Inter City Travel ClubHawke’s Bay
Tour #T1070 – Monday 19th September –Friday 23rd September
Great Barrier Island – $1295.00
90kms north east of Auckland and a 30min flight by Mountain Air will take us to “a world of its own”. Great Barrier Island is a must see. There are four main villages with approx 1200 people living on the Island (Nearly as many as Norfolk Island). This is a unique and special place not just because of its beauty but also for its tranquility and peace. Things don’t always happen on time here, they happen in “Barrier Time”.
Day 1 Monday 19th September
After collecting you this morning we travel to Auckland Airport. On the way we will stop at a suitable place for lunch. We fly into Great Barrier Island this afternoon. Steve meets us on arrival and transfers us to Great Barrier Lodge our accommodation for the next four nights. Dinner is in the restaurant this evening.
Day 2: Tuesday 20thSeptember(WednNORTHERN EXPOSURE
After breakfast this morning we wander down to the wharf where we board ‘Sundancer’ for our spectacular coastal cruise. We take a look at the old Kauri Sawmill and Whaling Station sites before heading up the West Coast & through the spectacular Broken Isles. Once through the Man O’War Passage we enjoy a scrumptious onboardlunch in the sheltered waters of the beautiful Port Fitzroy Harbour.
After lunch we disembark Sundancer at the Glenfern Sanctuary - Fitzroy House, where tour guides Emma & Scott give us an informative presentation explaining what they’re doing at the sanctuary regarding pest control and native plant and bird reintroduction.
Fitzroy House sits on the water’s edge and is home for kaka parrots, wood pigeons and banded rail etc.
After the presentation talk the group will be transferred to Sunset Rock for an amazing panoramic view of Port Fitzroy Harbour and beyond.
Steve meets us here and we travel back down the east coast by bus enjoying great views of Rakitu Island, The Windy Canyon and Pacific Ocean Panoramas.
We stop for a cuppa-and-cake at Awana where we enjoy an optional walk along this spectacular east coast surf beach. Then back to Great Barrier Lodge for dinner and sleep.
Day 3: Wednesday 21stSeptember(ThuSOUTHERN EXPLORER
This morning we visit the great little Milk, Honey & Grain Museum, the art gallery & head down to Tryphena.
We’ll explore around to the wharf, visit the Shoal Bay Pottery and have lunch at Tipi & Bobs Waterfront Lodge. On the way back we enjoy an optional walk along the famous Medlands Beach. If the weather and time permits, we’ll add in an exhilarating ride on our Crazyhorse chopper style trike before heading back to the lodge.
Day 4: Thursday 22nd September OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
Steve picks us up this morning and we head off to the Hot Springs Track for a 10 minute bushwalk to explore a stunning ‘Gt Barrier Island Nikau Palm’ grove. We call into Okupu Beach to check out the ancient Pohutukawatrees and then tour around to the ‘forgotten wharf’ at Blind Bay… a very scenic route with lovely old stone bridges and deep gullied streams.
We enjoy our lodge supplied picnic lunch on the shores of a privately owned beach before making our way back to ‘civilization’. We visit the Pigeon Post for gifts/souvenirs and tea/coffee at Claris Texas Café. For our last evening we have our dinner at Angsana Thai Restaurant buffet style.
Day 5 Friday 23rd September
An early breakfast and then we are transferred to the plane for a 9am flight to Auckland. Once in Auckland it is coach travel back to Hawke’s Bay. Lunch will be a suitable place on the way home.
Our price for this 5 day itinerary is $1295.00 per person and includes:
All on-island transport, transfers & Island tours and walks.
Return flights from Auckland Airport. Coach travel from Hawke’s Bay to Auckland and return
Glenfern Sanctuary experience (Presentation talk and Sunset Rock excursion).
Sundancer coastal cruise from Whangaparapara to Port Fitzroy with an on-board lunch.
Tea/coffee/biscuits/info sheet/maps Crazyhorse trike ride - weather permitting.
Lunch at Tipi & Bobs on day three. Picnic lunch on day four. Breakfasts and dinners each day while on Island. Accommodation on a twin share basis at Great Barrier Lodge.
Not included: Lunch on day 1 and day 5
Deposit of $595.00 is required to secure your place and balance of $700.00 to be paid by 1st September.
Luggage must be clearly labelled with name and address. It can only be up to 18kgs in weight. We suggest you bring good walking shoes, a torch and camera.
Method of payment: We accept cheque, cash, internet banking, credit card, eftpos.