Great Barrier Island

Whanganui / Home (November 6th)

If departing from Whanganui, meet at the Whanganui Racecourse for an early 6:00am departure and travel to Whanganui Airport to catch our flight to Auckland. 

Departing from another destination

For those departing from another destination you will fly into or meet us in Auckland. All tickets and details will be provided in your personal information pack, sent  prior to travel.

Great Barrier Island (November 7th)

After a peaceful night we rise for breakfast before we are transferred to Whangaparapara wharf where we meet Chris, the Captain and owner of Sundancer. 

Aboard Sundancer  explore the West Coast of Great Barrier on a 4 -5 hour cruise from Whangaparapara to Port Fitzroy. See the remains of the whaling station and timber mill locations, cruise through the Broken Islands while enjoying morning tea. See the  spectacular coastline, and the Man O' War entrance to beautiful Port Fitzroy Harbour. Occasionally dolphin encounters are experienced during the cruise. A picnic lunch is provided on board.  You will disembark at Glenfern Sanctuary opposite Port Fitzroy wharf. 

On the way back to our accommodation we will visit the spectacular Windy Canyon for an easy 15-20 minute walk each way to the lookout and get some great photos of the beautiful beaches. We’ll stop for afternoon tea before some down time or a chance for a leisurely walk before heading out for dinner together.

After a great meal it's time to turn in for the night or maybe have a sneaky nightcap before bed.

Accommodation: Sunset Waterfront Lodge

Great Barrier Island (November 8th)

Enjoy another superb continental breakfast before another day enjoying what the Barrier has to offer.

First up we visit Visit Jaques Haven, meet Jaque and have a personal tour of the Haven he has created just behind the Claris Police Station, a micro climate with a variety of fruit tree’s, bird life & bees.  Morning tea is on a tranquil deck in the middle of his little haven.

Take a lunch break at a local cafe then go to Blind Bay and the hidden wharf at Okupu, driving through a stand of ancient Pohutukawa that enclose the road edge around the bay.

On the drive back to Tryphena we will call into the Art Gallery & Museum in Claris.

Enjoy some more time on the island as a group before another great meal and an enjoyable evening together.

Accommodation: Sunset Waterfront Lodge

Great Barrier Island (November 9th)

We have another hearty breakfast and then get set for a really special visit.

Head over to the local school and share morning tea with the teachers, students and principal. The students will lead you around the school and show you their way of life on the island. 

After lunch we walk into the Kaitoke Hot Springs,  (45 minute relatively flat forest walk each way – bring your togs if you wish) or dunk your feet into the thermal water. (Please note this walk is not compulsory) and there is a shorter walk if you’d prefer not to go to far into the bush.

After a memorable walk we’ll make our way to Island Gin for an interesting tour of the distillery and for those keen a chance to sample the product. 

We head back to our lodge and have some time to soak up this part of the island for a final time before heading out for our last group dinner which is sure to come with laughs a plenty and some good banter as we share stories of the fun we’ve had together on Great Barrier Island.

Accommodation: Sunset Waterfront Lodge

Great Barrier Island (November 10th)

This morning after breakfast we collect our bags and get ready to farewell the Island but we still have a few things to do first.

There is a chance to feed the eels who live close to our lodge before we visit Shoal Bay pottery and a lookout point over the Colville channel to the Coromandel Peninsula and south to Matarangi and the Mercury Islands.

We will explore Tryphena a little more and if time permits call into the Elephant and  Black Cow galleries in Puriri Bay.

We will either dine in at Pa Beach café, or get a takeaway lunch and eat at one of the local beaches before being taken back to Claris airport for our return flight to Auckland.

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