Aotea Great Barrier Island Escape
5 day Great Barrier Island small group tour
Escape to this real gem in the Hauraki Gulf, somewhere that everyone who goes falls in love with. The tour includes the wonderful return flight, a scenic highlight. Enjoy a leisurely holiday exploring bush lined roads, the beaches and harbours in our own MoaTours coach. You’ll love the opportunity to meet local artisans, guides and island personalities.
Day 1
Auckland – Claris – Tryphena
We start our tour on a real high with a scenic flight from Auckland airport over the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park to Claris on Aotea Great Barrier Island. Our Kiwi Guide meets you at the airfield and in our own coach we head over to the Sugarloaf to lunch with Christina at the Boars Nest.
Above Tryphena we meet Marion at Elephant Craft Gallery and call into Peter and Fenella’s Black Cow Gallery.
- The stunning flight over the Hauraki Gulf to Aotea Great Barrier
- Meeting Christina over lunch at the Boars Nest
- Sunset Waterfront Lodge & Pigeons Lodge
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Accommodation
SUNSET WATERFRONT LODGE & PIGEONS LODGE
About our Great Barrier Accommodation:
Staying on Aotea Great Barrier Island is a real escape from everyday life. It’s such an “off the beaten track” spot that there are simply no large hotels or even motels, all the options here are small and locally run. For this reason we split our groups between Sunset Waterfront Lodge and Pigeons Lodge. Both lodges provide en suite accommodation.
What we love about Sunset Waterfront Lodge & Pigeons Lodge:
We’re hosted by Lynley and Leigh Johns and Jacqui and Darryl Herbert in lodges beside beautiful Tryphena Harbour where guests can enjoy deserted beaches and harbour views. It feels like we’re staying with old friends.
Day 2
Tryphena - Okupu, Blind Bay - Whangaparapara - Tryphena
We explore with our local guide and hear the island’s stories from a local’s perspective. We visit Okupu, Blind Bay, a large sandy bay and a favourite with dolphins, and peaceful Whangaparapara Harbour, once home to gold and silver mining, timber milling and the last whaling station.
Then there’s the option to walk with your local guide along the stunning trail to Kaitoke Hot Springs (40 minutes each way) and perhaps take a dip. We return to Tryphena and dine out this evening.
- Meeting our local guide and hearing their stories
- Visiting beautiful Whangaparapara Harbour
- Sunset Waterfront Lodge & Pigeons Lodge
See More
Accommodation
SUNSET WATERFRONT LODGE & PIGEONS LODGE
About our Great Barrier Accommodation:
Staying on Aotea Great Barrier Island is a real escape from everyday life. It’s such an “off the beaten track” spot that there are simply no large hotels or even motels, all the options here are small and locally run. For this reason we split our groups between Sunset Waterfront Lodge and Pigeons Lodge. Both lodges provide en suite accommodation.
What we love about Sunset Waterfront Lodge & Pigeons Lodge:
We’re hosted by Lynley and Leigh Johns and Jacqui and Darryl Herbert in lodges beside beautiful Tryphena Harbour where guests can enjoy deserted beaches and harbour views. It feels like we’re staying with old friends.
Day 3
Tryphena – Port FitzRoy - Okiwi Passion - Tryphena
Rugged ranges lead to Port FitzRoy where we meet Chris, our skipper and local personality. We cruise to Glenfern Sanctuary’s jetty to hear the custodian’s story of this Regional Park, gateway to predator fenced Kotuku Peninsula then explore the harbour’s inlets and lunch on board at Kaikoura Island.
Arriving back in Port FitzRoy, we drive to Okiwi to meet Gerald and Caity at Okiwi Passion who show us around their organic gardens that supply fresh greens to the island community. We return to Tryphena in the late afternoon.
- Cruise on beautiful Port FitzRoy Harbour
- Hear the history of Glenfern Wildlife sanctuary
- Sunset Waterfront Lodge & Pigeons Lodge
See More
Accommodation
SUNSET WATERFRONT LODGE & PIGEONS LODGE
About our Great Barrier Accommodation:
Staying on Aotea Great Barrier Island is a real escape from everyday life. It’s such an “off the beaten track” spot that there are simply no large hotels or even motels, all the options here are small and locally run. For this reason we split our groups between Sunset Waterfront Lodge and Pigeons Lodge. Both lodges provide en suite accommodation.
