Great Barrier Island Travel
Great Barrier Island Overview
Great Barrier Island is the largest of the Hauraki Gulf islands. It is in the Auckland Region, just off the coast of the Coromandel Peninsula. The island has a tropical climate, with two distinct seasons: wet and dry season. The dry seasons starts from May until October, the best time to visit.
Great Barrier Island Main Attractions
Great Barrier Island, Auckland, is a place of unspoiled beaches and vast tracts of native forest. The island's rugged, untouched beauty is hard to find elsewhere. The island is not exploited by a huge locale but rich in minerals and nature. A population of more than 850, it's impossible to spoil the pristine beaches and lush ecosystem of the island. And with the most remote areas as the most beautiful sightseeing, you have to book into an eco-tour to view these hidden beauties.
The pace of life in Great Barrier Island is slower here usually and things don't always happen on time, they happen in 'Barrier time'. This is a unique and special place not just because of its beauty but for the tranquility, the peace and quiet it has to offer all who wish to experience it. The best place to enjoy this tranquility is visiting the beach especially during the night.
Great Barrier Island Activities
If you are going to be on Great Barrier Island in January the Great Fitzroy Mussel Fest is not to be missed. I believe that it is New Zealand's only mussel festival and is held around 10th January (this year it was the 12th January). Port Fitzroy mussels are harvested fresh from the sea and are cooked in a variety of ways from hot off the barbecue to seafood chowder and smoked. Washed down with a cold beer this is an experience not to be missed.
Great Barrier Island Accommodation & Dining
The Great Barrier Island has wide range of selection of accommodation from chalets to luxurious hotels. They have all the facilities. Besides for the wide range selection of accommodation, the personnel are very hospitable and do their jobs with warm heart. Your dining experiences my change in Great Barrier Island. If you know about the idea "chop your own wood", here you catch your own grilled fish. Stop by the Smokehouse Bay, stoke up the fire and smoke your fish.
Great Barrier Island Shopping & Nightlife
The best plan is to get to Smokehouse Bay early, start smoking your fish and heating the firebox for a bath. Then go catch some more fish while this is happening and return later to enjoy. There are bound to be a few others doing the same, and they are almost guaranteed to be on the same wavelength as you. Enjoy your food, have a bath, and just chill out under the trees by the water. This is what 'nightlife' is really about. Shopping can be a past time in Great Barrier Island. There are lots of shops, stores and stall all over the island.
Getting To & Around Great Barrier Island
If interested to visit Great Barrier Island, it will be by ferry from Auckland or by a plane via Great Barrier Airlines. The planes leave from many different areas, including Auckland, Northshore, and Whanagari. There are airfields at Claris (Great Barrier Aerodrome) and Okiwi. There are two ferry services to Great Barrier Island: Fullers and Sealink.
