Destination of the Week: Great Barrier Island
Why you should go: With temperatures heating up, the flight from Auckland taking a minuscule 30 minutes and the longer (yet more idyllic) 4.5-hour ferry saturated in scenic views and dolphin sightings, visiting Aotea/Great Barrier Island is a no-brainer. So many reasons to go - and we haven't even touched the land yet. Once there, find every island stereotype you could dream of: golden beaches, turquoise water and laid-back vibes – it's like New Zealand met Rarotonga and made a mini motu.
![Pull on your hiking boots and embark on a Great Barrier Island walk. Photo / Todd Eyre](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/Q4AE3NE3RIO5WCUUM7MARLJOAU.jpg?auth=bf3d5ec8cec1b3fff214a8f8c1c9e6bda76c0bb27c8ba11b7195b0900de7144f&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
Top spots: Literally any beach will leave you swooning. If the kids are in tow, there's a string of safe and sheltered bays. If you're lugging a board, the best surf is found at Medlands, Awana, and Okiwi Beach. Trampers can heave their body poles along the 2-3 day Aotea Track and pleasure-seekers can head to Kaitoke hot springs; an all-natural pool of gloriously warm water hidden in the folds of the forest. The entire island is a Dark Sky Sanctuary and there are tours to suit every whim, whether you're into stargazing, horse riding, zipping about on modified trikes, boat excursions or honey-making bees.
![Kaitoke hot springs are all-natural pools hidden in the folds of the forest. Photo / Todd Eyre](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/XOBLCG6PF7RLCBHEONPYQME4PQ.jpg?auth=f037433931c7d3821099aca8c7917cb5b46149f34992f247d36d149fdcdfdda6&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)