Whangapoua Path

Take a ferry from downtown Auckland and spend a weekend exploring Great Barrier Island. Make sure you check out this important information before heading to the island.

Whangapoua Path is a long, gentle climb through regenerating forest to one of the best views on Great Barrier Island.

This path is a small section of the stunning Harataonga Walkway, a beautiful coastal route for walking and mountain bike riding.

Park near the entrance of the track about 1.5km up from the Okiwi airfield.

The well-made gravel track steadily climbs up and around a few shaded gullies, with a mix of mānuka, the ever present Hakea, a persistent weed plant on Great Barrier, and tree ferns in the shaded gullies.

You will be rewarded with a sudden, stunning view across the dynamic Whangapoua Estuary, to the large hills of northern Great Barrier.

Take a break on Stan’s Seat, named after local track builder Stan McGready, who has been instrumental in the making of many of the best walking trails on Aotea / Great Barrier.

If you’re keen, keep going along the trail towards Harataonga, with ever-changing vistas, or turn back the way you came.

This is one of Great Barrier’s ‘must see’ viewpoints, especially on a clear day.