Cavalli Islands and Matauri Bay Information

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Bay of Islands Information

The Bay of Islands is a micro-region that includes the towns of Opua, Paihia, Russell and Kerikeri..

Russell Information

Accessible by road or a short ferry ride west from Paihia, the tranquil coastal town of Russell, or..

Mangonui Information

Mangonui is the main centre of Doubtless bay and forms part of a string of small settlements. This..

Matauri Bay Information

A short drive north of Kerikeri, Matauri Bay is one of the true coastal delights of the winterless..

Omapere/Opononi Information

The settlements of Opononi and Omapere are situated on the southern shore, near the mouth of..

Waitangi Treaty grounds Information

Situated in the stunning Bay of Islands, the Waitangi Treaty grounds is New Zealands pre eminent..

Poor Knights Islands Information

The Poor Knights islands is a unique marine park situated 25km off the shore of the Tutukaka Coast...

Hokianga Information

Hokianga-Nui-A-Kupe means 'the place of Kupe's great return'. Many iwi (Maori tribes) trace their..

Doubtless Bay Information

In 1769 Captain James Cook looked in on this expanse of water and declared it was "doubtless a..

Hokianga Harbour Information

The Hokianga is 85 kilometres northwest of Whangarei and 25 kilometres west of Kaikohe on the..

Cape Reinga Information

Cape Reinga is situated at the far end of the north island, where the pacific ocean meets the..

Kauri Cliffs Information

Just a short distance from Matauri Bay, the upmarket Kauri Cliffs Lodge delivers panoramic views to..

Kerikeri Information

Kerikeri is a bustling, rural township in the Bay of Islands. It was the site of one of the first..

Waipoua Kauri Forest Information

Of all New Zealand’s kauri forests, none is more famous than Waipoua Forest on the west coast..

Whangarei Information

Whangarei is a subtropical city by the edge of a beautiful harbour. Mount Parahaki watches over the..

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The Cavalli Islands lie off the coast of Matauri Bay. The main island, Motukawanui, is a nature reserve with a walking track. You can paddle to the islands on a sea kayaking safari or arrange a local charter.

On the seafloor between the Cavalli Islands and Matauri Bay lies the Rainbow Warrior, the Greenpeace vessel that was scuttled here in 1987 to become a dive attraction. Today the wreck is a complex eco system covered in corals and sea anemones. Dive trips to the wreck run throughout the year and visibility is usually excellent.

Beautiful Matauri Bay is a popular surfing venue in an easterly swell. At other times it's a peaceful beach for swimming and snorkelling. From the ridge above the bay, there are panoramic views over the headland and out to the Cavalli Islands.

An unforgettable highlight of Matauri Bay is Mataatua II, a Maori war waka (canoe) built to commemorate the great Pacific migration that brought the Maori people to New Zealand around 700 years ago.

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Auckland Region Information

Imagine an urban environment where everyone lives within half an hour of beautiful beaches, hiking..

Wellington Region Information

Explore the great outdoors, shop till you drop, sample the culinary delights, and wander..

Rotorua Information

The Rotorua region was the birthplace of New Zealand tourism in the 1800s and it remains one of New..

Wellington Information

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Bay of Plenty Information

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Cavalli Islands and Matauri Bay Information

Highlights of Northlands