A 5 day tour from Auckland exploring all the best spots on Great Barrier Island
EXCURSIONS
All scheduled excursions are included, from museums to cruises, parks and local artisan producers
RETURN AIRFARES
Ex Auckland return airfares are included in this tour, as well as pickups and dropoffs from home
FULLY ESCORTED AND GUIDED
Utilise the services of a quality guide to assist you and make the most of the many activities
Aotea / Great Barrier Island has it all – a stunning coastline and rugged ranges and, best of all, friendly, welcoming locals.
Book this trip and go in the draw to get a $50 voucher!
As a welcome offer we will have a lucky draw for one booking as a Thank You!
This escape for mature travellers is at a pace you will like!
We’ll take our time, and really get into the nooks and crannies of the Barrier
All breakfasts, lunches and dinners are provided
As well as special lunch events and privately hosted dinners
Quality Accommodation
You’ll get a ‘sense of place’ from the lodgings on this tour
Small Group Tour
Maximum 18 travellers all touring on a comfortable air-conditioned coach
5 day/4 night Great Barrier Island tour – from $2590 per person twinshare
Take a look at New Zealand – these tours do sell out
Go into the draw to win a $50 voucher!.
Look at the itinerary below or call me now on (09) 4102697 to discuss the best option for you.
Daily Itinerary
Day 1. Auckland – Claris – Tryphena. We start our tour on a real high with a scenic flight from Auckland airport over the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park to Claris on Great Barrier Island. Your MoaTours Kiwi Guide isthere to meet you at the airfield with our own tour coach.
We head off to Puriri Bay to meet Marion for lunch at her Elephant Craft Gallery and continue on to meet Peter and Fenella at Black Cow Gallery nearby. We stay in relaxed, island style accommodation at Sunset Waterfront Lodge and Shoal Bay Estate for four nights and dine with Val at Shoal Bay Estate this evening.
Fly from Auckland
Stunning scenery awaits as we fly to Great Barrier Island
Lunch and Locals
Meet the locals at the Elephant Craft Gallery over lunch
Day 2. Northern end exploration. Today we’re exploring the Northern part of Great Barrier, starting at Okiwi Park where a flat trail meanders through mature Puriri and Totara trees.
We call into Awana Beach and visit the Milk, Honey and Grain museum, a treasure trove of stories and memorabilia of the early settlers.
We return to Shoal Bay for dinner. Then later this evening, if the sky is clear, we stargaze at Medlands Beach with local guides who will tell us about the new International Dark Sky Sanctuary status recently awarded to the island.
Museums
The stunning Awana Beach, and the settlers Museum
Stargazing
Tonight we enjoy the Islands International Dark Sky Sanctuary status
Day 3. Today we head over the ranges from Tryphena to Claris and on to Port FitzRoy to meet local skipper and personality Chris. We cruise out on his launch to discover the inlets of this favourite sheltering place and head southwards down the coast through the Broken Islands.
Returning to Port FitzRoy we lunch at Glenfern Sanctuary’s jetty and hear the story of this 83 hectare Regional Park and how it came to be the main gateway to the predator fenced 240ha Kotuku Peninsula. We return to Tryphena in the late afternoon and dine out this evening.
Cruise
See beautiful Fitzroy and the Broken Islands on a cruise
Wildlife
Lunch, and hear the history of Glenfern Wildlife sanctuary , an 83 hectare regional park
Day 4. Today we’ll discover Okupu / Blind Bay on the way to Whangaparapara Harbour to lunch at Great Barrier Lodge. Our hosts will share the history of this peaceful harbour which was once seething with activity – gold and silver mining, timber milling and a whaling station which shut down in 1962.
Later in the afternoon we head back to our accommodation at Tryphena and dine in at Shoal Bay Estate.
Natural Beauty
Enjoy the beauty of Okupu and Whangaparapara
History
Hear the fascinating stories of the island’s past
Day 5. We start our last day on the island with breakfast with Val at Shoal Bay Estate before heading off to visit Sarah at Shoal Bay Pottery then walk along Medlands Beach, a favourite spot for surfers.
We meet Vivienne at her sculpture gallery in Claris and visit the Community Heritage and Art Village. In the mid afternoon we catch our flight from the airport at Claris back to Auckland.
Artists
Meet local artists in the Community Art Gallery
Fly home
We fly back to Auckland in the afternoon
…just a 30 minute flight from Auckland, yet another world away.Great Barrier Island