Time to unwind on Great Barrier
Where/what is it?
Sit in padded comfort on the back of a shiny chrome and blue three-seater chopper-style trike, to zoom around the quiet, winding roads of Great Barrier that Steve Billingham, in front, knows intimately. It’s a brilliant way to get an introduction to this idiosyncratic island and its equally personable residents, and on a warm sunny day you won’t want the tour to end.
Why go?
Even though it’s only a four-hour ferry ride from Auckland’s CBD, how many people do you know who’ve been to Great Barrier Island?
So there are automatic bragging rights – and exploring the place on a 1600cc, twin-carb trike is just jam on top. As he drives you round, Steve can give you all the local goss, as well as the history: sometimes the two overlap, like the story of the 1888 murder that involved shots in the night, an arrest in Sydney and a hanging in Auckland.
These days GBI is a pretty quiet place, all the excitement coming from squabbling kaka in the trees, a hollow right-hander attracting surfers to gorgeous Medlands Beach, or a pod of dolphins hanging out in Okupu Bay; but the locals are passionate about their little piece of paradise, and remarkably arty, too.
Painting, sculpture and woodworking have replaced whaling and logging as the main industry here, inspired by the natural beauty.
Insider tip
In an unexpected novelty, helmets are optional on this vehicle, so you can take the chance to let the wind blow through your hair and have a chat en route, or listen to the birds and cicadas as the bike hums along. ‘‘Helmets take the experience away from you,’’ Steve reckons.
On the way/nearby
Take a dip in the Mermaid’s Pool or a soak in the natural hot springs in the bush, after a hike up to Windy Canyon for the long view. You can kayak down a river, or hire a boat to try for kingfish. In Port Fitzroy visit the 83 predatorfree hectares of the Glenfern Sanctuary, rich with birdlife.
You can climb a 600-year-old kauri there. At Mount St Paul Estate there’s wine and good food; beer at the Irish pub; or coffee and cakes at the Claris Texas Cafe.
Visit the quirky little museum there, and the art gallery and gift shop — or get away from it all to tramp the twothirds of the island unreachable by road; and enjoy the Barrier’s status as the world’s first island Dark Sky Sanctuary.
How much?
From $75 to $120 per person for set joyrides and tours, or POA for your own personally-designed exploration of the island. Just ring or email Steve for suggestions.
Best time to go
The great thing about the Barrier is that it’s rarely crowded, so you can go peak season to enjoy the best of the weather for this open-air experience — but do book ahead, just to be certain. See greatbarriertourism.co.nz