Advice on transport options to Great Barrier island.
The island can be reached easily, by air or by sea, and here is a guide to getting to Aotea Great Barrier Island. It’s all part of the adventure.
Getting to Great Barrier Island by flying
For shorter weekend stays its a good idea to take a flight from Auckland with Barrier Air and hire a car on the island. For longer stays a return boat trip or fly in, boat out are also great options. The flight from Auckland, either from the domestic terminal in Manukau or from the North Shore is just a quick 30 minute journey on a 6-12 seater plane. There are regular scheduled flights departing from Auckland Domestic Terminal for Claris or Okiwi. On a clear day views stretch from the Coromandel all the way up to the Bay of Islands. Alternative routes from Whangarei, Whitianga, Tauranga and Hamilton are also available.
Getting to Great Barrier Island by ferry
By Sealink ferry, the crossing from Auckland is a relaxing 4 and a half hours, docking at Tryphena wharf 7 days a week in the summer and 3 days in the winter. The ferry is able to transport passengers, freight and vehicles. You’ll likely spot dolphins playing in the bow wake of the boat and whales on the horizon. There is something magical about arriving by boat to the island, the feeling of a true ocean voyage to discover our paradise.
Note that there are several charter boats that also offer water taxi services from Auckland.
Its important to remember we are an island. Bad weather can sometimes play havoc with your travel plans. If you are travelling onwards from Auckland on a connecting flight we reccommend leaving a few hours inbetween flights or buying premium tickets that allow late flight changes to be on the safe side.
Top tip: During peak season be sure to book transport long in advance, bookings get filled up very quickly. When we say early, for the peak months, this can mean up to a year in advance.
If you would like further advice about booking transport we’ll be more than happy to help you – email: info@dgbi.co.nz
On occasion, when its unsafe to travel the flights and ferry service can be cancelled. In this instance, we recommend contacting your rental car and accommodation provider as first point of call to extend your stay. This is standard on the island when transport is cancelled. If you need any further help then we recommend getting in touch with the visitor information center.
