See And Do

Great Barrier Island is 90km north east of central Auckland, New Zealand.

Located at the edge of the Hauraki Gulf, the Barrier is one of the most unspoilt
places you’ll ever find.

With an area of 285 square kilometres (110 sq mi), it is the sixth-largest island
in New Zealand.

Great Barrier Island was named by Captain Cook for the barrier it forms between
the Hauraki Gulf and the open sea.


For more local information & history visit:

www.thebarrier.co.nz

www.greatbarrierisland.co.nz

www.doc.govt.nz

www.greatbarrier.aucklandnz.com

Young's Museum | Ph: (09) 429 0388 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting           (09) 429 0388   end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Milk, Honey and Grain Museum | Ph: (09) 429 0773 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting           (09) 429 0773   end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Gray's Museum | Ph: (09) 429 0123 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting           (09) 429 0123   end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Fly My Sky

Daily flights are available to Great Barrier from Auckland and Whangarei
Domestic Airports.

Return flights from the Barrier are available Mon – Sun.

Private charter flights are also available.

For a current flight schedule and pricing, visit www.flymysky.co.nz

Great Barrier Airlines

Daily flights are available to Great Barrier Island from Auckland
Domestic Airport as well as  Northshore, Whangarei, and Coromandel Airfields.

Return flights from the Barrier are available Mon – Sun.

For a current flight schedule and pricing, visit www.greatbarrierairlines.co.nz

Sealink

Regular ferry sailings for passenger and vehicles depart daily from
Whynard Wharf, Auckland.

Return sailings from the Barrier are available Mon – Sun.

For a current sailing schedule and pricing, visit www.sealink.co.nz


Fullers

Fullers passenger ferries sail to Great Barrier Island during the summer
season - including Labour Weekend (end of October), Christmas & New Year,
early January and at Easter.

The services run to and from the two main ports of Fitzroy and Tryphena.

Travel time is typically 2½ hours one way (weather conditions permitting).

For a current sailing schedule and pricing, visit  www.fullers.co.nz

 

We can organise a transfer for you from Tryphena Wharf or from Claris Airfield when you arrive or depart from Great Barrier Island. Prices are competitive and you can pay the driver directly.

We can also help our guests arrange their Island transport before arrival. Just ask when you make your accommodation booking with us.

There is no public transport on the Barrier, however tour operators can to take you to and from local attractions and activities such as walking tracks, beaches etc. 

Rental cars are readily available for you to explore the island at your own pace. 4WD is not necessary to get around the island or to get to Sunset Waterfront Lodge.
Note: Other Island accommodation may require 4WD for driveway access.


Useful Links:

Aotea Car Rentals

Medlands Rentals

Crazy Horse Trike Tours & Joy Rides

GBI Rent-A-Car

Great Barrier Travel

Great Barrier Tourism

The Barrier is home to many talented artists including potters, painters and wood carvers.

Some artists have their own studios while many display their work in the Galleries on the island.

Those with an eye for creativity and originality will be delighted with the artistic pieces on display and available for sale.


Local artists & galleries:

Aotea Community Art Gallery | Ph: (09) 429 0508

Peter Edmonds Workshop & Gallery | Ph: (09) 429 0414

Sarah Harrison - Shoal Bay Pottery |  Ph: (09) 429 0455

Great Barrier Island is a wonderful playground for lovers of sea, sand and surf.

Swimming, surfing, sea kayaking, and body boarding are all popular activites
on the Barrier and the east coast beaches are great for families or just hanging
with your mates. 

Beach essentials including swimwear, diving gear, boards and kayaks can all
be hired on the Barrier.

Medlands Beach is considered one of the best surfing beaches on the Barrier.
It’s a ten minute drive from Claris airport and a 15 minute drive from the
ferry terminal at Tryphena. According to the local surfers, it has good sand bar
breaks along its entire length, particularly on an incoming tide.

Whangapoua Beach is only a short walk from Okiwi Airfield and is
straight across the island from the Port Fitzroy ferry terminal. Good surf
waves break over sandbanks across the mouth of the Whangapoua Estuary
producing "beaut barrels in a north-easterly swell". 
 
Awana Beach is noted for its good all year round surfing conditions and the
variety of waves resulting from rapidly shifting sandbanks. Any respectable
easterly swell will push up fast-moving, heavy beach breaks on an incoming tide.

Kaitoke Beach is the largest east coast beach and boasts a number
of good beach breaks all the way down to the island at the south end. 


Useful links:

Tide Times
 
Surf Reports

OPC Great Barrier

Mulberry Grove Store - Sea Kayaking Hire | (09) 429 0909 

Hooked On Barrier- Kayak, Dive Gear & Swimwear Hire | (09) 429 0417

 

Great Barrier Island is a popular destination for walkers, hikers and
mountain bikers.
 
There are more than 100 kilometres of well-maintained tracks and the
canyons, valleys, native forest, mountains and coastline make for
spectacular sigthseeing - even in the rain.
 
A number of bush walking, island traversing and mountain biking events
are held on the Barrier each year - check out our What's On page for
upcoming events.

Guided tours are available or simply explore the many walking tracks
at your leisure. 

The Barrier walking tracks require a reasonable level of fitness and caution
is required on some tracks with steep drop-offs.

Mountain Biking is only permitted on public roads and on the Forestry
Road from Whangaparapara to Port FitzRoy. See the Map. 

When visiting the Barrier, Glenfern Sanctuary is a must see. It offers a
rare opportunity to experience native wildlife on Great Barrier Island and
is part of 230ha on Kotuku Peninsula between Port FitzRoy and
Port Abercrombie. A guided walk is available. 


Useful Links:

Walking Track Information

Walking Track Map

Mountain Bike Trail Map

Paradise Cycles - Mountain Bike & Cycle Hire | Ph: (09) 429 0700 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting           (09) 429 0700   end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting           (09) 429 0700   end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting           (09) 429 0700   end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting           (09) 429 0700   end_of_the_skype_highlighting

If you don't feel like venturing too far around the Barrier, we have plenty for you
to do right here at Sunset Waterfront Lodge.

Games Galore - Enjoy a round of pitch n' putt, volleyball, right on our
own private reserve or simply head to the safe swimming beach straight over the road.

Smokin' - Once you've returned with your catch of the day, you're welcome to use
the fish cleaning facilities at the Lodge. Use our fish smoker to get your fish ready
for eating or simply throw it on the BBQ.

Yoga anyone? - We have just the spot for focussing the body and mind while
enjoying the fresh air. We call it 'the island' and it's a quiet, green sanctuary
right near the Beach Villas. It's peaceful and private and a fantastic place for yoga,
Tai Chi or Pilates. A yoga session can be arranged for you or your group. Just ask
us for details.

Relaxing Massage - What better way to unwind than a professional theraputic
massage in such a glorious setting. We'd be happy to book a session for you. 
Find out more.

Feed the pet eels! - A very popular activity with our guests who are young at heart.
The Lodge has a gentle stream running through the property which offers a safe
haven for tame eels - lots of fun to find and feed.

Drinks at Sunset - Our location offers one of the best places to watch the sun set 
on the Barrier. Why not enjoy a wine on the lawn or your own private
deck  while sharing a tale or two about the one that got away!