MEET A LOCAL: Carol Comer

Meet Carol Comer, photographer on Great Barrier Island. She takes bespoke Astrophotography Adventures, providing tips on how to shoot the island’s incredible night sky (www.carolcomer.nz)

My top mustdo’s for visitors would have to include a magical night-time journey with Good Heavens to discover the beautiful night skies on the first designated Dark Sky Sanctuary Island in the world.

No trip to the Barrier is complete without a visit to The Currach Irish Pub in Tryphena. Thursday night is ‘open mic’ night; always lots of criac with the locals. And we have many talented artists and beautiful produce made right here on the Island.

Visit the galleries and grab yourself a taste of Aotea.

During the warmer months, take an evening walk around Tryphena and you’ll find glowworms tucked up into damp sheltered banks.

For a delightful day trip, hike up our highest peak, Hirakimata/Mt Hobson. The 627 metres can be a little challenging in places but you will be rewarded with the most beautiful scenery via the dramatic sheer rock faces of Windy Canyon.

Great Barrier Island has the most breathtaking landscapes, amazing bird life, clear turquoise water, pristine secluded white sandy beaches, incredible walking tracks and the darkest black velvet skies with stars scattered like millions of diamonds. I still pinch myself that our island has so much beauty at every turn.