Have You Heard of These Secret Islands in New Zealand?
There’s more to New Zealand (Aotearoa) than just the North and South islands (Te Ika-a-Māui and Te Waipounamu). While few are your traditional tropical idyll, these islands offer untouched beaches, thriving wildlife and deep history. Best of all, these are places where it is possible to escape the world almost entirely. From the top of the north to the very bottom of the south, these are the best of New Zealand’s other islands.
Urupukapuka
They don’t call it the Bay of Islands for nothing. With 144 islands in a subtropical region about three-and-a-half hours north of Auckland (Tāmaki Makaurau), the Bay of Islands is favoured by boat owners keen to cruise its turquoise waters. While Urupukapuka (above) is the largest of the group, it’s still largely undeveloped except for a few basic campsites, walking tracks and a single café (check seasonal opening hours). Take a ferry from the mainland and spend the day spotting native birds such as dotterels and tuis or hire a kayak and explore the island’s pristine beaches.
Kawau Island
Reached by (newly refurbished) ferry from Sandspit, one hour north of Auckland, Kawau Island offers a glimpse into New Zealand’s colonial past. Visit a 19th-century mansion renovated by one of the country’s early governors, Sir George Grey, and its park-like gardens, with tracks leading to a disused copper mine. With no roads, many kilometres of bushwalking trails and an impressive range of native birds, as well as some premium accommodation, Kawau offers an easy escape from Auckland.
Great Barrier Island Aotea
Great Barrier Island (Aotea) is only about 90 kilometres from Auckland but feels like a world away. With no power grid (energy comes from solar and generators) and no ATMs, New Zealand’s fourth-largest island rewards travellers keen on a quintessentially Kiwi adventure. Take a four-and-a-half-hour ferry ride (or a 30-minute flight) from Auckland, book one of the high-end beach houses or “baches” and spend a week hitting rugged surf beaches and tranquil hot springs for a total escape.
Kāpiti Island
New Zealand’s elusive national bird, the kiwi, is nocturnal so your best chance of seeing one is a visit to a nature reserve. Kapiti Island, off Paraparaumu, an hour north of Wellington (Te Whanganui-a-Tara), is one of these reserves and is open to the public, including for overnight stays. As well as the kiwi, the lush island is home to some of the country’s most endangered bird species, including some that are extinct on the mainland. Best of all, these birds have been raised in a predator-free environment so they’re not afraid of humans. You’ll need a permit to visit Kapiti and overnight stays must be booked through a licensed operator.
Rangitoto ki te Tonga/D'Urville Island
The Marlborough Sounds at the north-eastern tip of the South Island are a remarkable maze of cerulean-blue waterways formed after the last Ice Age. At the outer edge of “the Sounds”, as locals call them, you’ll find New Zealand’s eighth-largest island. With astonishing views across the Sounds from its peaks, Rangitoto ki te Tonga is a great place to go hiking. Alternatively, you could paddle a kayak around the island, keeping an eye out for dolphins and seals.
