Great Barrier Island

DISCOVER GREAT BARRIER ISLAND

13-20

MARCH 2024

Discover Great Barrier Island, off the grid, with its dark sky sanctuary, 70% of land in a conservation park and a national marine park - it is really a world of its own!

Experience the Exceptional...

• 7-night Haurauki Gulf Tour with 5 nights on Aotea Great Barrier Island and 2 nights in Auckland including Waiheke Island; with special tours and experiences as well as our own brand of music and fun.

• Tours include the Milk, Honey & Grain Museum, Medlands Beach, cruise the west coast from Whangaparapara to Port Fitzroy, experience some of Aotea Great Barrier Island’s most endangered species, hear the birdsong through pristine native bush at Glenfern Sanctuary, Windy Canyon, Jacque’s Haven, Blind Bay and the hidden wharf at Okupu, driving through a stand of ancient Pohutukawa, visit a gin distillery for gin tasting, Tryphena and its galleries, Okiwi Passion and Kaitoke Hot Springs.

• Great Barrier Island is a world-renowned designated Night Sky Sanctuary and we will be treated to Good Heavens Star Gazing experience where you will be given a guided tour of the night sky.

• Music events include: lunch and wine tasting at a Waiheke vineyard including music from our artists, Music for Romantics - a sentimental and fun look at romance and love, Memories and Melodies - a walk down memory lane with dinner and concert at a local restaurant, celebrate St Patrick’s Day with the locals at Currach Irish Pub, final night dinner and concert, From Broadway to the Westend - great songs from the musicals.

• 2 nights in Auckland including a visit and tour to Howick Historic Village, a high tea, dinner at Sails Restaurant, Auckland’s award winning waterfront restaurant with views over the Harbour Bridge, day trip to Waiheke Island with lunch at a vineyard and music from our artists.

OUR ARTISTS FOR THIS TRIP:

Hosted by Alex Milligan, Alex Foster and Paul Carnegie-Jones.

WEDNESDAY 13 MARCH 2024 (L, D)

- Jet Park Hotel, Auckland (2 nights)

Highlights Include:

• After pick up from the airport, visit and tour to Howick Historic Village, followed by a high tea lunch.

• Dinner this evening at Sails Restaurant, Auckland’s award winning waterfront restaurant with views over the Harbour Bridge.

THURSDAY 14 MARCH 2024 (B, L)

Highlights Include:

• Day trip to Waiheke Island including an island tour and a visit to Whittaker’s Musical Museum with a short concert.

• Lunch and wine tasting at a beautiful vineyard including music from our artists: Music for Romantics – a sentimental and fun look at romance and love.

• Free time this evening to visit friends and family and enjoy your own dinner arrangements.

FRIDAY 15 MARCH 2024 (B, D)

- Sunset Waterfront Lodge, Great Barrier Island (5 nights)

Highlights Include:

• Flight from Auckland to Great Barrier Island.

• Visit the Milk, Honey & Grain Museum and the beautiful scenic Medlands Beach.

• Dinner at a local restaurant.

• Great Barrier Island is a world-renowned designated Night Sky Sanctuary. Tonight, you will be treated to Good Heavens Star Gazing experience where you will be given a guided tour of the night sky.

SATURDAY 16 MARCH 2024

(B, L, Afternoon Tea, D)

Highlights Include:

• Explore the west coast of Great Barrier Island onboard Sundancer for 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, occasionally dolphin encounters are experienced during the cruise. See the spectacular coastline and entrance to beautiful Port Fitzroy Harbour. A picnic lunch is provided on board.

• Experience some of Aotea Great Barrier Island’s most endangered species and hear the birdsong on the track through pristine native bush at Glenfern Sanctuary.

• Visit Windy Canyon for an easy 15-20 min walk each way to the lookout to get some great photos of the beautiful beaches.

• Afternoon tea at Awana DOC camp.

• Dinner and concert at a local restaurant, Memories and Melodies – a walk down memory lane enjoying music through the ages.

SUNDAY 17 MARCH 2024 (B, Morning Tea, D)

Highlights Include:

•Visit Jacque’s Haven. Meet Jacque and have a personal tour of the haven he has created. A microclimate with a variety of fruit trees, bird life and bees. We’ll have morning tea on a tranquil deck in the middle of his little haven.

• Celebrate St Patrick’s Day with the locals at Currach Irish Pub this evening.

