Great Barrier Island - 12th-16th January 2025

Name: Great Barrier Island - 12th-16th January 2025
Start: 2025-01-12T08:00:00+13:00
End: 2025-01-16T14:00:00+13:00
Location: 5 Verona Place, Stratford, New Zealand 4332

Schedule

Sun Jan 12 2025 at 08:00 am to Thu Jan 16 2025 at 02:00 pm

UTC+13:00

Location

5 Verona Place, Stratford, New Zealand 4332 | Stratford, TK

Please note this is an extra tour the one 8th-12th is full and due to more interest we were able to secure accommodation, cut off is end of July due to being a popular time of the year
Day 1 – Sunday 12th, January 2025
Flight New Plymouth to Auckland 9:30am flight or meet us in Auckland.
Approx 2:00pm – Check in at Domestic Terminal for our Barrier Air 3:00pm flight (30 mins) to island.
Once we arrive and have our hired 12-seater van we will drive to the settlement of Tryphena located at Puriri Bay, which part of the Tryphena Harbour. We will stop for groceries, refreshment drinks etc on the way.
Our 4 night stay is at Pigeons Lodge for 12 people where our group will have the place exclusive.
Day 2 – Monday 13th January – Southern half tour
Today you will explore the southern half of the island. The areas and places we will visit are.
a) Okupu Bay – very large and old Pohutukawa tree is something to see, we will also visit Iona Mine (old gold mine) now a cave Weta home.
b) Memory Rock and Medlands Beach – possible to climb to top of the rock or beach stroll. Museum and a gallery thrown in for good measure for afternoon visits. Café lunch (included in package)
c) Kaitoke Hot Springs – natural hot pool in bush area, you are able to get into the pool if you like, you will have to find you own privacy, in the bush, to change etc. 3km, 40 minute easy grade walk from car park to pool. From the pool there is a short sharp climb up the track for view over the Kaitoke Swamp and large wetland area. Note total length of this walk is approx. 6km easy grade – walk is optional.
Day 3 – Tuesday 14th January – Northern half tour
Today we will explore the mid-northern half of the island. The areas and places we will visit are;
a) Glenfern Sanctuary – a visit to this sanctuary area, it is recommended to allow 2.5-3 hours here with a guided easy walk – climb into a 600yr old Kauri Tree canopy as part of this visit and great views from a place called sunset rock.
b) Picnic style lunch at Port Fitzroy (included as part of package) before
c) Metal roads to Whangapoua Beach with a beach walk to the S.S Wairarapa gravesites, shipwreck that happened in 1894 – approx. 40 minutes return – interesting history
d) Very scenic drive through bush area and views of the pinnacles and Coopers Castle – a 20 minute walk at Windy Canyon will be offered on return drive. The canyon itself and 360 views are amazing – downfall is lots of steps to top, no pain no gain type of walk – optional
Return to Tryphena
Please note as we are driving around, through places on these 2 days there are several art places, shops etc we may decide to call in on. As we are on an island we will “go with the flow”
Day 4 – Wednesday 15th January - Whangaparapara and free half day
or Whole free day
Now that you know what the island is all about today is a free day. As Tryphena is located on a safe swimming area you can blob out here for the day, swim, read etc. Lodge has complimentary kayaks to use.
We are more than happy to take people to other areas or return to an area from the previous 2 days remembering that the van can only be in one place at any one time. You may also like to hire your own car (or small electric bike) for the day and do your own thing.
If you would like a history walk, we will go to the Whangaparapara area with two options. One is a short easy grade walk to a DOC campsite with views from other side of harbour or walk along an old tram line to a scenic little waterfall 1.4km one way (2.8km return) both easy grade – OR both possible.
Day 5 – Thursday 16th January – Return
We will fill in the morning and return to Auckland on a flight early-mid afternoon.
Once back in Auckland recommended flight to New Plymouth is at 4:30pm, arriving at 5.20pm
Note – restaurants will be pre booked for each night. Own costs, you may like to self-cater at the lodge and this decision can be made once on the island.
Cost $1620.00pp for flights to/from island, all island tours as outlined, 4 nights accommodation at Pigeons Lodge (twin or double share) Single Supplement available, breakfast and 3 lunches.
Does not include dinners and getting to/from Auckland - these can all be arranged.
Use ticket link to make contact or on facebook page click ABOUT tab for find email, phone etc - we are not allowed to list that info on events