The walks on Great Barrier Island are amongst the best in New Zealand. There are more than 100 kilometres of well-maintained tracks offering spectacular sightseeing amid canyons, valleys, native forest, mountains and coastline. Most walking experiences on Great Barrier are of tramping track standard and require a reasonable level of fitness.
Choose between a guided tour with Discover Great Barrier or Bush and Beach, or explore the many walking tracks at your leisure. When walking these tracks beware of steep drop-offs.
Some of the popular Great Barrier walks are listed below:
The guided walk begins in an all-terrain army vehicle and travels from FitzRoy to Sunset Rock, where visitors can enjoy views of the sanctuary's flora, fauna and wildlife.
Enjoy the kauri Tree Walk where native plants are identified with descriptive plaques and you can use a suspension bridge to climb into the crown of a 600 year old kauri tree.
For more information visit: www.glenfern.org.nz.
This great package offers transport to Windy Canyon for access to either the Mt Hobson track or the Hot Springs track. Walkers can be picked up by yacht from Bush Beach or Kiwiriki Bay. Popular short walks include Old Lady's Track and Waterfall Track.
Visit Barrier Gold in Wairahi Bay where Sven Stellin extracts kanuka essential oil to make kanuka soap and balm.
30 minutes: Beginning by the Port FitzRoy DOC area office this is a gentle graded climb passing through a kauri plantation to a waterfall. From the waterfall the return to the DOC office is 60 minutes, or you may carry on along the Bridle Track to Port FitzRoy. The stream has many deep pools that are ideal for swimming.
30 minutes: This is an alternative walk between the DOC area office and the Port FitzRoy store. This track is graded as an easy walk and features indigenous and exotic forest.
45 minutes: From the top of Port FitzRoy Hill is a short walk following a stream along the valley through a mature coastal forest.
You can take a 30 minute side trip down a steep sign-posted track to Lookout Rock, from where Port FitzRoy Harbour can be viewed.
2 - 3 hour loop: Starting from Whangaparapara, walk up the Tramline Track and above the remains of Whangaparapara Hut. Turn left at the sign-post and on to the Pack Track. The track rises up a ridge and down to Wairahi Stream then carries on back to Whangaparapara along Withey's Track, which follows the stream.
Offer a variety of bush adventures, including spectacular abseils and canyon trips. Climb and abseil on the ‘Three Kings’, a spectacular natural crag overlooking Port Abercrombie. Or take a daring ‘via ferrata’ journey over the top of the pinnacles, clipped to safety cables all the way.
They hold a concession with DOC for activities including all tracks and numerous off-track areas as well.
For more information phone (09)429 0762, email opcgreatbarrier@ruralinzone.net, visit www.opc.org.nz or view their brochure here.
The island has an extensive network of tracks suitable for all ages. Most are maintained by the Department of Conservation.
Those going tramping are advised to contact the Department of Conservation:
Phone: +64 9 379 6476
Email: aucklandvc@doc.govt.nz
Web: www.doc.govt.nz
