Great Barrier Island at a glance
Great Barrier is one of New Zealand's largest offshore islands and over 60 percent of it is public conservation land. It has diverse habitats, including kauri forest remnants, wetlands and estuaries, freshwater ecosystems, fiord-like inner harbours and exposed coast. It is a haven for many rare and unusual species like brown teal, black petrel, chevron skink, kaka and stag beetles. There are also over 1500 human residents living on the island.
Apart from the schools on Great Barrier Island, the island is not suitable for day visits because of its remote location on the outer edge of the Hauraki Gulf.