Explore 12 km of rugged volcanic coastline in Mercury Bay, visiting nearby islands and stunning beaches including Lonely Bay, Cooks Beach, and the spectacular Cathedral Cove. Admire the bay’s towering pinnacles, giant blowholes, and huge sea caves.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
Reserve now & pay later: Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details. Learn more
Duration 2 hours: Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide: English

Highlights

Cruise to the world-famous Cathedral Cove
Listen to entertaining live commentary from your local guide
Explore the coastline and see giant blowholes, pinnacles and huge sea caves
Keep a lookout for dolphins, whales or orcas

Full description

Based in Whitianga, this scenic boat cruise showcases Mercury Bay’s stunning coastal paradise at its very best. Embark on a 2-hour journey across the rugged volcanic shores of the bay and explore its beautiful beaches including Hahei and Lonely Bay. The highlight of the tour is the world-famous Cathedral Cove at Te Whanganui a Hei Marine Reserve. The site has a rich Maori heritage, attracts around 150,000 visitors per year, and was used as a filming location for the blockbuster movie Narnia. Sit back and relax as you sail around the bay, and marvel at its stunning natural landscapes that stretch across the peninsula. Along the way, listen to your guide share entertaining live commentary about the bay and the wildlife that lives here. Make sure to keep an eye on the water too, as there's always a chance to see dolphins, whales and orcas in their natural habitat.

Includes

2-hour scenic cruise
Cathedral Cove viewing

Food and drinks
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Covid-19 precautions

You must book this activity online because the ticket office is closed

Safety measures in place

All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned

Traveler requirements

All participants who are over 12 years old must present proof of full vaccination

Meeting point

All tours depart from the Whitianga Wharf, Esplanade - 14 Esplanade, Whitianga 3510, New Zealand - Be sure to arrive 15 minutes prior to departure.

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Important information

What to bring

Comfortable shoes
Sunglasses
Towel
Jacket

Know before you go

Pickup can be arranged from the Ferry Landing Wharf by request
Make sure you bring refreshments, a warm jacket, camera/binoculars, sunhat and sunscreen
Be sure to arrive 15 minutes prior to departure
If you plan on swimming or snorkelling wear your swimwear under your clothing and bring a towel
To give you maximum time in the water we discourage the use of wetsuits

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.9 /5

based on 119 reviews

Review summary

Guide
4.8/5
Transportation
4.6/5
Value for money
4.7/5
Safety
5/5

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We got to see a lot of the distinctive features of this coastline in the boat. Cathedral Cove was beautiful but also loved the sea caves and different cliff formations. Guide was very knowledgeable and had a good sense of humour. Also learnt some of the local history and Captain Cook connection which I didn’t know. Too cold to snorkel but I’m sure that would be a bonus in summer.

September 22, 2022

This was a fantastic introduction to the beauty of Mercury Bay. The skipper, Justin, is very knowledgeable and Avery competent operator. The boat is a very dry hull and I can thoroughly recommend this trip to anyone. It was a great trip and an event my wife and I will talk about for years to come.

June 20, 2022

Such a great trip, we had fun zipping across the bay in the boat and our skipper did a good job of keeping us dry and was really informative and friendly. He stopped often for photo opportunities and made the right call to shorten the trip due to bad weather. Highly recommended!

June 6, 2022

Whitianga: Cathedral Cove 2 Hour Boat Cruise

Whitianga: Cathedral Cove 2 Hour Boat Cruise

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