DISCOVER GREAT BARRIER ISLAND
08 - 15 February 2026
Escape to a different time on Great Barrier Island, where everything is a little less noisy and stressful, where the island is off the grid and at night is filled with millions of stars in a dark sky sanctuary. With music from our artists, 70% of land in a conservation park and a national marine park – it really is a world of its own!
$6175 per person twin share
Single Room Supplement Add $2150
Initial Deposit On Booking $1000
Second Deposit Due: 26 August 2025 $1000
Final Balance Due: 31 October 2025
Days
7 Nights
Highlights
Beautiful beaches, rugged landscapes and breathtaking scenery combined with our own Operatunity concerts and flavour.
Group Size
15 travellers
Travel of Note Boutique Tour
Meals
All breakfasts
1 High Tea
4 Lunches
6 Dinners
Included drinks at selected meals
Mobility
Moderate
Tour
SPECIAL FEATURES
• 2 nights in Auckland including a visit to Highwic Historic House with High-Tea, dinner at Sails Restaurant, Auckland’s award-winning waterfront restaurant with views over the Harbour Bridge, day trip to the spectacular Waitakere ranges with lunch and wine tasting at a winery and visit Muriwai gannet colony.
• 5 nights on Aotea Great Barrier Island, off the grid, exploring this rustic wonderland with special tours and experiences as well as our own brand of music and fun.
• Special tours and experiences include a cruise along the west coast from Whangaparapara to Port Fitzroy, experience some of Aotea Great Barrier Island’s most endangered species at Glenfern Sanctuary, visit Jacques Haven and sample some of the best manuka honey in the region, garden tour of Okiwi Passion, gin tasting at Island Gin distillery.
• Great Barrier Island is a world-renowned designated Night Sky Sanctuary and we will be treated to Good Heavens Star Gazing experience where you will be given a guided tour of the night sky.
• 3 Operatunity concerts from our artists: Food Glorious Food as we enjoy a gourmet lunch and present music from the 60s including songs from Oliver and other beloved 60s musicals! Great Celtic Songs, a celebration of songs from Scotland, Ireland and Wales; 100 Glorious Years of Song, where we will take you on a journey through the 20th century, featuring some famous songs from the different decades.
TRIP ITINERARY
Experience the Exceptional:
SUNDAY 08 FEBRUARY 2026 (HT, D)
Four Points by Sheraton Auckland (2 nights)
The Four Points by Sheraton Auckland hotel is well located just moments away from Aotea Square, the Civic Theatre, Town Hall, the Auckland Art Gallery and numerous bars and restaurants.
Highlights Include:
• We arrive from our various destinations around New Zealand and are met at Auckland Domestic Airport late-morning.
• High Tea at Highwic historic house, a well-preserved Gothic Mansion with award-winning Heritage gardens.
• Free time for shopping in Newmarket.
• Dinner at Sails Restaurant, Auckland’s award-winning waterfront restaurant with views over the Harbour Bridge.
MONDAY 09 FEBRUARY 2026 (B, L)
Highlights Include:
• Day tour to the spectacular Waitakere Ranges; a place where pristine bush, thriving native wildlife and rugged black sand surf beaches come together.
• Lunch at a winery with a concert from our artists, entitled Food Glorious Food as we enjoy our gourmet lunch and present music from the 60s including songs from Oliver and other beloved 60s musicals!
• Visit Muriwai and see the gannet colony perched on the edge of the cliffs.
• Evening off to meet friends or enjoy the myriad of cafes and restaurants close to our hotel.
TUESDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2026 (B, D)
Sunset Waterfront Lodge (5 nights) Great Barrier Island
Located right on the water’s edge at Tryphena. It’s the perfect spot to relax and watch the sun set.
Highlights Include:
• Flight from Auckland to Great Barrier Island.
• Visit the beautiful Medlands Beach.
• Tonight, we are treated to Good Heavens Star Gazing experience with a guided tour of the night sky.
WEDNESDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2026 (B, MT, L, D)
Highlights Include:
• Cruise the west coast of Great Barrier Island to see the remains of the whaling station and timber mill, and Broken Islands while enjoying morning tea. Sometimes dolphins are seen during the cruise. See the spectacular coastline and entrance to beautiful Port Fitzroy Harbour and enjoy picnic lunch on board.
