Where is Tipi & Bobs Waterfront Lodge located?

The lodge is located at 38 Puriri Bay Road in Tryphena on Great Barrier Island, New Zealand.

What types of accommodation are available?

The property features five spacious self-contained and serviced units with kitchenettes, lounges, and en-suites, plus a ground-level waterfront Kiwi-style cottage that sleeps up to six.

Can the lodge host weddings and private events?

Yes, Tipi & Bobs can host weddings, corporate conferences, and private celebrations for groups of 80 to 100 people.

Can the lodge help arrange travel and activities?

Yes, the hosts can organise complete packages that include flights, rental car bookings, fishing charters, scenic day tours, golfing, and kayaking.

Is Wi-Fi available at the lodge?

Yes, free Wi-Fi is provided with the accommodation.

How is power supplied on the property?

Like the rest of off-grid Great Barrier Island, power is provided via silent generators and solar battery systems.

Tipi & Bobs Waterfront Lodge

Name: Tipi & Bobs Waterfront Lodge
Address: 38 Puriri Bay Road, Great Barrier Island 0991, Great Barrier Island, Great Barrier Island, NZ
Telephone: 09 4290550
Price range: $$
Rating: 4.4

hotel — Great Barrier Island · Great Barrier Island

About Tipi & Bobs Waterfront Lodge

Tipi & Bobs Waterfront Lodge offers tranquil seaside accommodation right on the shores of Great Barrier Island overlooking Tryphena Harbour and the Hauraki Gulf. Set in one of the world's rare Dark Sky Sanctuaries, the property is run with warm, relaxed island hospitality by proprietors Peter and Margery Harris.

Accommodation includes five spacious, self-contained, and serviced units alongside a ground-level waterfront Kiwi-style cottage that can sleep up to six guests. Each unit features comfortable living quarters, a kitchenette, en-suite bathroom, television, and sweeping ocean views where guests can often spot dolphins in the bay. The lodge also caters to special gatherings, hosting weddings, corporate conferences, milestone birthdays, and bespoke holiday packages with local fishing charters, transport, and island activities.

Seaside Serenity and Starlit Skies at Tipi & Bobs Waterfront Lodge

Perched directly on the edge of Tryphena Harbour, Tipi & Bobs Waterfront Lodge offers a classic Kiwi seaside escape on Great Barrier Island (Aotea). Surrounded by tranquil native bush, towering kauri trees, and pristine white-sand beaches, this coastal retreat captures the authentic essence of island life. Operated by proprietors Peter and Margery Harris, the lodge welcomes guests with warm, attentive hospitality that makes visitors feel completely at home the moment they step off the plane or ferry.

Accommodations at Tipi & Bobs are comfortable, clean, and thoughtfully appointed for extended stays. The lodge offers five self-contained and serviced units equipped with lounges, kitchenettes, comfortable bedrooms, en-suite bathrooms, and televisions, plus an independent Kiwi-style cottage right on the water that sleeps up to six. Units such as Unit 1 boast expansive front decks with panoramic views across the bay towards the Coromandel Peninsula, giving guests front-row seats to watch visiting dolphins playing in the sunlit waters.

Off-Grid Charm and Dark Sky Wonder

Staying on Great Barrier Island means embracing its distinctive off-grid character. With no municipal power grid or reticulated water, the island relies entirely on solar power, rainwater collection, and generators. Tipi & Bobs runs on silent generators and solar storage, creating a peaceful evening environment where lights softly hum and native morepork owls call across the hills.

As the world’s first entire island accredited as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary, Great Barrier offers stargazing that is virtually unmatched anywhere on the planet. When the silent generators wind down at night, guests can step out onto their private decks to witness the brilliance of the Milky Way arching over Tryphena Harbour in crystal-clear detail.

Weddings, Gatherings, and Tailored Adventures

Beyond peaceful holiday retreats, Tipi & Bobs serves as a premier venue for memorable island gatherings. The property hosts weddings and celebrations for up to 80 to 100 people, as well as team-building retreats and milestone birthdays. The team also coordinates comprehensive holiday packages that take the stress out of remote travel, arranging local flights, rental cars, scenic tours, kayaking, golf, and charter trips to some of the country’s finest fishing grounds.

Signature items

Unit 1 Waterfront Stay
Fresh Local Fish
All-Inclusive Holiday Packages
Waterfront Weddings
Kiwi Style Waterfront Cottage

Unit 1 - Full Sea Views — Self-contained front unit facing Tryphena Harbour with private deck area, two bedrooms (super king and two singles or four singles), kitchenette, bathroom, and lounge with TV; sleeps up to 4.
Unit 2 - Sea Views — Spacious self-contained two-bedroom unit with coastal views, super king bed (convertible to 2 singles), two single beds in second bedroom, kitchenette, bathroom, and TV lounge; sleeps up to 4.
Waterfront Kiwi Style Cottage — Ground-level waterfront cottage sleeping up to 6 guests.
Self-Contained Serviced Units — Spacious units offering a lounge, kitchenette, separate bedrooms, en-suite bathroom, and TV.

Event & Package Services

Wedding & Celebration Venue — Waterfront venue hosting wedding ceremonies and receptions, anniversaries, or birthdays for up to 80 to 100 people.
Corporate Conferences — Conference hosting and team-building arrangement on Great Barrier Island.
Custom Holiday & Activity Packages — Organised holiday stays bundled with flights, rental cars, scenic day tours, fishing charters, kayaking, or golf.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Tipi & Bobs Waterfront Lodge located?: The lodge is located at 38 Puriri Bay Road in Tryphena on Great Barrier Island, New Zealand.
What types of accommodation are available?: The property features five spacious self-contained and serviced units with kitchenettes, lounges, and en-suites, plus a ground-level waterfront Kiwi-style cottage that sleeps up to six.
Can the lodge host weddings and private events?: Yes, Tipi & Bobs can host weddings, corporate conferences, and private celebrations for groups of 80 to 100 people.
Can the lodge help arrange travel and activities?: Yes, the hosts can organise complete packages that include flights, rental car bookings, fishing charters, scenic day tours, golfing, and kayaking.
Is Wi-Fi available at the lodge?: Yes, free Wi-Fi is provided with the accommodation.
How is power supplied on the property?: Like the rest of off-grid Great Barrier Island, power is provided via silent generators and solar battery systems.

Tips

{"body":"Book your stay as part of a package deal with the lodge to coordinate island flights, rental cars, and accommodation smoothly in one step.","title":"Arrange an all-inclusive travel package"}
{"body":"Great Barrier Island is an accredited Dark Sky Sanctuary; step onto the deck at night to experience pristine views of the Milky Way.","title":"Step outside for nighttime stargazing"}
{"body":"Because the island is powered by solar systems and generators that cycle off at set times, plug in high-draw devices while generators are running.","title":"Plan appliance charging around generator hours"}
{"body":"Keep an eye on the harbour waters right in front of the lodge, where dolphins are frequently spotted playing in Tryphena Bay.","title":"Watch for dolphins from the deck"}

Good to know

{"wifi":"Free Wi-Fi is available with accommodation bookings.","family":"Units sleep up to four guests, and the waterfront cottage accommodates up to six.","accessibility":"A ground-level waterfront cottage is available on site."}