You’re invited to our first “Long Island Lunch”.

Based on the concept of the “Long Italian Lunch” (a Kawau Island tradition that we are now stealing and adapting), we now have the Long Island Lunch, to be held in our garden on Great Barrier Island.

Picture a very long table situated in a large garden facing majestic sea views. Sitting around the table are an interconnected group of friends, all eagerly participating in an afternoon long festival of fine food, wine, and music. The conversation and wine flows freely in the summer air. The music and surroundings are uplifting. The hosts of course, are glamorous.

The first Long Island Lunch is planned for Saturday 3 January 2009. If you would like a personal invitation to the Long Island Lunch, please register here or email us directly.

 

Getting there

Fullers offer a fast ferry service that departs Auckland (Pier 2, Quay St Ferry Terminal) at 11.30am the day before the event. That way you can set up camp ahead of the big day. The ferry departs the following day at 4pm, giving you plenty of chance to experience the island. Return tickets cost $130pp (includes luggage allowance of 2 suitcases max 20kg pp). The fast ferry crossing takes 2.5 hours each way. Please advise us if you are catching this ferry so that we can pick you up.

Alternatively you can fly over using either Great Barrier Airlines or Fly My Sky departing Auckland Airport or North Shore. Flights will be more expensive, but quicker (only 30 minutes), and baggage is restricted to 15kg per person, therefore we recommend you catch a ferry if you are intending to camp over. Flights are 30 mintes each way.

You can also bring a vehicle if you are intending to travel around the island on an extended stay. Check out details at Sealink. Walk on passengers (without vehicles) can bring more luggage to the island this way (4.5 hour trip each way).

 

What to bring

Accommodation is extremely limited on Great Barrier over the holiday period. If you’ve managed to secure a room at any of the island’s lodges or guest houses, well done (you must be rich!). If your credit card can’t stretch that far, then there is free camping available at our place complete with hot showers and flush toilets.

So you’ll need to bring:

  • A tent
  • Sleeping bags and pillows
  • Torches
  • Your togs and a towel
  • Sunblock and insect repellent
  • Chilly bin with meat and salad for the shared BBQ lunch (see below)
  • Your booze

The lunch itself

The Long Italian Lunch at Kawau involved everyone bringing a homemade Italian dish along to the event. Given the travelling distances, this approach is not practical (think food poisoning), therefore we ask everyone to bring frozen BBQ meats that can be safely defrosted ahead of the big day along with any salads, breads or accompaniments that will survive without refrigeration. There is limited fridge space at our place, but we do have a big deep freeze that will keep meat frozen till needed (and will help to chill your booze!). A microwave, gas oven and hob is also available for any last minute preparations on the day. Cutlery and crockery will be provided, however there is no dishwasher (gasp!), so please bring some elbow grease for the communal washup afterwards.

 

Life on the island

Life on the Barrier is a little different to living on the mainland. Firstly, there is no mains power – we generate all our own power using solar panels, windmills, and when needed, a generator. So leave that hair dryer at home – you won’t be needing it!

Secondly, we rely on tank water, and we expect this will be a long, hot, dry summer, so water conservation measures will be in place. Short showers please!

Lastly, there are no banks or ATMs on the island, but there is EFTPOS in nearly every store. You might want to bring a little cash in case you get stuck somewhere (the Higgins’ up the road, for example, make and sell beautiful homemade pickles and relishes, but only take cash). You can also get cash out via EFTPOS, but be aware that this is peak time for the island, so 5,000 other holiday visitors may be doing the same.

You’ll also be pleased to know that there is good cellphone coverage from our property (both 021 and 027) but no coverage from the island’s airport and most other areas around the island. So if you are making any travel or pickup arrangements, be sure to make these before you leave the mainland.

 

The whole tour

So if you’ve coming for the whole tour (arriving Friday, lunching Saturday, departing Sunday, or any extention thereof) then there is plenty that the island can tempt you with. If you really can’t survive without a coffee, then the Wild Rose Cafe is just five minutes walk away. So too is the general store with a wide variety of organic produce, the gift shop, and the Irish Pub.

If there is enough interest, we’ll all jump in the van (or two) and head to the Kaitoke hot pools. These are about 20 minutes drive away, followed by a 45 minutes walk along a fantastic DOC track.

Or if that bores you, there’s:

  • The Art Gallery at Claris
  • The Claris Texas Cafe
  • Fine dining at the Earthsong Lodge
  • Golf at the Claris Golf Club
  • Secondhand shopping at Puriri Bay
  • Mountain biking at Claris
  • The Claris Museum
  • Live music at the Stray Possum Lodge
  • Movies at the Tryphena Club
  • Hiking to the Kauri Dams
  • Surfing at Awana
  • Dozens of glorious beaches

Great Barrier Island is reknowned for it’s honey, so be sure to buy a pot when you’re over here.

 

Finally…

Once you have made you travel arrangements, please contact us so we know when to expect you. We really look forward to seeing you at our first Long Island Lunch!