Great Barrier Island is 90km north east of Auckland, New Zealand, a world away from the hustle and bustle of a city. Beachfront, seaside accommodation, secluded cottages, luxury lodges, backpackers all enable visitors to enjoy Great Barrier Island's peace and tranquillity. A bird watcher's paradise. Activities include a network of walking tracks offering the opportunity to experience the island's mature and regenerating native bush. Other activities include kayaking, diving, fishing and surfing.

On the west coast of the island are steep, forest covered ranges with Mt Hirakimata (Hobson) the highest peak at 621m. On the eastern coast sweeping white sand beaches, tidal creeks and wetlands. The absence of possums has allowed the plant life to flourish and Great Barrier Island also has an impressive variety of birds, many of which are threatened and endangered. Although logged extensively in the past much of the island is now covered with regenerating forest and bush and some fine stands of kauri still remain.

There is a variety of walking tracks from the short walk to visit a waterfall or some hot springs to the longer walk taking you to the highest most point of the island. View the regenerating forest of native trees, the historic remains of a kauri dam and enjoy the unspoilt natural beauty along with panoramic views.

From beaches to sheltered bays and steep forest covered hills to mangrove estuaries the Barrier has a diverse landscape. The brown teal duck, black petrel, North Island kaka, banded rail, NZ dotterel and chevron skink are just some of the endangered species this habitat provides for.

There is always a welcoming smile and a hand of friendship for visitors to this small Barrier community of about 900. The pace of life is slower here usually and things don't always happen on time, they happen in 'Barrier time'. This is a unique and special place not just because of it's beauty but for the tranquillity, the peace and quiet it has to offer all who wish to experience