Tutukaka Coast

Scenic coast east of Whangarei, gateway to the Poor Knights diving

The 30-kilometre stretch of coast east of Whangarei, centred on the small harbour village of Tutukaka, is the launching point for trips to the Poor Knights Islands — a Marine Reserve regarded as one of the top dive sites in the world. Several operators run day trips year-round; even snorkelers can see large numbers of fish in the islands' clear water.

The coast itself is worth a half-day even without going in the water. Matapouri, Whale Bay, and Sandy Bay are some of Northland's best swimming beaches; Tutukaka harbour has good restaurants and a small marina. The coast road from Whangarei is winding but scenic.

things to do sight beach
A story
Jacques Cousteau ranked the Poor Knights, 23 kilometres offshore from Tutukaka, as one of the top ten diving sites in the world. The islands sit in a warm subtropical current that brings species you'd normally only see far further north — and the absence of any land mammals has kept the marine ecosystem intact in a way the mainland coast no longer is.