Weekends to remember
Ready for an off-grid adventure, a slice of wilderness and an exotic island all rolled into one? Aotea/ Great Barrier Island is an oasis to rival Rarotonga, and it’s just 40 minutes from Auckland.
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DAYS IN PARADISE
Mt Heal Hut, Great Barrier Island © Todd Eyre
ESSENTIAL KNOW BEFORE YOU GO • There are many campsites. DOC sites have simple amenities: long-drop toilets, cold outdoor showers and zero cooking facilities. • Phone signal can be patchy. • No signal for Google? Grab an island map from Claris Airport. Or download beforehand. • There are various car rental companies on the island. Book ahead in summer.
from Claris and leave it with resident rubbish before 8am on Monday. Or drop it off directly at the Claris landfill. • There are no banks or supermarkets, but local grocery stores are well-stocked and accept cards. • Electricity is run solely off generators so don’t pack your hairdryer! • Most things are more expensive than mainland New Zealand. • Budget for roughly $3.11 per litre for petrol.
• There are no taxis or public transport. • There are no rubbish bins. Purchase a council rubbish bag 66
We Love You New Zealand! Spring 2021
Getting there • Fly from Auckland Domestic Airport to Claris Airport in 40 minutes. • Ferry from Auckland Wynyard to Tryphena Wharf in 4.5 hours. Good for foot passengers, cars, push bikes and scooters. • The ferry and plane arrive and depart at Tryphena and Claris respectively: 17.5km from one another. • The ferry has a small café and some indoor seating. On a bluebird day, sit on the bow and look for dolphins.