What we love about Sunset Waterfront Lodge & Pigeons Lodge:
We’re hosted by Lynley and Leigh Johns and Jacqui and Darryl Herbert in lodges beside beautiful Tryphena Harbour where guests can enjoy deserted beaches and harbour views. It feels like we’re staying with old friends.
Day 4
Relaxing around Tryphena Harbour - Claris - Honey Shop
A day to relax and enjoy Island time with our local guide – beachcombing, admiring the wide views from the Cape Barrier Road of Coromandel Peninsula and the Bay of Plenty, and meeting Fenella at the Mulberry Grove Store cafe to hear her stories of island life.
We meet Nikki at Great Barrier Active Honey to sample their Manuka and Bush honey, and visit Brett and Jo at Anamata Resource Recovery.
- Honey tasting with Nikki at Great Barrier Active Honey
- Relax and enjoy some island time and beachcombing
- Sunset Waterfront Lodge & Pigeons Lodge
See More
Accommodation
SUNSET WATERFRONT LODGE & PIGEONS LODGE
About our Great Barrier Accommodation:
Staying on Aotea Great Barrier Island is a real escape from everyday life. It’s such an “off the beaten track” spot that there are simply no large hotels or even motels, all the options here are small and locally run. For this reason we split our groups between Sunset Waterfront Lodge and Pigeons Lodge. Both lodges provide en suite accommodation.
What we love about Sunset Waterfront Lodge & Pigeons Lodge:
We’re hosted by Lynley and Leigh Johns and Jacqui and Darryl Herbert in lodges beside beautiful Tryphena Harbour where guests can enjoy deserted beaches and harbour views. It feels like we’re staying with old friends.
Day 5
Tryphena – Medlands Beach - Claris – Auckland
We start our last day on the island with breakfast at Sunset Waterfront Lodge before heading off to stroll along Medlands Beach, a favourite spot for surfers. In Claris we catch up with Dave Watson at the Milk, Honey and Grain museum, a treasure trove of memorabilia of the early settlers.
We celebrate our island holiday with a farewell lunch with Christina back at the Boars Nest at the Sugarloaf and visit the Community Heritage and Arts Village before catching our flight back to Auckland in the mid afternoon.
- Stroll or swim at Medlands Beach, a favourite place for surfers
- Catch up with Dave Watson at his unique museum
Next departures
Please contact us if you have any questions about our tour departure dates.
| Tour Date | Price (from) | Availability | |
|---|---|---|---|
Departure Guaranteed 12 Mar 2027 - 16 Mar 2027 | $4,290 (NZD) | Sorry it's full | Enquire |
Departure Guaranteed 18 Mar 2027 - 22 Mar 2027 | $4,290 (NZD) | Filling up | Enquire |
Departure Guaranteed 24 Mar 2027 - 28 Mar 2027 | $4,290 (NZD) | Filling up | Enquire |
Departure Guaranteed 05 Apr 2027 - 09 Apr 2027 | $4,290 (NZD) | Filling up | Enquire |
General inclusions
- All transport by comfortable, air conditioned coach (maximum of 18 travellers).
- Services of your knowledgeable MoaTours Kiwi guide.
- Quality accommodation chosen for a “sense of place”
- Return air fares from Auckland
All Meals Are Included
- All Breakfasts
- All Lunches
- All Dinners
Included Experiences
The following activities and attractions are all included in the price of your tour:
Sightseeing & Exploring
You’ll visit all the following spots on the tour:
Please contact us if you have any questions about our tour departure dates.
| Tour Date | Price (from) | Availability | |
|---|---|---|---|
Departure Guaranteed 12 Mar 2027 - 16 Mar 2027 | $4,290 (NZD) | Sorry it's full | Enquire |
Departure Guaranteed 18 Mar 2027 - 22 Mar 2027 | $4,290 (NZD) | Filling up | Enquire |
Departure Guaranteed 24 Mar 2027 - 28 Mar 2027 | $4,290 (NZD) | Filling up | Enquire |
Departure Guaranteed 05 Apr 2027 - 09 Apr 2027 | $4,290 (NZD) | Filling up | Enquire |