If you’re looking to plan a first-time getaway to Aotea Great Barrier Island, this guide is for you.
Known for its breathtaking landscapes and laid-back vibe, the island offers a perfect escape into nature – and it is conveniently located on Auckland City’s back doorstep!
Whether you’re an adventurous traveller or you’re looking to relax (and perhaps recover from jet lag), this guide will help you as you begin planning your visit to Aotea.
Plan your trip to Aotea Great Barrier Island
Great Barrier Island, or Aotea as it’s known in te reo Māori, is a unique destination located approximately 100 kilometres from Auckland City.
It’s an island where natural beauty meets tranquility, with rugged hills, pristine beaches and clear night skies.
It’s safe, quiet, friendly and totally unique.
Because of its remoteness, the island is also self-sufficient in terms of energy, operating off-grid without mains electricity, sewerage or water.
Though it’s lacking a few things, you’ll find a number of taonga (treasured) species, providing great wildlife encounters – we saw dolphins, whales, rays and lots of endangered and native birds on our visit.
But it’s not just about the scenery and animal-life.
A special type of person lives on Aotea Great Barrier too. They tend to be warm, welcoming and trusting.
In our experience, they’re proud of their little island paradise, and keen to show it off. And they’ll give you the iconic ‘Barrier wave’ as you’re driving around, so get your spare hand ready!
We think all of this adds to its charm and appeal, making it a unique part of Aotearoa New Zealand to visit.
Pro tip: Before leaving the mainland, it’s worth getting some cash out. Everywhere we visited accepted credit/debit cards or offered online bank transfers, but these aren’t so easy for international visitors.
When to visit
As with all places, there are pros and cons to visiting at different points in time.
However, for many, the best time to visit Great Barrier Island is during the warmer months, from November to April. This is when the weather is best suited to outdoor activities.
This is also when the island is busiest, over the peak of summer, so you’ll expect to see more people around (and for everything to be open).
With that said, we visited in October and were fortunate to have great weather with the added bonus of very few other travellers.
As the island is subtropical, it has lovely mild winters. During the middle of the year, you’ll find the weather makes for comfortable hiking. It’s also a great time to curl up by the fire in your accommodations, and to make the most of the island during the off-season.
From May to October, you’ll also enjoy seeing the central core of the Milky Way in the night sky.
Did you know? GBI, even in the wintertime, can have better season than many European areas in the summertime. It’s serene and gorgeous, and though some eateries will be closed, we think it’s a worthwhile trade-off.
How long to stay
A three to five-day stay (two to four nights) is ideal to experience the highlights of Aotea.
We were lucky to have six nights on the island (spread evenly across three different locations) and very happily managed to fill our days.
How to get to GBI
By sea
Sealink transports passengers (and their cars, if they’d like to take them) to Aotea by sea.
Departing from Wynyard Quarter in Auckland City’s CBD, the ferry travels to Tryphena (which is one of the busier parts of the island – but still very sleepy by most standards). It also occasionally goes as far as Port Fitzroy (which was where we stayed at the end of our week on the island).
The timetable varies quite significantly during the off-season, but increases to daily (and sometimes multi-daily) trips during peak-season.
The journey takes about four and a half hours, offering spectacular views along the way.
The sea can sometimes be pretty rough here, so take motion sickness tablets if you think you might need them. We also recommend sitting on the lower deck if the ocean is rough – this reduces the motion you’ll feel onboard.
Check the ferry timetable and book your tickets in advance.
By air
For a quicker arrival, you could consider flying from Auckland.
Several small airlines operate flights to Great Barrier Island’s Claris Airport (a fairly central location to arrive at).
Flights are short, at around 30 minutes, departing from Auckland Airport (in Mangere) and a small airport on Auckland’s North Shore (North Shore Aerodrome).
Plus, you’ll enjoy stunning views of the Gulf along the way.
If you’re interested in flying, check:
- Barrier Air – Auckland Domestic Airport and North Shore Aerodrome, and Tauranga
- Island Aviation – North Shore Aerodrome
- Sun Air – Whitianga, Whangarei, Tauranga and Auckland (Adrmore in South Auckland)
Which is best?
Ferry
Departs from the central city.
