Our journey to Aotea
For nearly 30 years, Aotea (Great Barrier Island) has touched my soul. It's a place that stays with you, and four years ago, I was lucky enough to have been able to make the dream of calling it home a reality. This island, my favourite place in New Zealand, inspired GreatBarrierIslandcampervans.
A passion for Aotea
My professional life has largely revolved around tourism, and I love enabling people to discover the joy of adventure. Having driven around New Zealand over 100 times, I can confidently say Aotea remains my absolute favourite spot, and I'm eager for more people to experience its magic.
Your great barrier island adventure starts here
Aotea, GBI, is a very unique place and there are many accommodation options available, whilst not the first to think of this I saw an opportunity to offer a different approach, combining accommodation, vehicle rental and exploration into one, an affordable option for a weekend stay or a multi-day adventure. It's about bringing back that old kiwi favourite – a good old beach camping trip
Betty: built for barrier adventures
Our current van, otherwise known as Betty, is a late-model Toyota Hiace, renowned for its reliability and comfort. She's 4x4 for extra traction and safety on the Barrier's unique roads, plus she boasts an automatic transmission, making driving that little bit easier. It's camping without a tent – you get to enjoy the camp lifestyle with a bit of luxury, and she looks pretty cool in your holiday photos!
"Our greatest hope is that you'll leave with a huge smile and a desire to return."
It's all about getting away from it all and recharging your batteries – think days on the beach, forest walks, stunning sunrises & sunsets, incredible stargazing and so much more. This is the Great Barrier Island experience we promise.
The GreatBarrierIslandcampervans Team