Location
Great Barrier Island's position defines the outer limits of the Hauraki Gulf
on New Zealand's NE coast. The island shelters this large maritime area from the
easterly weather and swell that can roll in from Pacific Storms. The local
climate is maritime with warm weather appearing as early as September and
lingering through to May - even in winter a frost is a rarity. After Stewart
Island, Great Barrier Island (Aotea) is NZ's second largest offshore Island.
It's terrain is mountainous and rugged with mostly rocky coastline although the
inshore coast has some fine harbours with sheltered deep water anchorages and
the east coast has three magnificent stretches of white sand ocean beach.
IslandStay is located in the Okiwi valley in the NE of Great Barrier. We occupy
an 11 acre block which is dissected by the meandering Okiwi Stream. This
waterway eventually becomes tidal, flowing through the mangroves of Whangapoua
Estuary and on to the open ocean at the southern end of Whangapoua Beach. This
transition from mountain rainforest to the Pacific Ocean takes no more than 4kms
along the valley floor. A sequence of changing habitat, vegetation and wildlife.
From our central location in the North there is short and easy access to the
major walking trails in the mountains, (especially round the high peak of
Hirakimata, and into the wild northern block (Te Paparahi), to the surf beaches
and rocky coasts and across to the deep water harbour of Port FitzRoy. We are
located on route of the round Barrier Hiking Trail and within easy reach of bus
and plane.
Whether you are a trail hiker, mountain biker, beach walker, surfer, diver or
fisher, bird watcher or nature lover Okiwi in the North Barrier has a quality
experience for you.
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