• Experience some of Aotea Great Barrier Island’s most endangered species and hear the birdsong on the track through native bush at Glenfern Sanctuary.
• Dinner and concert at a local restaurant: Great Celtic Songs, a celebration of songs from Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2026 (B, MT, D)
Highlights Include:
• Visit Jacques Haven and have a personal tour of the haven he has created with a variety of fruit trees, bird life and bees.
• We’ll have morning tea on a tranquil deck in the middle of his little haven and dinner at a local restaurant this evening.
FRIDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2026 (B, L, D)
Highlights Include:
• Explore Tryphena, visiting the Elephant Gallery and the Black Cow Gallery (if open).
• Visit Island Gin distillery to enjoy gin tasting and platters.
• Free time in afternoon before our dinner at a local restaurant.
SATURDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2026 (B, L, D)
Highlights Include:
• Guided tour at Okiwi Passion, nestled in the Okiwi Basin. This organic farm grows high-quality food with minimal cultivation.
• Picnic lunch at Awana Beach DOC and a walk along the beach.
• Farewell dinner this evening with a concert:100 Glorious Years of Song, where we will take you on a journey through the 20th century, featuring famous songs.
SUNDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2026 (B)
• Transfer from our accommodation to the airport for our flight from Great Barrier Island to Auckland Airport where our fabulous tour ends.
This Trip Includes:
• 8-day, 7-night tour, staying 2 nights in Auckland at the Four Points by Sheraton and 5 nights in Great Barrier Island at the Sunset Lodge, located right on the beach. Please note: This motel is in a great location but is more of a rustic motel than a 4 star hotel which are our normal standard due to the relaxed rustic nature of Great Barrier.
• 3 Operatunity concerts from our artists: Food Glorious Food with gourmet lunch and music from the 60s, Great Celtic Songs, a celebration of songs from Scotland, Ireland and Wales; 100 Glorious Years of Song, where we will take you on a journey through the 20th century, featuring some famous songs from the different decades.
• Special experiences include cruising the west coast from Whangaparapara to Port Fitzroy, Medlands Beach, experience some of Aotea Great Barrier Island’s most endangered species and hear the birdsong at Glenfern Sanctuary, visit Jacques Haven and sample manuka honey, garden tour of Okiwi Passion, gin tasting at Island Gin distillery, Tryphena and its galleries and Good Heavens Star Gazing experience.
• 2 nights in Auckland including scenic drive to the Waitakere ranges, wine tasting and lunch at a winery, dinner at Sails Restaurant, Auckland’s award-winning waterfront restaurant with views over the Harbour Bridge.
• All breakfasts, 1 High Tea, 4 lunches, 6 dinners and all included drinks at selected meals.
• All tours, transfers, tips, concerts, taxes, meals and activities as included in the itinerary.
• Escorted by Alex Milligan, Alex Foster-Winder and Paul Carnegie-Jones.
PLEASE NOTE: As our travellers are coming from all over NZ, airfares from your home base to Auckland are not included. Only airfares from Auckland to Great Barrier return are included. If you require us to book your flights at an additional cost, please contact us.
Important Information
• All itinerary details are subject to change, but changes will be replaced with a comparable or better option.
• Initial & Second deposits are fully refundable up until final balance due date, minus an administration fee of up to $500 plus any non-recoverable costs.
• All monies are non-refundable at final balance due date. This becomes an insurance claim.
• Bank transfer payments incur no surcharge. Credit card payments incur surcharge of 1.5%.
• Travellers need to be independently mobile and fit to travel.
• Bookings will only be accepted with initial deposit & booking form.
• All travellers must obtain comprehensive travel insurance for international travel and insurance for domestic travel is recommended.
• Please refer to our terms and conditions on booking form.
Mobility - Moderate Tour
This trip has a little more walking than an easy tour. It is a moderate tour for one of the following reasons – you may need to walk with ease for up to one hour at a slow pace or be able to climb stairs or be able to get on and off boats, trains and buses. This trip will not suit those on walkers and a moderate level of mobility is required.