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.
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.