MONDAY 18 MARCH 2024 (B, L, D)

Highlights Include:

• Drive to Blind Bay and the hidden wharf at Okupu, driving through a stand of ancient Pohutukawa that enclose the road edge around the bay.

• Visit a gin distillery on the island to enjoy some gin tasting and lunch platters.

• Explore Tryphena, visiting the Elephant Gallery and the Black Cow Gallery in Puriri Bay (if open).

• Dinner at a local restaurant.

TUESDAY 19 MARCH 2024 (B, L, D)

Highlights Include:

• Guided tour at Okiwi Passion. They grow a small range of delicious, seasonal, naturally produced vegetables, fruit and seedlings in the sun-drenched, fertile Okiwi Basin of Great Barrier Island.

• Picnic lunch at Awana Beach DOC camp and a walk along the beach.

• Visit Kaitoke Hot Springs (45 minute relatively flat forest walk each way - bring your togs if you wish, the lodge will provide towels).

• Farewell dinner and concert at a local restaurant: From Broadway to the West End as we enjoy great songs from the musicals.

WEDNESDAY 20 MARCH 2024 (B)

Highlights Include:

• Transfer from our accommodation to the airport for flight from Great Barrier Island to Auckland Airport where our tour ends.

Entertainment from Alex, Alex with Paul

THIS TRIP INCLUDES:

$5930 per person twin share

Single Room Supplement Add $1980

Initial Deposit on booking: $1000

Second Deposit due 29th September 2023: $1000

Final Balance due: 4th December 2023

• 5 nights accommodation on Aotea Great Barrier Island, off the grid, exploring this rustic wonderland with special tours and experiences as well as our own brand of music and fun.

• Special tours and experiences include the Milk, Honey & Grain Museum, Medlands Beach, cruise the west coast from Whangaparapara to Port Fitzroy, experience some of Aotea Great Barrier Island’s most endangered species, hear the birdsong through pristine native bush at Glenfern Sanctuary, Windy Canyon, Jacque’s Haven, Blind Bay and the hidden wharf at Okupu, driving through a stand of ancient Pohutukawa, visit a gin distillery for gin tasting, Tryphena and its galleries, Okiwi Passion and Kaitoke Hot Springs, Night Sky Sanctuary with a Good Heavens Star Gazing experience.

• Music events include: lunch and wine tasting at a Waiheke vineyard including music from our artists, Music for Romantics - a sentimental and fun look at romance and love, Memories and Melodies - a walk down memory lane with dinner and concert at a local restaurant, celebrate St Patrick’s Day with the locals at Currach Irish Pub, final night dinner and concert, From Broadway to the West End - great songs from the musicals.

• 2 nights accommodation in Auckland including a visit and tour to Howick Historic Village, a high tea lunch, dinner at Sails Restaurant, Auckland’s award winning waterfront restaurant with views over the Harbour Bridge, day trip to Waiheke Island with lunch at a vineyard and music from our artists.

• All coach tours including ferry transfer to Waiheke and tour of Waiheke and Great Barrier Island tours as per our itinerary.

• Flights from Auckland to Great Barrier Island return.

• All breakfasts, 5 lunches, 6 dinners, 1 morning tea, 1 afternoon tea are included.

• Travel of Note trip limited to 20 travellers or less.

• Hosted by Alex Milligan, Alex Foster and Paul Carnegie-Jones.

• PLEASE NOTE: As our travellers are coming from all over NZ, airfares from your home base to Auckland are not included. Only airfares from Auckland to Great Barrier return are included.

MODERATE TOUR

This is an easy trip for the most part, but you do need to be able to get on and off boats and manage stairs, slopes and uneven terrain. This trip will not suit those on walkers and a moderate level of mobility is required.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• All itinerary details are subject to change, but changes will be replaced with a comparable or better option.

• Initial & Second deposits are fully refundable up until final balance due date, minus an administration fee of up to $500 plus any non-recoverable costs.

• All monies are non-refundable at final balance due date. This becomes an insurance claim.

• Payment by direct credit incurs no surcharge. Credit card payments will incur a surcharge of 1.5%.

• Travellers need to be independently mobile and fit to travel.

• Bookings will only be accepted with initial deposit.

• All travellers must obtain comprehensive travel insurance for international travel and insurance for domestic travel is recommended.

• Please refer to our terms and conditions on booking form.