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. We stay in relaxed, island style Sunset Waterfront Lodge and Shoal Bay Estate and dine with Val and Francis.
- The stunning flight over the Hauraki Gulf to Aotea Great Barrier
- Meeting Christina over lunch at the Boars Nest
- Shoal Bay Estate & Sunset Waterfront Lodge
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Accommodation
SHOAL BAY ESTATE & SUNSET WATERFRONT LODGE
Staying on Aotea Great Barrier Island is a real escape from everyday life. It’s such an “off the beaten track” spot that we have to split our group over two hosts. Both are located in the Tryphena area for guests to enjoy the tranquility of the nearby deserted beaches, relaxing rustic decor, outstanding food and harbour views.
What we love about Shoal Bay Estate & Sunset
Waterfront Lodge – It feels like we’re staying with old friends, Val and Francis host us for dinner in their home, Shoal Bay Estate.
About our Great Barrier Accommodation:
Visiting the island is different than travelling to other parts of New Zealand. There are simply no large hotels or even motels on the island, all the options here are small and locally run. For this reason we split our groups between Shoal Bay Estate and Sunset Waterfront Lodge. We all love the laid back and relaxed atmosphere, especially those of us who live in cities, but we can’t expect every single amenity the city offers on “the island”.
The accommodation at Shoal Bay Estate does not have an exclusive ensuite bathroom and is the only exception in our entire tour programme of 27 itineraries.
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 at Shoal Bay this evening.
- Meeting our local guide and hearing their stories
- Visiting beautiful Whangaparapara Harbour
- Shoal Bay Estate & Sunset Waterfront Lodge
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Accommodation
SHOAL BAY ESTATE & SUNSET WATERFRONT LODGE
Staying on Aotea Great Barrier Island is a real escape from everyday life. It’s such an “off the beaten track” spot that we have to split our group over two hosts. Both are located in the Tryphena area for guests to enjoy the tranquility of the nearby deserted beaches, relaxing rustic decor, outstanding food and harbour views.
What we love about Shoal Bay Estate & Sunset
Waterfront Lodge – It feels like we’re staying with old friends, Val and Francis host us for dinner in their home, Shoal Bay Estate.
About our Great Barrier Accommodation:
Visiting the island is different than travelling to other parts of New Zealand. There are simply no large hotels or even motels on the island, all the options here are small and locally run. For this reason we split our groups between Shoal Bay Estate and Sunset Waterfront Lodge. We all love the laid back and relaxed atmosphere, especially those of us who live in cities, but we can’t expect every single amenity the city offers on “the island”.
The accommodation at Shoal Bay Estate does not have an exclusive ensuite bathroom and is the only exception in our entire tour programme of 27 itineraries.
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 communityWe return to Tryphena in the late afternoon.
- Cruise on beautiful Port FitzRoy Harbour
- Hear the history of Glenfern Wildlife sanctuary
- Shoal Bay Estate & Sunset Waterfront Lodge
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Accommodation
SHOAL BAY ESTATE & SUNSET WATERFRONT LODGE
Staying on Aotea Great Barrier Island is a real escape from everyday life. It’s such an “off the beaten track” spot that we have to split our group over two hosts. Both are located in the Tryphena area for guests to enjoy the tranquility of the nearby deserted beaches, relaxing rustic decor, outstanding food and harbour views.
What we love about Shoal Bay Estate & Sunset
Waterfront Lodge – It feels like we’re staying with old friends, Val and Francis host us for dinner in their home, Shoal Bay Estate.
About our Great Barrier Accommodation:
Visiting the island is different than travelling to other parts of New Zealand. There are simply no large hotels or even motels on the island, all the options here are small and locally run. For this reason we split our groups between Shoal Bay Estate and Sunset Waterfront Lodge. We all love the laid back and relaxed atmosphere, especially those of us who live in cities, but we can’t expect every single amenity the city offers on “the island”.
The accommodation at Shoal Bay Estate does not have an exclusive ensuite bathroom and is the only exception in our entire tour programme of 27 itineraries.
Day 4
Relaxing around Tryphena Harbour - Claris - Honey Shop
A day to relax and enjoy Island time with our local guide – fishing off the wharf, beachcombing, admiring the wide views from the Cape Barrier Road of Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty, and calling into Mulberry Grove.
We meet Nikki at Great Barrier Active Honey to sample their Manuka and Bush honey, and visit Brett and Jo at Anamata Resource Recovery. Later we enjoy dinner hosted by Val and Francis at Shoal Bay Estate.
- Connect with more locals and hear their stories
- Relax and enjoy some island time and beachcombing
- Shoal Bay Estate & Sunset Waterfront Lodge
See More
Accommodation
SHOAL BAY ESTATE & SUNSET WATERFRONT LODGE
Staying on Aotea Great Barrier Island is a real escape from everyday life. It’s such an “off the beaten track” spot that we have to split our group over two hosts. Both are located in the Tryphena area for guests to enjoy the tranquility of the nearby deserted beaches, relaxing rustic decor, outstanding food and harbour views.
What we love about Shoal Bay Estate & Sunset
Waterfront Lodge – It feels like we’re staying with old friends, Val and Francis host us for dinner in their home, Shoal Bay Estate.
About our Great Barrier Accommodation:
Visiting the island is different than travelling to other parts of New Zealand. There are simply no large hotels or even motels on the island, all the options here are small and locally run. For this reason we split our groups between Shoal Bay Estate and Sunset Waterfront Lodge. We all love the laid back and relaxed atmosphere, especially those of us who live in cities, but we can’t expect every single amenity the city offers on “the island”.
The accommodation at Shoal Bay Estate does not have an exclusive ensuite bathroom and is the only exception in our entire tour programme of 27 itineraries.
Day 5
Tryphena – Medlands Beach - Claris – Auckland
We start our last day on the island with breakfast with Val at Shoal Bay Estate 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
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Next departures
Please contact us if you have any questions about our tour departure dates.
| Tour Date | Price (from) | Availability | |
|---|---|---|---|
Departure Guaranteed 02 Dec 2024 - 06 Dec 2024 | $3,090 (NZD) | Sorry it's full | Enquire |
Departure Guaranteed 07 Dec 2024 - 11 Dec 2024 | $3,090 (NZD) | Filling up | Enquire |
Departure Guaranteed 06 Jan 2025 - 10 Jan 2025 | $3,090 (NZD) | Sorry it's full | Enquire |
Departure Guaranteed 11 Jan 2025 - 15 Jan 2025 | $3,090 (NZD) | Sorry it's full | 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 02 Dec 2024 - 06 Dec 2024 | $3,090 (NZD) | Sorry it's full | Enquire |
Departure Guaranteed 07 Dec 2024 - 11 Dec 2024 | $3,090 (NZD) | Filling up | Enquire |
Departure Guaranteed 06 Jan 2025 - 10 Jan 2025 | $3,090 (NZD) | Sorry it's full | Enquire |
Departure Guaranteed 11 Jan 2025 - 15 Jan 2025 | $3,090 (NZD) | Sorry it's full | Enquire |
Departure Guaranteed 17 Jan 2025 - 21 Jan 2025 | $3,090 (NZD) | Sorry it's full | Enquire |
Departure Guaranteed 08 Apr 2025 - 12 Apr 2025 | $3,090 (NZD) | Almost full Just 2 seats left! | Enquire |
Departure Guaranteed 13 Apr 2025 - 17 Apr 2025 | $3,090 (NZD) | Almost full Just 2 Seats Left! | Enquire |
Departure Guaranteed 19 Apr 2025 - 23 Apr 2025 | $3,090 (NZD) | Filling up | Enquire |
