Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Cornish miners in 1842 at Miners Cove in the island's northwest corner, and whalers often
worked the waters offshore in the 1800s.
It was, however, the kauri tree and its natural by-product - gum - that was the most
sought-after and longest-lasting resource. By the 1930s logging had devastated the land.
Timber drives, using kauri dams and large amounts of water to flush the logs out to sea, had
been especially destructive, and quickly eroded valleys and stream beds, leaving a broad silt
flat at river mouths. In 1946 the New Zealand Forest Service began rehabilitating the forest
and, in 1973, it was declared a forest recreation reserve. When DOC was established in
1987 it took over administration of the Crown land.
Environment
Great Barrier Island is predominantly volcanic rock, the eroded remnants of a line of an-
desitic and rhyolitic volcanoes that erupted more than three million years ago. The result is a
rugged landscape, and one of the last wilderness areas in the Auckland region. The heart of
the island is a regenerating 80-sq-km kauri forest, crowned by Hirakimata (Mt Hobson). On
the west coast, steep forested ridges extend to the sea, where they merge into a flooded
coastal landscape and a maze of bays and harbours, making Great Barrier a popular destina-
tion for kayakers. The east coast is gentler, featuring sweeping white beaches and alluvial
flats.
The island is a haven for a long list of rare and endangered birds. More than 60% of NZ's
entire brown teal population lives on Great Barrier, and they can often be seen in the
Whangapoua and Okiwi Estuaries. The island also serves as a stronghold for the North Is-
land kaka and banded rail. There are also some spotless crakes and fernbirds.
Lower to the ground you might spot a lizard: Great Barrier Island has one of the most di-
verse populations in the country. The 13 species recorded include the large and rare chevron
skink, which is found only on Great Barrier and Little Barrier Islands.
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Planning
WHEN TO TRAMP
Tramping takes place year-round, although the wet winters can quickly turn the tracks to
mud. The peak season is mid-December to mid-January. However, because of the cost of
getting to Great Barrier Island, the tracks and huts, although busy, are not overrun. Visitors
begin thinning out after January, and many believe the best time to explore the island is
March to May, when temperatures are still warm but the rainy season has yet to set in.
