19 Mar 2024

Soaking in the views at Great Barrier Island

Our Captain brought us into the bay of Great Barrier Island, past Cuvier Island where we saw the most offshore lighthouse in New Zealand and an array of birds including Petrel and Gannets.

Once anchored, our Expedition Leader picked up the representative from Glenfern Sanctuary, who gave us a lecture on the history and conservation of the sanctuary and the island. Afterwards, we enjoyed lunch and went ashore to enjoy this beautiful nature firsthand.

Arriving at the jetty by Zodiac, we had the option to walk to the iconic Sunset Rock lookout at our own pace. The route was easy to follow, with about 330 steps, and it was all worth it to enjoy the spectacular scenery.

At the Sunset Rock treetop lookout, we had the privilege of hearing from Māori gatekeeper, Rodney, who was a great storyteller. Rodney shared some of his stories with us, and listening to him with the view from Sunset Rock was an experience beyond words.