Diwali
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The festival of lights: warm colours to share with friends. Read our guide.
Order flowersSending flowers to Great Barrier Island (Aotea)
Great Barrier Island, Aotea, lies about 100 km north-east of central Auckland. At 285 km² it is New Zealand's sixth-largest island, rising to 627 m at Hirakimatā (Mount Hobson), and around 60% of it is conservation land. About 1,230 people live here, off the grid – most homes run on solar panels and battery banks. Getting fresh flowers here takes planning, so be realistic about timing.
Order by 2 pm on weekdays (11 am Saturdays) for same-day delivery in many areas
- Local florists make up and deliver the flowers
- Hospitals: check the ward rules
- Funerals: what to send and write
Popular bouquets to send to Great Barrier Island
Made up by a florist near the recipient.
Order by 2 pm on weekdays (11 am Saturdays) for same-day delivery in many areas
Send flowers for the right occasion in Great Barrier Island
Pick the moment and a local florist takes over.
Birthday
Add some colour to the big day
Anniversary
Roses that say you remembered
Hospital
Check the ward rules first
Mother’s Day
Second Sunday in May
Graduation
Ceremony dates by university
Sympathy & funerals
Where to send, and what to write
Love & romance
Valentine’s in a Kiwi summer
Get well soon
Sunny stems for a recovery
Ferry freight to Tryphena and Port Fitzroy
The passenger, car and freight ferry from Wynyard Wharf in Auckland sails to Tryphena several times a week, a trip of about four and a half hours; flights to Claris take about 30 minutes. The island's freight and courier service has branches at Tryphena and Port Fitzroy. Freight must be booked a day ahead and is not accepted at ferry terminals. In practice, an order for Great Barrier needs extra time, and a date that suits the mainland may not suit the island. Order well ahead of a birthday or anniversary, and give a phone number for the recipient.
Which settlement? Tryphena, Claris, Ōkiwi and more
Tryphena is the largest settlement. Others are Okupu and Whangaparapara in the south-west, Port Fitzroy and Ōkiwi in the north, and Claris and Medlands in the south-east. Claris is the administrative centre, with the council service centre, library, pharmacy and a New Zealand Post shop. Always name the settlement and road, and note that the population swells substantially from October to May, when holiday homes fill up.
Aotea Health at Claris and mainland hospitals
Claris has the island's main airfield and its only medical centre, Aotea Health at 80 Hector Sanderson Road; a rural nurse is based at Port Fitzroy. If someone from the island is in hospital on the mainland, ask the family which hospital and ward, and check the flower rules there. Our Auckland page lists the rules we know of for the city's hospitals.
Kawa and Motairehe marae, and island farewells
Great Barrier has two marae affiliated with Ngāti Rehua and Ngātiwai: Kawa Marae, with its Rehua meeting house, and Motairehe Marae, with its Whakaruruhau meeting house. For a death in the community, ask the whānau first what is appropriate; our tangihanga guide covers the basics. Because of the long journey, sturdy blooms or a potted plant travel best, and our flower care guide explains how to revive flowers after a trip. For the closer Gulf island, see Waiheke Island.
Places flowers often go in Great Barrier Island
Cemeteries
- Claris cemetery (local board decision to establish)
Put the recipient’s ward, room or the funeral director’s name on the order so the florist can find them.
Upcoming occasions
Busy days book out early, so order ahead for Great Barrier Island.
Christmas
– days left
A summer Christmas: red flowers echo the pōhutukawa in bloom. Read our guide.
Order flowers
New Year's Eve
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Welcome the new year with flowers for family or friends. Read our guide.
Order flowersQuestions about sending flowers to Great Barrier Island
Can flowers be delivered to Great Barrier Island?
Freight reaches the island through branches at Tryphena and Port Fitzroy. It must be booked a day ahead, so allow extra time.
Is there a hospital on Great Barrier Island?
No. The island's only medical centre is Aotea Health at Claris, and a rural nurse is based at Port Fitzroy.
How long does the ferry to Great Barrier take?
About four and a half hours from Wynyard Wharf in Auckland to Tryphena, with sailings several times a week.