There is no McDonald’s on Great Barrier Island. No Uber Eats, no Domino’s, no food court. The power grid doesn’t reach here either, which means everything you eat and drink has either been grown nearby, shipped across the Hauraki Gulf, or made with genuine ingenuity by someone who chose to live here.
The result is a food and drink scene that punches well above its 1,200-person population. Solar-distilled gin. Craft beer brewed in a converted shipping container. Fish cooked to order from an Airstream caravan. A wood-fired pizza oven in a garden. Free public BBQs at scenic reserves around the island.
This is where to find all of it.
Craft Beer & Gin
Aotea Brewing Co.
Walk-in distance from Medlands Beach — about five minutes on foot from 175° East. A solar-powered craft brewery in a converted shipping container on a farm paddock. Zero-waste philosophy: no bottles, no cans — bring a flagon or buy one there and fill it fresh from the keg.
The Solar Charged APA is the island staple. The Daily Grind coffee stout — made with beans from next-door Aotea Roast — is worth making a specific trip for. Open Thursday to Sunday, 12–6pm.
Good Neighbours runs a rotating food kitchen on site — open every time the brewery is open (Thursday to Sunday, 12–6pm in season). Cold beer and proper food in one stop. One of those places that feels completely right for where it is.
Aotea Spirits — Great Barrier Island Gin
Started at a small bach at Medlands Beach, where founder Andi Ross spent summers experimenting on a copper pot still with local ingredients. The result is an internationally awarded gin built around Great Barrier Mānuka and bush honey — solar distilled, rainwater filtered, and bottled in a kina-inspired vessel made from recycled New Zealand glass.
Tastings by appointment for groups of up to six — call 0274 752 637. Bottles available at The Rocks bottle shop and Stonewall Store.
Cafés & Restaurants
Fat Puku
A lovely all-rounder for a sit-down meal. Set in a garden at 129 Hector Sanderson Road, Fat Puku serves breakfast and lunch using fresh, seasonal, organic produce — and fires up its wood-fired Pompeii oven for pizza that punches well above its remote-island setting.
They brew their own too: Puku Brew is a small-batch micro-brewery on site producing beer and kombucha worth trying alongside your meal. Organic coffee, EFTPOS.
Open Monday–Friday 8am–2pm, Saturday–Sunday 9am–2pm. myfatpuku.co.nz
Stonewall Café
At Stonewall Village, Pa Beach, Tryphena. Great setting right in the heart of the south end of the island — fresh food, comprehensive menu, organic coffee. Open 7 days, 8am–4pm. Ph 4290-905.
Mulberry Grove Store & Kitchen
Barista coffee, all-day breakfast, Thai dining, fish and chips, groceries, and fuel — all under one roof at 1 Mulberry Grove Road. One of the more price-friendly options on the island with a genuinely good kitchen. The Pad Thai gets rave reviews. Good stop heading north or stocking up before a remote stay.
Open 7 days, 7am–7pm. mulberrygrove.store
The Pub
The Currach Irish Pub
The Currach — in Tryphena, about 25 minutes south of Medlands Beach.
In Tryphena, about 25 minutes south of Medlands. The social centre of the island’s visitor scene — live music, cold Guinness, and the kind of pub where you end up talking to a local until closing time without meaning to.
Open 4pm–Late when in season — hours vary and the pub closes during some winter months. Always check currachirishpub.co.nz or their Facebook before making a special trip.
Quiz night Sundays. Open mic/jam night Thursdays from 8pm. Live music on Friday and Saturday nights when open.
The Currach is the island’s social hub — go on a weekend night if you can.
If you want to actually meet locals rather than just wave at them, this is the place.
Something Different
Barrier Social Club
On Medlands Road, Tryphena — a proper local spot with an à la carte and blackboard menu plus takeaways. Open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Movie night on Monday at 7pm. Ph 4290-421.
The Burga Shak
On Main Road, Claris. Great Barrier burgers, hot chips, toasted sandwiches — no-frills, good food, convenient if you’re passing through Claris. Ph 4290-226.
