Hannan & Fraser's Guide to Aotea
Craft Brewery
Aotea Brewing is a totally off-grid brewery with a keen focus on sustainability. They make damn good craft beer! This is a refillery (off-license), so you are not able to buy a handle and sit down. But you can fill up literally any vessel you have on you - such as a water bottle, or one of their double-walled stainless steel flagons (available for purchase) and walk down to Medlands beach nearby. Every Sunday of summer they have a Sunday session, where you can drop in and drink on-site and listen to good music.
Aotea Brewing Company Ltd
50A Mason RoadAotea Brewing is a totally off-grid brewery with a keen focus on sustainability. They make damn good craft beer! This is a refillery (off-license), so you are not able to buy a handle and sit down. But you can fill up literally any vessel you have on you - such as a water bottle, or one of their double-walled stainless steel flagons (available for purchase) and walk down to Medlands beach nearby. Every Sunday of summer they have a Sunday session, where you can drop in and drink on-site and listen to good music.
Pub
You can't leave the Barrier without visiting the Irish pub first. It's a great place to unwind and relax, with local brewery Aotea Brewing's beer on tap, nice tunes and good vibes all round.
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Currach Irish Pub
78 Blackwell DrYou can't leave the Barrier without visiting the Irish pub first. It's a great place to unwind and relax, with local brewery Aotea Brewing's beer on tap, nice tunes and good vibes all round.
Sightseeing
Medlands Beach
One of many beautiful beaches on the island.
Head to the hot springs at night for less crowds, and more comfortable temperatures (it's way too hot on a summer's day!)
Kaitoke Hot Springs Track and Aotea Track
89 Whangaparapara RdHead to the hot springs at night for less crowds, and more comfortable temperatures (it's way too hot on a summer's day!)
One of the most beautiful beaches on the island and there are never any crowds. Walk to the Northern end which is a beach called "Palmers" - it's one of our favourite spots. Big pohutukawas overhang black sand dunes - with a nice little wave out front for surfing.
Kaitoke Beach
One of the most beautiful beaches on the island and there are never any crowds. Walk to the Northern end which is a beach called "Palmers" - it's one of our favourite spots. Big pohutukawas overhang black sand dunes - with a nice little wave out front for surfing.
Consejos para la ciudad
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Rental Car
Rental cars can sell out up to 6 months out for the busy times on the island (usually 20 Dec- 14 Jan and long weekends). Here's an up to date list of rental car companies:
www.greatbarrierislandtourism.co.nz/rental-cars-and-vans/
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Bring Comfortable Walking Shoes
If you're staying in Allom Bay, it's essential that you have some good walking shoes and a water shoe - like some crocs or sandals.
Formas de ahorrar
Bring Food With You
You'll save money if you bring your food with you. There are grocery stores on the island, but they are more expensive than town. Alcohol is quite reasonably priced and there is a movement to reduce glass waste on the island, so you can bring your own flagon and fill it up at a number of places including "The Rocks" bottleshop and Aotea Brewing.
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Rubbish & Recycling
All rubbish and recycling that you bring with you/create on the island gets sorted on the island and then transported back to the mainland. When you're packing - we recommend keeping plastic and glass to a minimum. When you're here - make sure you're separating your organic waste from your landfill items and keeping your recycled items sorted too. We can take your food scraps and feed them to our hungry chickens. The landfill and recycling we can deal with too.