Glenfern Sanctuary: Great Barrier Island Regional Parkland
Photo: “Banded rail at Glenfern” by Christopher Stephens, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Park at a glance
- Region
- Auckland
- Location
- Port Fitzroy, Great Barrier Island
- Managed by
- Auckland Council
- Dogs
- No dogs
- Camping
- No
Overview
Glenfern Sanctuary Regional Parkland is on the north-west coast of Port Fitzroy (Rarohara Bay), on Aotea / Great Barrier Island. It's a predator-controlled, regenerating forest where threatened and endangered species are thriving again. Mature and young kauri, pūriri, tōtara and pōhutukawa grow here.
The sanctuary was founded by the late Tony Bouzaid, who has a memorial on site. The Information Centre behind Fitzroy House tells the cultural and natural history of Glenfern, and there's an explorer activity sheet for 7–12-year-olds.
Getting there and opening hours
- Address: Glenfern Road, Port Fitzroy, Great Barrier Island
- Getting to the island: A half-hour flight from Auckland, or by ferry or private boat. No public transport serves the sanctuary, so arrange your own transport from Port Fitzroy.
- Glenfern Road: 600 m long, narrow and unsealed, with a hairpin bend and a ford. Drive carefully.
- Gate hours: 10am–6pm during daylight saving and 10am–4pm the rest of the year. Walk-in access follows the same hours.
- Parking: On the grass outside the main gate. Don't park on the concrete pad across the ford, because it's the rescue helicopter landing area.
Things to do
Glenfern Walk, the kauri platform and Sunset Rock
The Glenfern Walk climbs through the sanctuary to a platform above the kauri canopy with views down to Port Fitzroy, and to Sunset Rock, with 360-degree views over the Hauraki Gulf islands. The first half follows a quad track. After that come steep steps and a narrow boardwalk. A gentler farm track leads to the pāteke (brown teal) pond.
Birdlife
During the day you may see or hear rare native species in the forest and along the shore. At night, listen for pāteke, kākā and ruru (morepork).
Paddling Port Fitzroy
The harbour between Glenfern and Port Fitzroy wharf is generally sheltered and suits beginner paddlers. The wider harbour is bigger and more exposed than it looks. The nearest beach is a small sandy beach at Kotuku Scenic Reserve, about an hour's paddle, and the rocky shore there is good for snorkelling.
People swim and fish from the jetty. Watch out for boats and stingrays. The sanctuary's tracks aren't suitable for mountain bikes. Try the Harataonga track or Forest Road instead.
Dogs at Glenfern
Dogs are prohibited at all times on all sanctuary land, beach and foreshore.
Places to stay
Book through glenfern.org.nz:
- Fitzroy House, which sleeps up to 10 and has a private wharf nearby
- Glenfern Cottage, a restored former nurses' station that sleeps up to 6
Good to know
A total fire ban currently covers all Hauraki Gulf islands, so no outdoor fires are allowed. Some tracks are closed to protect kauri, so clean your footwear. Vodafone coverage is generally good near the houses.
Where is Glenfern Sanctuary?
The pin marks: Centre of the park area (-36.1604, 175.3572). It isn't an entrance or car park, so check the council's park page for access points before you go. Plan a route on OpenStreetMap (opens in a new tab).
Location data: Auckland Council Park Extents (CC BY 4.0); OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0).
Check before you go
Track closures, gate times, fire bans and storm damage change often. Auckland Council posts current alerts for Glenfern Sanctuary on its official park page.
Current park alerts