Great Barrier Island
Great Barrier Island lies 88 kilometres Northeast of Auckland and is accessible via a 30 minute plane trip or 3 hour ferry ride. The fourth largest New Zealand landmass at 285 square kilometres, Great Barrier is like another world. Less than 1000 people live permanently on the island and have earned a reputation for their resourcefulness and approach to ensuring the islands pristine bush, beaches and seas remain so.
Maori inhabited the island for over a thousand years with Pakeha settlement taking place soon after Captain Cook sighted the island in 1769. As was commonplace at the time, it's kauri forests were milled extensively for shipbuilding, with the practice continuing right up until the 1940's. Great Barrier was also home to a whaling station during the 1800's but happily not to the detriment of the local whale population. These magnificent creatures can still be sighted enjoying the peaceful waters around the island. The absence of predators on the mainland means that many rare species can still be found there. The chevron skink, New Zealand's largest lizard calls the island home while the black petrel only nests here and on Little Barrier.
A wide range of activities, such as fishing, diving, mountain biking and golf, accompanied by a fine selection of accommodation will ensure you will relax in one of the most peaceful and tranquil locations New Zealand has to offer.
Check out our travel blogs here
Get inspired with stories and advice on visiting New Zealand.
Our team of New Zealand bus & coach tour specialists can help you create the perfect touring itinerary. Whether you want to explore the South Island or the North Island, take an escorted coach tour package or one of our independent itineraries we can design or recommend the best options. We have a huge range of accommodation ideas to suit everyone and our first hand experience of destinations and activities means that we can give the best, most up to date honest advice.
New Zealand Coach Tours is part of the New Zealand Fine Touring Group of Businesses. We are proud members of Tourism Industry Aotearoa and The Tourism Export Council of New Zealand. We are also Qualmark Gold certified and all our team have completed the 100% Pure New Zealand specialist program.
Our sister company, New Zealand Self drive Tours, specialises in just that - Self Drive Holidays across New Zealand. With over 200 great itinerary ideas to help inspire you there is something for everyone.
Our team of NZ Specialists tailor-make each itinerary to suit you. With hundreds of accommodation options, activity ideas, a great rental car range and our expertise to pull it altogether you are guaranteed a great NZ Self Drive holiday.