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Great Barrier Island from Above
cnango Says: These pictures were taken from the westside flying into Great Barrier Island. The beautiful aqua bays surrounded by lush green bush clad hills were stunning from this birdseye view.
Dodo22 Says: With most of the island run by the Department of Conservation, there is a lot of "wilderness" to travel through, and once at the top, some wonderful views. There is an excellent number of tracks across most of the island, the heads of which are accessible either by road, or...
Dodo22 Says: 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 10 January. Port Fitzroy mussels are harvested fresh from the sea and are cooked in a...
Dodo22 Says: Another walk, this time an easy one, is up to the waterfall. Mostly flat, there is some walking across rocks on a couple of the stream crossings. There are a number of water holes for swimming on the way up, otherwise save yourself for the main pool. We were here this Jan...
Dodo22 Says: You must try some of the walks on Great Barrier, a number are accessible from the various bays around Port Fitzroy, a very sheltered part of the island on the western coast which is protected from the elements by Kaikoura Island.If its a hot day and you don't feel like a...
Dodo22 Says: A real favourite with boaties, particularly yachties who don't have much water to carry around for showers, is to stop off at Smokehouse Bay and have a bath. The bathwater is heated by a stove which you feed with wood you have chopped yourself (its considered bad form to use...
Dodo22 Says: One of the more worthwhile walks is up to the well preserved remains of one of the Kauri Dams. It is approximately a two hour walk (depending on fitness) from the Kaiaraara Track and a bit longer if you enter from Bush’s Beach. We anchored in the bay and took our dinghy to...
Dodo22 Says: A real favourite with boaties, particularly yachties who don't have much water to carry around for showers, is to stop off at Smokehouse Bay and have a bath. The bathwater is heated by a stove which you feed with wood you have chopped yourself (its considered bad form to use...
44 Opinions
36 Opinions
Helpfulness
This one is a little outside the square, but can't be beaten.
After a great day's fishing, stop off at Smokehouse Bay, stoke up the fire and smoke your catch. Its a strictly "Cut your own wood" type of place, but the company is great and the views superb.
Favorite Dish: Fresh catch of the day......
Written Feb 11, 2005
Address: Smokehouse Bay, Port Fiztory, Great Barrier Island
Helpfulness
The best plan is to get to Smokehouse Bay early (assuming you have been lucky enough to catch some fish, maybe a nice big snapper!), 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!!
UPDATE 2006 ~ We visited for New Year 05/06 and found that a recent landslip has obliterated most of the facilities at Smokehouse Bay :-( Caused by heavy rain, the mud has destroyed the smokehouse and most of the bath house. All the barbeques are gone, although the mangles and washing line are still there. As is the tree swing, although you'd scrape your butt on the mud if you took a turn. I believe a working bee is being organised sometime soon to clear the site and rebuild the smokehouse - as this is such a pouplar spot with visiting boats it wouldn't surprise me to hear there are many willing volunteers. I will keep you posted.
Dress Code: Whatever you're wearing!
Updated Jan 7, 2006
Address: Smokehouse Bay
Barrier Gold: Barrier Gold for fine Kanuka Products
cnango Says: Barrier Gold at Port Fitzroy is a small operation that harvests Kanuka leaves by hand, extracts & distills the oil for use in a variety of medicinal and cosmetic products.Kanuka (similar to tea tree) oil is known for being both a fungicidal & anti-bacterial .
Port Fitzroy Store: You want it - they got it (probably)
allikat Says: This is the Great Barrier main store. It stocks groceries, beer & wine, fishing bait, papers, etc and does a brisk trade in knowing whats going on on the island. If it happens to be closed, there will be a sign instructing you to 'toot' or knock at the house next door. What...
Beware of Giardia, boil water to be safe !
cnango Says: There is no reticulated water on Great Barrier Island. Bottled water is available at many shops, but that can be costly. Due to the presence of Giardia in waterways you should boil all collected water or use a filter or purification tablets.
cnango Says: This is not so much a warning as a heads up. Be sure to have enough cash BEFORE boarding a boat or plane off the mainland. There are NO banks or ATM (Automatic Teller Machines) on Great Barrier Island. Some shops have EFTPOS (Electronic Fund Transfer at Point of Sale)...
A Beautiful Waterfall on Great Barrier Island
cnango Says: The falls are the Kauri Falls, which are about two miles from Whangaparapara (bay of many mud flats). The photo does not really show them well as the falls are about 30 ft high.
sabrepoint Says: Take your montain bikes on Sealink (Subritsky) ex Wynward Wharf in Auckland to Port Fitzroy on GBI. Stay at Fitzroy or nearby (Orama Holiday Park has selection of cabins and chalets - bit untidy, but clean - lovely; right on harbour's edge) and check out beautiful West coast...
Catch a Wave at Medlands Beach
cnango Says: Medlands Beach is located on the eastern coast of Great Barrier Island. The Island forms a barrier between Aucklands Hauraki Gulf and the open sea, creating a awesome break on it's eastern shores. With it's pristine white sand and good surf, Medlands Beach is a favorite for...
Explore Great Barrier Island by Boat
cnango Says: Great Barrier Island has an abundance of beautiful bays and harbours to explore by boat . You can take a charter tour, or hire (rent) small boats at Okiwi, Tryphena and Port Fitzroy Harbours And you can dock or launch boats from ramps at Whangaparara, Okapu and Medands. Go...
A Kereru in the bush outside my window
cnango Says: These rare and indangered wood pigeons are called Kererus.The following web site has some better quality pictures of the Kereru and more information: http://www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz/Fauna/PigeonNZ.htm]
allikat Says: The local tourist information office is only open during the summer months, generally from around Christmas and staying open for approximately 3 months or so, depending largely on how busy the season is. You can get information on accommodation, where to rent a car, walks,...
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Great Barrier Island lies of the North East Coast of New Zealand, about 90km from Auckland, past the outer reaches of the Hauraki Gulf. This is the 5th largest island in New Zealand, after the North...
Great Barrier Island is only 30 minutes (by air) away from Auckland but it is a world apart ! GBI is the 4th largest island in NZ, about the size of Maui with only 600 residents. Over 60% of the...
Great Barrier Island lies about 100km northeast of Auckland on the outside edge of the Hauraki Gulf. Known as Aotea it is the largest island off the North Island of New Zealand. More than 60 percent...
Very isolated island with so much to offer. Lots amd lots of activities. kayak, snorkle, swim, surf and do a lot of walking, great barrier has everything.
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