Last updated November 2026
More than two-fifths of Great Barrier Island lies inside one conservation park. Aotea Conservation Park covers more than 12,000 hectares of the island, about 43 per cent of it, and was opened in April 2015 as the first conservation park in the Auckland region.
The Department of Conservation manages it, and the park takes in forested ranges that climb to Hirakimata (Mount Hobson) at 621 m, kauri forest, wetlands and a long, broken coastline.
DOC describes the Aotea Track through the park as the only multi-day wilderness walk in the Auckland region, with two DOC huts on the route. The island lies across the outer Hauraki Gulf, about 90 km north-east of central Auckland in a straight line, and DOC says it is reached by a 30-minute scenic flight or by ferry.
Practical Information
- Location
- Great Barrier Island / Aotea, outer Hauraki Gulf; main track starts on Whangaparapara Road and Aotea Road
- Distance from the city
- About 90 km north-east of central Auckland in a straight line
- Size
- More than 12,000 hectares, about 43 per cent of the island (DOC)
- Managed by
- Department of Conservation
- Walking times
- About 45 minutes to the Kaitoke hot pools; 3 hours return to Hirakimata via Windy Canyon; 2 to 3 days for the Aotea Track
- Huts
- Mt Heale Hut (20 bunks) and Kaiaraara Hut (28 bunks), both serviced DOC huts booked online in advance
- Facilities
- DOC campsites around the island; no rubbish bins, so take all rubbish with you
- Fees
- Hut fees per night vary by season and day: adults $25 to $34, children 5 to 17 $12.50 to $17, under 5 free. Backcountry Hut Passes are valid; hut tickets are not
- Status
- Department of Conservation: Great Barrier Island / Aotea page and Aotea Track page
About Aotea Conservation Park
The park was created in 2015 from reclassified stewardship land. Conservation Minister Maggie Barry opened it on 10 April that year, and DOC’s announcement listed mature kauri forest, coastal landscapes and the Great Barrier tree daisy, a plant found only on the island, among its values.
The island has two quite different sides. DOC describes forested ranges in the west that drop to a coast of bays, islands and fiords, while the east has white sand surf beaches, tidal creeks and wetlands. Hirakimata, the highest peak, sits near the centre, and DOC notes that small areas of original kauri forest survive around it.
Wildlife is a big part of the park’s value. The central high points are New Zealand’s main nesting area for the black petrel (tāiko), and DOC says more than 60 per cent of the country’s pāteke (brown teal) live on the island, many in the Whangapoua estuary wetlands.
Spotless crake, fernbird, North Island kākā and banded rail are found here, along with more than 13 lizard species, including the chevron skink, the rarest skink in the region.
Part of the reason is what the island lacks. DOC’s brochure says Aotea has no Norway rats, possums, stoats or other mustelids, or hedgehogs, and asks visitors to check boats, cars, kayaks, tents and bags for stowaways and to clean soil and seeds off their gear before they travel.
History on the Island
DOC’s brochure explains that Aotea is the ancestral land of the Ngāti Rehua hapū of Ngāti Wai, who settled the island under their chief Rehua and claimed mana whenua in the late 1700s, according to oral history.
Archaeological sites on the island date back to the earliest period of Polynesian settlement, and the brochure notes that, as ancestral land, the whole island is sacred to Māori.
Later industries left their marks too. Copper was found in 1841, and the brochure says New Zealand’s earliest mine opened at Miners Head in 1842; gold and silver followed in the 1890s, and the stone walls of the Oreville stamping battery remain beside Whangaparapara Road.
The remains of New Zealand’s last whaling station are at Whangaparapara, where the Kauri Timber Company also ran a sawmill from 1905 to 1916.
Kauri logging ran from the 1880s to the early 1930s, and DOC says much of the Aotea Track follows old logging tramways. Kauri dams built in the 1920s were used to drive an estimated 7 million feet of timber down to the sea. A major storm in June 2014 washed away the historic Lower Kauri Dam, leaving only its base.
Huts and Tracks
Aotea Track and its huts
The Aotea Track is a 2 to 3 day tramp through the centre of the park. One common route starts on Whangaparapara Road, crosses the Kaitoke wetlands on boardwalks and passes Kaitoke Hot Springs before climbing to Mt Heale Hut (4 hours).
An easier first day starts from Aotea Road at the top of Whangapoua Hill and goes through Windy Canyon (3 to 3.5 hours).
From Mt Heale Hut a steep descent with 15 bridges, three of them suspension bridges, leads to Kaiaraara Hut (4 hours), and the last day follows Forest Road and the historic Tramline Track back to Whangaparapara Road (5 hours), with a short detour to Kauri Falls.
