Great Barrier Island, Auckland Overview

The Great Barrier Island is situated 100 kms northeast of the Auckland mainland on the outer Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand. An off-the-grid destination with minimum noise and no artificial light, the Great Barrier Island is the perfect getaway from the stresses of daily life. Covering a total area of 285 sq kms, the Great Barrier Island is the sixth-largest island in New Zealand. It offers a variety of experiences ranging from trekking, kayaking, surfing, diving, snorkelling, fishing, bird-watching, star-gazing and much more.

The Māori name for the island is Aotea. The term ‘Great Barrier Island’ was given by Captain Cook as the island acts as a barrier between the Pacific Ocean and the Hauraki Gulf. The DOC (Department of Conservation) looks at over 60% of the island, administering it as a natural reserve. The DOC takes measures to conserve the island to facilitate the rare wildlife of the island to thrive. The local authority on the island is the Auckland authority. The population of less than a thousand comprises primarily pensioners. The Barrier Island is accessible through air and sea, and there is no public transportation system.

a pristine secluded beach on the great barrier island — Source

Things to do

1. Walking and Trekking
There are around 25-30 different island tracks to choose from that best suit your needs and the kind of experience you’re looking to have. The tracks can be as small as a 30 minute walk to a multi-day island trek. The most common one suited for both beginners and experienced trampers, is the Aotea Track. It offers a walk through some of the most spectacular landscapes of the island with unforgettable views and leads to Mt Heale Hut. A small detour to the highest peak of Mt Hobson is also an option.

2. Water Adventure Activities
The beaches of the island have unique characteristics and offer a variety of experiences. There are calm and quiet beaches with gentle tides which allow children to play and build sand castles, at the same time there are more aggressive beaches perfect for surfing and other adventure sports like diving, snorkelling, kayaking etc. There are many service providers that provide the right gear and set you up for your adventure.

3. Fishing
There are many ways in which you can go fishing on the island. There are kayaks given for hire along with fishing gear. Also, there’s fishing charters organized for fishing enthusiasts interested in deep-sea fishing. There is also the service of Heli-fishing on the island.

4. Star-gazing
The Great Barrier Island is an international dark sky sanctuary joining only two other destinations in the world. The island has no street lights and electricity is generated through solar power, wind energy, and generator power. The island is a perfect spot for stargazing during night time and people from around the world come here to do the same. The locals believe that the light from the starlight is 10 times brighter than the light in the city.

5. Eat at Exotic Cafes
The island is home to around 10 – 12 small cafes and pubs that provide delicious food and craft beers. The Great Barrier Island Sports and Social Club offers food, alcohol and opportunities to play sports like cricket, soccer, rugby, tennis etc. It also hosts events and creates opportunities to interact with the locals. There are other places that offer delicious food and alcohol such as ‘My Fat Puku’, ‘Mulberry Grove Store’, ‘Kat’s catering’, ‘Janene’s Ice Dreams’ and more.

Accommodation on Great Barrier Island

The island has a number of accommodation facilities to choose from. There are private cottages, lodges, inns and many more such services with a price range of NZD 99 to NZD 700. These accommodations usually require pre-booking.

Transportation on the island

There is no public transportation on the island. It is very much necessary to pre-arrange your transportation to get around the island. You can rent a car, a bike and there is also shuttle service provided from airport and wharves to only certain locations. There are passenger transport services like Go Great Barrier Island that operate from airport and wharves. They can carry around 12 people at a time with luggage.

Tips

Be sure to bring a torch as there in no reticulated electricity supply on the island.
There are no ATMs or Banks on the island. Although card payment is accepted, it is advisable to carry some cash on yourself.
There is no public transportation hence transportation on the island has to be arranged beforehand.
Fire hazards are feared on the island and hence there is a restriction on open fires. Check with the authorities about the permits to start open fires during restricted seasons.
Much effort is taken by the DOC is keep the island pest-free as much as possible. Before arriving make sure to clean your boots and gear.
There are only a few fuel outlets on the island.

How To Reach Great Barrier Island

The Great Barrier Island is accessible through sea and air. There are scheduled passenger flight services flying to and fro Great Barrier Island 7 days a week. The air service providers are Fly My Sky, Sunair and Barrier Air. The island also has a ferry service called ‘Sea Link’ operating both summer and winter timetables. Depending on the seasonal demand, the ferry operates from 3 days a week to daily. Vehicles can be ferried to the island along with passengers. On the way to the island, it is possible to spot dolphins, whales and if you’re lucky, hammerhead sharks.