Tryphena, New Zealand facts for kids
Tryphena is a beach settlement on the southern coast of Great Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand's Auckland Region.
The township has a walkway, shops and public facilities. It was one of the only areas in Great Barrier Island with good mobile and internet connectivity.
SeaLink New Zealand operates a 4.5 hour car ferry between Tryphena and Wynyard Quarter. The Tryphena wharf has a shelter, wheelchair toilet and limited short-term parking. There is no terminal, ticket office, long-term parking or public transport.
The area is a habitat for New Zealand kaka, kererū, rails, pateke, blue penguins, dolphins and orcas.
The area is used for kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing, boating and swimming.
History
The bay was traditionally the site of a pā (fortified settlement) of Ngāti Rehua Ngati Wai ki Aotea.
During the 19th century, early European settlers arrived in the bay, calling it Port Tofino.
The settlement was renamed Tryphena, after a brig of the same name made several visits to Great Barrier Island between 1841 and 1845.
Tryphena House was built in front of the original Tryphena wharf in 1923, using the remnants of a shipwreck in the bay. The building is now used for accommodation.
In May 2020, members of Ngāti Rehua Ngati Wai ki Aotea attempted to establish a checkpoint at the Tryphena Wharf, to prevent people from visiting the island during the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand.
