island. The coordinates of the northernmost point are. Napier Island stretches almost as far north as Nugent Island, which reaches just a few metres further north.HistoryStone implements of the Polynesian type have been found on Raoul Island, and there is indication of a prehistoric settlement . But the island was uninhabited when first sighted by Western sailors.