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.
 |
 |
Copyright © 2002 by GBINZ. All Rights Reserved.
This map is the copyright of GBINZ and permission must be sought to
reproduce it.