Finny’s — Fish & Chips from an Airstream
At the Puriri Bay boat ramp, Tryphena. Fish and chips cooked in tallow from a bespoke Airstream-style caravan. The menu runs to fresh gurnard, orange roughy, and prawns — every fish comes with a sourcing story.
The standout option: catch and cook — hire a kayak or paddleboard from the bay, catch something, and bring it back to be cooked on the spot by Peter and chef Lola. Dog-friendly, coffee available.
Open Friday–Sunday, 1–7pm, weather dependent. Opened January 2026 — already a local institution.
Great Barrier Island Sports Club
At the start of Whangaparapara Road, 200m from the Crossroads. Touch footy, rugby, tennis, cricket, pool, table tennis, darts — and a fully licensed bar with kitchen serving proper meals.
If you want to meet locals rather than tourists, this is actually the better option than the pub. Open from 4pm Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Great Barrier Island Golf Club
On Whangaparapara Road, Claris. The clubhouse serves drinks and light snacks on Thursday and Sunday evenings from 5:30–7:30pm — open to visitors, not just members. A genuinely scenic spot for a post-round drink or a casual evening out. Ph 4290-420.
Port Fitzroy Boat Club
Overlooking one of Aotea’s most sheltered harbours, the Boat Club is a warm, unpretentious stop after a day on the water or exploring the north. Burgers, fish and chips, snacks and fresh salads — simple, tasty food in a relaxed bush-lined setting with inside and outside dining. Bar, pool table, darts, and kids entertainment room.
Open Friday and Saturday, 5–10pm in season. Hours vary in winter and the club may close during the off-season — check their Facebook page before visiting. Access by road or boat.
Port Fitzroy Store
The only shop in North Barrier — groceries, fresh produce, meats, bottle shop, EFTPOS, and a Post Shop. If you’re tramping the northern section of the Aotea Track, stock up here. Open Monday–Saturday, 9am–5pm.
Free Public BBQs
One of Great Barrier’s better-kept secrets: free public gas BBQs at several scenic reserves around the island. No booking, no hire fee — just show up with your food.
- Medlands Recreation Reserve — right near the beach
- Kaitoke Beach Reserve
- Awana Reserve
- Okupu Beach — calm harbour water, public BBQ on site, good sunset spot
Pick up supplies from Claris or Mulberry Grove Store and head to whichever reserve suits your base. Perfect for groups who want a relaxed meal without the restaurant faff.
Local Produce Worth Seeking Out
Okiwi Passion — A small organic produce grower in the northern settlement of Okiwi. Microgreen salad mix, herbs, and seasonal fruit, all grown without chemicals. Find them at the Saturday Market in Stonewall Village, Tryphena (August–December), or in selected local shops and cafés. Gardening workshops and farm tours available by request. facebook.com/okiwipassion
Aotea Roast — New Zealand’s first off-grid coffee roastery, next door to Aotea Brewing at the Mason Rd Hub. Small-batch, fair trade, organic, roasted on renewable energy. Available at the brewery and online.
Great Barrier Island Honey — Mānuka honey from an island with no varroa mite and limited agricultural chemicals. Some of the purest honey in New Zealand. Look for it at local stores.
Mussels at Port Fitzroy — the harbour grows some of the best mussels in the region. The annual FitzRoy Mussel Fest celebrates them in style — check the events calendar for dates.
Practical Notes
Stock up on arrival. The main stores are in Claris and Tryphena. If you’re heading to the west coast or staying somewhere remote, the Port Fitzroy Store is the only option in the north — plan around their hours.
Hours can vary. Particularly in winter, some cafés reduce their days or close entirely. Always check ahead before making a specific trip.
Cash is useful but not essential. Most places have EFTPOS. Some smaller operators at markets or pop-ups are cash only.
Staying at 175° East? We’re at Medlands Beach — Aotea Brewing is a 5-minute walk. Get in touch and we’ll send you our current recommendations for what’s open and worth visiting during your stay.
More on Great Barrier Island: Things to Do · Getting Here · Camping