 Host: Mal & Tony BouzaidWhen: Summer, Spring, Autumn Length of stay: Two to several days Minimum number of guests: One to six can occupy the cottage Languages: English Rates for the cottage in NZ$:(as of 2005)
The Guided Sanctuary Tour is inclusive with the accommodation/tramping package and yacht cruises are from $100pp. Rates for a 3 day accommodation and tramping package:
GREAT BARRIER ISLAND SEAVIEW COTTAGE GLENFERN SANCTUARY
Black petrels nest not far below the kauri tree where one chick successfully fledged in 2000. We also helped a Cook’s petrel fledge from a burrow near the track in 2001. Kakas, wood pigeons (kereru), tuis and fantails are regularly seen on this portion of the track. Often heard but seldom seen are the little grey warbler and shining cuckoo. Sunset Rock Track loops back along the ridge above the valley where forty different native species have been planted amongst the manuka and kanuka. Sunset Rock at 180m provides a commanding view down FitzRoy Harbour and over to Mt Hobson. In the opposite direction this track follows the ridgeline around the perimeter of the valley to Coopers Peak for a view over Port Abercrombie and Kaikoura Island to Little Barrier before descending steeply to the driveway. The track from Sunset Rock winds down through the farm and back to the house, passing a flocking pond being created for the declining population of endangered brown teal ducks. A small roosting pond has also been built opposite the garage behind the house where a pair of brown teal have successfully raised ducklings over the last two years. Chevron skinks were first discovered at 'Orama' Karaka Bay on Great Barrier Island in 1974 by Geoff Stevens. The discovery on April 4th, 2002 of an adult chevron at the lower end of Glenfern Valley adds considerable weight to the Kotuku/Glenfern Peninsular as an established habitat for three of the four critically endangered species on Great Barrier Island. This was a great thrill as the only other sighting of this category A endangered species was in 1993. Glenfern valley has been selected by the Department of Conservation as a suitable area for the rehabilitation of injured skinks because of its habitat values and pest control programmes. Since then Graham Ussher of Auckland University has requested using our second valley as a test site for a study to be conducted on "The Behaviour and Genetic Characteristics of the Chevron skink." ACTIVITIESBIRDING TRAMPING After 40 years of native re-afforestation over 2000 hectares of kauri, rimu, totara, tanekaha, tawa and other native tree species have gained ascendancy and begun to reclad the northern half of the island in a forest which future generations will enjoy rather than despoil. The majority of the island's tracks originate in Port FitzRoy. YACHT CRUISES FISHING AND SEA KAYAKING SUN, SURF AND SWIMMING HIRE CARS, BIKES & TOURS |
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 (named Point des Aiguilles in 1827 by the French navigator Dumont d'Urville) in
the north to Cape Barrier in the south. Situated 70km from downtown Auckland and is only
30 minutes by plane from Auckland Airport. 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 or Mt Hobson is 621m high. The western
shore has many fine harbours Katherine Bay, Port FitzRoy, Whangaparapara, Okupu, 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 Sealink and the M.V. Tasman. 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. 
The cottage was built adjacent to the main house in
1923, and like FitzRoy House, has been completely renovated to offer clean, comfortable
accommodation for up to 6 persons. The Cottage is a self-contained, separate entity with 3
bedrooms, and comprising one queen-size, double bed, a pair of single beds and two
bunk-beds. The kitchen / lounge is well-equipped and comfortable, with French-doors
issuing onto two porches, both having marvellous views out over the Port and set against
Barrier's native-bush-covered hills. A logaire fireplace in the lounge makes the cottage
cosy and warm in the winter. The self-contained domestic facilities include all linen,
towels, cutlery, crockery, pots, pans and the basic condiments. The Cottage has a
full-size fridge (with a1.6 cu.ft freezer compartment) and a gas stove. The bathroom has a
shower, wash hand-basin and toilet, and hot and cold water is supplied from a 5000-gallon
rainwater tank. A BBQ is provided, together with a trestle table - so you can enjoy a
great New Zealand outdoor tradition. 
Here steps and boardwalk wind up through mature taraire,
nikau and puriri forest to the suspension bridge, into a 600-year-old kauri tree. Twenty
different native species can be identified from the bridge while a good view of the
harbour can be seen from the platform built in the crown of the tree. 
The rich bird life and lush native vegetation is evidence of the
natural unspoilt island environment. Wild life and bird life survive because of the lack
of noxious animals. Apart from Kaikoura Island in Port FitzRoy, which has fallow deer,
Great Barrier is free of deer, possums, stoats, weasels and ferrets. In the Kaitoke and
Whangapoua wetlands an endangered species, the brown teal duck, survives whereas it has
become extinct on the mainland. The forests are home to many common and endangered N.Z.
species including the kaka parakeet, kereru wood pigeon, tui, kingfisher, shining cuckoo,
grey warbler and morepork. The banded rail is a common sight around the house and cottage,
sometimes with a trail of young chicks in tow. Among the sea birds of Great Barrier Island
there are several petrels and shearwaters, breeding about the western cliffs and isles
with the little blue penguin. On Mahuki, a rock island off the west coast, hundreds of
gannets nest. On the east coast two estuaries behind the ocean beaches shelter dotterels,
banded rails, the migratory godwits and oyster catchers. If you are tired of your everyday
life style and need a break come on out, the peace and tranquillity of Great Barrier will
leave you invigorated and you won't want to leave.
Steeped in history and rich in native flora and bird life the
northern half of Great Barrier Island is 85% administered by the Department of
Conservation as a Forest Reserve. The network of over 100kms of well maintained tracks
wind throughout the native forest along rugged mountain ridges, beside shaded streams,
along pohutakawa fringed coves through palm groves and past waterfalls. 
A vehicle is required to visit the east side of the Island where
there are spectacular white-sand beaches, which offer great swimming, sunbathing and
surfing opportunities. In any season you can find yourself alone on kilometers of beach.