Great Barrier Island
Is the fourth largest island in New Zealand after the North, South and Stewart Islands. It is 40 kms long with a land area of 285 sqkm stretching from the Needles in the north to Cape Barrier in the south. Situated 70km from downtown Auckland and is only a 4 hour scenic boat trip or 30 minutes by plane from Auckland Airport or Dairy Flat on the North Shore.
The terrain matches the Coromandel Peninsula (some 20km south and part of the mainland). Rising abruptly on the western shores with great cliffs and rugged ridges falling to easier country and sweeping surf beaches on the east coast. Great Barrier's main peak Hirakimata (Mt Hobson) is 621m high.
The western shore has many fine harbours including Katherine Bay, Port Fitzroy, Whangaparapara, Okupu and Tryphena that are connected by 85kms of winding gravel roads which make the sea the inevitable highway.
Tryphena, Whangaparapara and Port Fitzroy are the main ports with substantial wharves and ports of call for Fullers and Sealink. The island has two main airports, one at Okiwi in the north and Claris in the south, both on the eastern side of the island.
A colourful history
It is thought that the first Kauri were taken for use as ships spars, from the shores of Port Fitzroy as early as 1794. Felling gathered momentum in the 19th Century. Nagels Cove became a ship building centre because it seemed appropriate to shift the industry to the source of the timber, rather than transport the timber to the shipwright. The first sawmill on the island was established at Bush's Beach in Kaiaraara Bay in 1890, milling logs from the valleys running into the habour.
In 1910 the largest sawmill in the Southern hemisphere was built in Whangaparapara, milling logs primarily from Coromandel for export to Australia. The loss of manpower at the start of World War 1 closed the mill, but in 1926 logging resumed, with the construction of Kauri Dams to extract more inaccessible timber. The tallest Dam of its type and the best surviving remnant is located on the Mt Hobson track in the Kaiaraara Valley. Logging finally ceased in 1942.
Not only timber attracted the European newcomers; miners dug at Whitecliffs in a search for silver and gold. A copper lode at Miners Head (10kms from Fitzroy) which vanished into the sea towards Kawau was mined from 1842 till 1868. This was the first industrial site and until the copper smelting plant was established on Kawau Island the ore was exported to Australia for processing.
This was also the site of one of New Zealand's worst shipwrecks in 1894 when the SS Wairarapa sunk with the loss of 134 lives. Kauri-gum diggers had their turn as they probed the centre of the island. Settlers burnt down the forest to clear the land for farms most of which have now reverted to regenerating native bush.
More recently Port Fitzroy was the scene of intense military activity during the World War 11 with the construction of numerous fortifications. The Harbour was considered a major strategic asset that would be an obvious target for the Japanese.
Port Fitzroy and the Harbour
This is one of the best natural harbours in New Zealand, with numerous bays and inlets. Port Fitzroy has always been a mecca for yachts, launches and commercial craft. At Christmas up to 1000 boats can anchor safely in its many bays and coves without congestion.
With deep water right up the edges it is possible to anchor and tie the stern to a pohutukawa tree. Its two deep narrow entrances make Port Fitzroy landlocked and a safe harbour even in the worst of storms.
For events and more information on Great Barrier Island click here
To download the Department of Conservation Great Barrier Island full brochure, click here