Mt Heale Hut sits on the central ridge, half an hour below Hirakimata, with 20 bunks in two rooms, gas cooking, two toilets and roof water that should be boiled. Its two decks look over the Hauraki Gulf to Hauturu (Little Barrier Island).
Kaiaraara Hut, near sea level on the western side, has 28 bunks, a wood stove, gas cooking and cold running water, and the brochure places it about 3 km from the Port Fitzroy store. Both huts must be booked online in advance; DOC keeps no spaces for walk-ins.
Shorter walks and harder routes
- Hirakimata: three routes reach the summit. Windy Canyon is the shortest and easiest, about 3 hours return; the Kaiaraara Track takes 3 to 3.5 hours one way and the Hot Springs and Peach Tree tracks about 5 hours one way. Wooden steps near the top protect black petrel nesting grounds.
- Kaitoke Hot Springs: the pools are about 45 minutes in from Whangaparapara Road. DOC warns the water can be “too hot in places” and advises against putting your head under.
- Harataonga Coastal Walkway: an easy grade, 4 to 5 hours one way, with a 30-minute loop at Harataonga.
- Burrill Route: 8 to 9 hours return to the central ridge and Tataweka (526 m). DOC’s brochure says it is not regularly maintained, is indistinct in places and has no water, so it is for fit trampers only.
DOC lists steep climbs, many steps, strong sun, rain, cold and slippery sections on the Aotea Track. For the longer routes, use Plan My Walk and tell someone your plans.
Getting There and Camping
Barrier Air flies from Auckland’s domestic airport to Claris, and Island Aviation flies from the North Shore. DOC’s park page mentions a daily ferry, while its Aotea Track page says Sealink sails three to four times a week depending on the season, so check the operator’s timetable.
Taxis and rental cars are available on the island, and DOC says unscheduled buses run from Shoal Bay Wharf in Tryphena Harbour to the campsites at peak holiday times.
DOC has standard campsites around the island: Akapoua Bay in Port FitzRoy, Awana Beach beside the Awana estuary, Harataonga overlooking Overtons Beach, Medlands Beach at the south end of the beach, The Green on Whangaparapara Harbour, and Whangapoua on the edge of the Whangapoua estuary.
All must be booked online before you arrive, as DOC holds no spaces for campers without a booking. The Green is the smallest and has no vehicle access: it is about ten minutes’ walk from the end of Whangaparapara Road, or you can arrive by boat. DOC staff are on 24-hour duty at the campsites during the peak holiday period.
Under the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park by-laws, fires and portable barbecues are not allowed, there are no rubbish bins, and flying a drone needs a permit.
In kauri forest, stay on marked tracks, keep off tree roots and clean your footwear and gear before and after your visit. DOC also asks that any dogs be kept under control because of the risk to wildlife.
Where to Learn More
Department of Conservation: Great Barrier Island / Aotea: park information, wildlife, rules and status. Track information: Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Department of Conservation: Aotea Track: track sections, huts, hazards, transport and status. Track information: Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Department of Conservation: Great Barrier Island / Aotea brochure (PDF): maps, campsites, walks, history and biosecurity advice. Park information: Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Aotea Conservation Park?
On Great Barrier Island / Aotea in the outer Hauraki Gulf, about 90 km north-east of central Auckland in a straight line. The park covers more than 12,000 hectares, about 43 per cent of the island.
How do I get to Great Barrier Island?
By plane or ferry. Barrier Air flies from Auckland’s domestic airport to Claris and Island Aviation from the North Shore, and Sealink runs ferries; check the operators’ timetables.
Are there huts in the park?
Yes. Mt Heale Hut (20 bunks) and Kaiaraara Hut (28 bunks) are serviced DOC huts on the Aotea Track. Both must be booked online in advance, and Backcountry Hut Passes are valid.
How long is the Aotea Track?
DOC allows 2 to 3 days, with nights at Mt Heale Hut and Kaiaraara Hut. Sections take 3 to 5 hours each.
What is the easiest way up Hirakimata?
DOC’s brochure names the Windy Canyon route from Aotea Road as the shortest and easiest, at about 3 hours return.
Can I swim at Kaitoke Hot Springs?
The pools are about 45 minutes’ walk from Whangaparapara Road. DOC warns the water can be too hot in places and advises against putting your head under.
Where can I camp?
At DOC’s standard campsites at Akapoua Bay, Awana Beach, Harataonga, Medlands Beach, The Green and Whangapoua. Each must be booked online in advance.
Can I light a fire or fly a drone?
No fires or portable barbecues are allowed under the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park by-laws, and flying a drone without a permit is prohibited.
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