Plane
Departs from Auckland Airport (in Mangere) or the North Shore.
Where to stay
From charming eco-lodges to cozy B&Bs and campsites, Great Barrier Island has memorable accommodation to suit all budgets and most needs.
Be warned though, you won’t find big commercial hotels on the island – and we don’t think that’s a bad thing.
If you’re keen for a taste of luxury, try staying at one of the eco-friendly lodges or accommodations that blend comfort and sustainability so effortlessly.
Local seaside baches (holiday homes) are also a great option. As are hostels (for those looking to keep costs down) and some of the more unique accommodations on the island – like Glenfern Sanctuary and Orama.
Whatever you choose, we recommend you book as early as possible, particularly in peak season.
Where did we stay? We split our time between XSPOT Cliff House (with its amazing views – we even saw two whales!), Island Gin Bach (modern and funky, right across from Medlands Beach) and Glenfern Sanctuary (with incredible gardens and native birds). All of which we highly recommend!
How to get around on the island
Though the island doesn’t have traditional public transport, and it’s too big to walk far, it’s still pretty easy for most people to get around – but we recommend you’re organised well in advance.
Like us, you can use the car ferry to take your own car, motorbike or bike over to the island. This is a great option if you’re planning to stay on Aotea for a longer period of time.
Rental cars and electric motorbikes (called Motubikes) are also available for hire.
Both allow you to explore the island at your own pace and are great options for people arriving by air.
Finally, if you don’t plan to drive at all, there are some transfers available directly to accommodations – the likes of Orama offer this for a reasonable fee.
And for those who aren’t working to a particular schedule, hitchhiking is fairly common (and generally safe) on GBI.
Things to do on Aotea Great Barrier Island
Outdoor adventures
Discover the island’s varied hiking trails (they have over 80km of them), such as the Aotea Track, offering stunning views and a chance to spot an incredible variety of native birds.
Be sure to walk to Kaitoke Hot Springs, Windy Canyon and Okiwi Park (to spot kākāriki), even if you do nothing else.
We also highly recommend the island’s beaches which are perfect for kayaking, swimming, fishing and soaking up the sun (but not too much – the Kiwi sun is strong!).
Medlands Beach, the different bays of Tryphena, and Harataonga were all favourite beaches for us.
Arts and culture
While on Great Barrier Island, be sure to stop by the local art galleries and crafts shops, including The Elephant (where we got a lovely piece ourselves), Black Cow Gallery, Sarah Harrison’s pottery and the Aotea Community Art Gallery.
They provide unique souvenirs and an opportunity to support local artists.
If you’re interested in Māori culture, there’s also the opportunity for a beautifully authentic experience with Matua Rodney at Kawa Marae.
Star gazing
Aotea is a designated Dark Sky Sanctuary, so the night skies are, unsurprisingly, very special!
We recommend joining a star gazing tour to really understand what you’re seeing (and to see it in much more detail), but even if you choose not to, be sure to step outside to enjoy the night sky away from Auckland’s city lights.
Great food
Though the food choices on Barrier are a little more limited than we’re used to, they’re still fabulous…
Be sure to head along to the Currach Irish Pub, The Burga Shak and
Pa Beach Café for delicious kai.
And while you’re at it, organise a tasting at Island Gin!
Tips for an amazing visit
So, now you know for a fact that you’d like to disconnect (and reconnect) on Aotea, there are a few things you should know…
When packing, remember to include essentials like comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, a sunhat, a reusable water bottle and a keep cup for your takeaway coffees… or buy a local souvenir cup on the island if you prefer.
We also recommend you take some groceries and fill your car up with fuel (if taking it over from the mainland).
Respect the local environment by taking suitable waste back home with you, having short showers and minimising your electricity use.
Travel slowly on the roads, being mindful of people on bikes and walking – everyone shares the road on Aotea.
We love that Great Barrier Island offers a blend of adventure and relaxation in a setting that feels a world away from the hustle and bustle of Auckland.
From its untouched natural beauty to the welcoming community, there’s magic in this place.
We hope this guide helps you plan a memorable visit.
Some of the activities, accommodation and transport was provided to us free of charge for the purpose of familiarisation. We were not required to share anything with you – we’ve done so because we genuinely loved everything mentioned!
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