Picturesque Great Barrier Island is the perfect weekend escape from Auckland city. Situated in the Hauraki Gulf, Great Barrier Island is 100 kilometres northeast of central Auckland.
Its beautiful landscape includes beaches, sheltered bays, and steep forest covered hills to mangrove estuaries and diverse wetlands with more than 60 per cent of island under Department of Conservation administration.
“Our people, our place – Aotea Great Barrier is the sentinel of the Hauraki Gulf and Auckland’s hidden gem,” says local board chair Izzy Fordham.
In the past few years, the local board has completed a number of projects on the island. Also in progress are four major greenway projects including the coastal trail around the Tryphena Coastline, improvements to the Harataonga Track, developing a loop walk from Station Rock Road Walkway to Rosalie Bay Road and creating a footpath from Claris to the Crossroads.
Great Barrier population: 939 people (2013 census).
Islanders lead a self-sufficient lifestyle with no reticulated power, water or wastewater, banks, supermarkets, streetlights or public transport. There is no high school so senior students must board in town or families move off the island.
Great things to do on Great Barrier
- Pack tramping boots as the forests are laced with over 100kms of walking tracks, which lead to natural hot springs, well-preserved historic sites and places of interest.
- Swim, dive, snorkel, fish and kayak on the plentiful beaches and inlets around Great Barrier.
- Visit Glenfern Sanctuary for a guided walk through pest-free native regenerating and old growth forest, including a swing bridge in the canopy of a 600 year old kauri tree.
- Check out the Aotea Community Art Gallery and heritage museum in Claris for the latest exhibitions, as well as locally produced olives and honey products.
- Here are the best things to do and places to stay, while you’re at Great Barrier Island.
Check out Our Auckland Events for local events coming up and keep up-to-date with what’s happening on Great Barrier Island by following the local board on Facebook.
