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Around Auckland
View of Rangitoto from Mt Victoria ©ATEED
Hauraki Gulf Islands
At Kawau Island, tour Mansion House, the stately residence of New Zealand’s former Governor, Sir George Grey. This scenic island has a range of walking tracks leading to Maori Pa sites and the ruins of old copper mines. Access to Kawau is by boat. Catch a ferry or water taxi from Sandspit, near Warkworth, 64km north of Auckland. A little further away, Great Barrier Island is rugged and remote and has beautiful surf beaches, lush native bush, fantastic hiking and birdlife. The island is home to the historic remains of copper and silver mines, shipwrecks, a whaling station, timber mills and kauri dams. Great Barrier Island can be accessed by the SeaLink Ferry or there are regular flights.
Must do’s • For something a bit different try some target practice and clay pigeon shooting at Wild on Waiheke. • Fullers Island Explorer tour buses meet the ferry from Waiheke and offer sightseeing tours, which include unlimited bus travel for the rest of the day. • Explore the lava caves which are unique to Rangitoto Island.
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• Enjoy a soak in the Kaitoke hot pools, a natural series of hot pools set right in the bush on Great Barrier Island.
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• Visit the oldest lighthouse still in operation in New Zealand on Tiritiri Matangi.
What to do. Where to ay. How to get there .