Planning a trip to Great Barrier Island
Orientation
Great Barrier Island is approximately 15km (9 1/3 miles) wide and 30km (19 miles) long, with Mount Hobson (621m/2,037 ft.) rising in the center. The island landscape is rugged, and much of it is inaccessible by road. The west coast is characterized by steep, forested ranges that run down to the sea; the east coast offers sweeping, white-sand beaches and rolling hills. The main areas of settlement are Port Fitzroy in the north; Claris, Whangaparapara, and Okupu in the center; and Tryphena in the south. Good roads connect them all. Claris and Tryphena are the main villages, though neither is much more than a few shops, cafes, a pub, and a post office. Port Fitzroy boasts one store, a dive station, and a boat club. There are no banks or ATMs on the island (although many businesses accept credit cards). Be prepared to pay more for basic supplies than you would on the mainland.
Visitor Information
The Great Barrier Island Information Centre, Main Road outside Claris Airfield (tel. 09/429-0767; www.greatbarrierisland.co.nz), is open daily from 7am to 8pm in the summer and 8am to 7pm in the winter. Auckland i-SITE Visitor Centres also supply some Great Barrier Island information at www.greatbarrier.aucklandnz.com.
Special Events
In January, the Port Fitzroy Mussel Fest (tel. 09/429-0072) provides stalls, entertainment, and as many succulent mussels as you can eat. The annual Santa Parade, in December at the Claris Sports Club, has a legendary reputation for fun.
Getting Around
By Car -- Reasonably priced rental options include GBI Rent A Car, 67 Hector Sanderson Rd., Claris (tel. 09/429-0062; www.gbirentacar.co.nz), which offers free delivery to Claris Airfield and Tryphena Wharf. Prices start at around NZ$50 per day. Aotea Rentals (tel. 0800/426-832 in NZ; www.aoteacarrentals.co.nz) offers a similar service and prices from around NZ$95 per day. It is important to remember that the island is far from a suburban destination. Roads are often narrow and unsealed, there are no streetlights, and cellphone coverage is limited.
By Bus and Shuttle -- You'll find limited scheduled public transport on the island, but regular bus services meet boats and planes. Great Barrier Travel (tel. 0800/426-832 in NZ, or 09/429-0474; www.greatbarriertravel.co.nz) has daily service to walking tracks, beaches, and Port Fitzroy. A 1-day pass costs around NZ$50. There are also several shuttle companies.
By Bike -- Rental mountain bikes are available from GBI Rent A Car (tel. 09/429-0062; www.gbirentacar.co.nz) for NZ$45 to NZ$60 per day. Paradise Cycles, Tryphena (tel.09/429-0700), has multiday special deals.
Getting There
By Plane -- Great Barrier Airlines (tel. 0800/900-600 in NZ, or 09/275-9120; www.greatbarrierairlines.co.nz) runs daily flights to the island from Auckland International Airport and North Shore Aerodrome. You can only take 15kg (33 lbs.) of baggage, and flights cost NZ$99 to NZ$125 one-way. Fly My Sky, Domestic Terminal, Auckland International Airport (tel. 0800/222-123 in NZ, or 09/256-7026; www.flymysky.co.nz), also offers daily flights to the island. Most flights land at Claris Airfield in the center of the island; some land at Okiwi Airfield, 8km (5 miles) from Port Fitzroy. The 35-minute trip costs NZ$99 to NZ$120 one-way.
By Ferry -- Ferries land at Tryphena, at the southern end of the island. SeaLink, 45 Jellicoe St., Auckland Viaduct (tel. 0800/732-546 in NZ, or 09/300-5900; www.sealink.co.nz), runs 4 1/2- to 5-hour trips to the island daily in summer and 3 days a week in winter (timetables vary). The Eco Islander has two theaters with plasma screens showing movies and documentaries, a cafe, and a reading room on board. The long trip can be grueling when the sea is rough. Round-trip fares are NZ$127 adults, NZ$102 seniors and students, NZ$85 children ages 5 to 15, and NZ$370 for a car. I think it's far better to pay a bit more for the short flight. And don't worry about taking a car - it's easy to pick up a cheap rental at the Claris Airfield. Fullers Ferry (tel. 09/367-9111; www.fullers.co.nz) is a much faster (2 1/2-hr.) trip, but its timetable service operates only in high season (roughly, Dec-Jan).
