Great
Barrier Island is a beautiful place to visit,
if you want to get away from civilization
(almost), and if you enjoy hiking, fishing,
kayaking, diving, and cycling. It is the
fourth largest island of New Zealand located
in the Hauraki Gulf about 60 miles/100 km
north-east from Auckland.
Great Barrier Island offers great mountain
biking for all levels of fitness and is
an adventurous way to see much of the island.
Some sections of the road between the main
areas are sealed (this is also the single
road ride mapped on TrekByBike), but most
are gravel and require... More...
Great
Barrier Island is a beautiful place to visit,
if you want to get away from civilization
(almost), and if you enjoy hiking, fishing,
kayaking, diving, and cycling. It is the
fourth largest island of New Zealand located
in the Hauraki Gulf about 60 miles/100 km
north-east from Auckland.
Great Barrier Island offers great mountain
biking for all levels of fitness and is
an adventurous way to see much of the island.
Some sections of the road between the main
areas are sealed (this is also the single
road ride mapped on TrekByBike), but most
are gravel and require bikes equipped with
suspension and good tires.
The hiking on Great Barrier Island is amongst
the best in New Zealand. Over 60 miles/100
km of well-maintained tracks take the walker
through a wonderland of canyons, valleys,
native forest, mountains and coastline.
Most walking experiences on Great Barrier
are of tramping track standard and require
a reasonable level of fitness. Less...
The best time
to visit Great Barrier Island is during
the summer months and into the early autumn
(southern hemisphere), when the maritime
weather is calmer and at its warmest. Less...
Climate
and Weather
Great Barrier
Island is in the Hauraki Gulf and enjoys
a warm climate. Less...
How
to Get There
Ferry service runs between Auckland and Great Barrier Island several times per week. In season, on certain weekends and/or holidays, you can take the fast Fuller's JetBoat Ferry (passengers only service) from Auckland Fuller's Ferry Terminal to Tryphena Harbour. The ferry takes approximately 2 hrs - 2.5 hrs to cover the 60+ miles/ 96+ km between Auckland and the Great Barrier Island. Reservations for this service are essential. Only pre-booked bicycles or tandems are accepted on this ferry. Check Fullers schedule for the latest ferry time tables at http://www.fullers.co.nz. At the time of this writing (May, 2007) the round trip between Auckland and Tryphena is NZ$ 105.00 per adult.
Another ferry option is the slower SeaLink
Passenger and Car Ferry Service that provides
Auckland's only regular service to Great
Barrier Island (4.5 hrs - 5 hrs sailing).
The ferry runs six days a week in summer
and three days a week in winter. The ferry
departs form Wynyard Wharf (Jellicoe and
Brigham Streets) located approx 0.6 mile/1
km west of the Auckland's Fullers Ferry
Terminal close to the industrial section
and Auckland's fish market. Bicycles or
tandems are accepted on the SeaLink ferry
free of charge, and bookings are not required.
Check SeaLink schedule for the latest ferry
time tables at http://www.sealink.co.nz/.
At the time of this writing (May, 2007)
the round trip between Auckland and Tryphena
is NZ$ 105.00 per adult.
The Auckland Fullers' Ferry Terminal is located across the street from Britomart Transportation Station. The SeaLink Ferry Terminal is located on Wynyard Wharf (Jellicoe and Brigham Streets) approx 0.6 mile/1 km west of Britomart. You can take local train transit (MAXX) http://www.maxx.co.nz/ to the Britomart Station (Auckland's Central Business District and transportation hub). A bicycle ticket must be purchased for each train trip at the cost of NZ$1 (as of February 2007). Carrying of bicycles onboard trains is dependent on space and at the discretion of onboard staff. Avoid travelling with bicycles at peak times, as space will be limited.
If you do not fancy taking a boat (or have the tendency to get seasick on longer sailings), you have the option to fly from Auckland airport to Claris Airport on one of the few small airlines that service Great Barrier Island: Great Barrier Airlines, Mountain Air and Island Air. These airlines also fly to Claris Airport from other locations on the North Island; check their web sites for details. Less...
Accommodations
A visit to Great Barrier Island is not a single-day event; hence it is strongly recommended that you make accommodation arrangements prior to your departure, especially during the high season (December - January). Accommodations on the island range from simple motels and B&B to luxurious lodges. Most of the lodging facilities are concentrated around Tryphena and Claris. Camping is also an option but is permitted only in designated camping grounds. Less...
The
Roads
The island is quite remote; and as such, there is very little infrastructure in terms of roads. Most roads on the island are graveled or have unfinished surface and are not suitable for regular touring or road bicycle tires. The only paved road is the main road between Tryphena and Claris with few miles extending beyond Claris to Kaitoke Creek. Less...
What
You Need To Know
Great Barrier Island has no municipal power or propane supply. Most houses utilize either solar energy or diesel power generators for their power supply. There are only a few public phones available along the route in Tryphena, Medlands, and Claris and wireless phone coverage is also quite limited. A few cafes in Claris and Tryphena provide internet access for a fee.
Because there is no municipal power on the island, there is no street lighting and many homes/accommodations are only accessible by bush tracks; hence, it is advisable to bring a torch (flashlight).
Generally, most establishments and accommodations will have enough power capacity (solar or generated) to recharge your mobile phone, camera batteries, laptop, etc.
It is recommended that you take cash, as there are no banks on the island. EFTPOS and credit card facilities are available at most commercial outlets.
Basic supplies and grocery stores are located in Claris, Pa Beach and Mulberry Grove at Tryphena and provide basic food and a reasonably good selection of fresh vegetables and fruit. Surprisingly you can get quite a good cup of coffle (espresso, cappuccino, or flat white, etc) in the Mulberry Grove grocery shop, which also doubles as a café.
In the event of an emergency, dial 111 (Police, Fire). For medical emergencies, dial (09) 429 0356. There is no ambulance on the island.
There are many beautiful hiking trails that should not be missed. They range from easy, such as the Hot Water Pools Trail, to the advanced Kauri Dam Trail. Fishing and sea kayaking is also popular.
If you wish to rent a mountain bike, you can do so at the Mountain Bike
Rentals and Tours shop located on 111 Hector-Sanderson Road in Claris.
If you plan on bringing your dog to the island, you must carry proof of registration. Dogs are prohibited on all Department of Conservation (DOC) public conservation land and the island inhabitants would prefer that you do not bring your dog(s). Less...
