5.0 (461) · Whitianga · By Ocean Leopard - Cathedral Cove Boat Tours Free cancellation
Discover Cathedral Cove and Mercury Bay’s spectacular volcanic coastline on a premium 2-hour sightseeing experience from Whitianga.
Travel aboard Ocean Leopard, purpose-built for comfort and exceptional views, with forward-facing seating, generous shade and plenty of space to enjoy the journey. Ocean Leopard 2 also has an onboard toilet (while our original boat does not have a toilet).
Explore 12 kilometres of dramatic coastline, including Cathedral Cove, Hahei, Lonely Bay and Cooks Beach, and venture through the protected waters of Te Whanganui-o-Hei Marine Reserve.
See towering volcanic cliffs, pinnacles, blowholes and hidden sea caves, including the immense Orua Sea Cave.
Along the way, your experienced local skipper brings the coastline to life with stories of its volcanic origins, Māori history, marine life and local characters.
With the full two hours dedicated to exploring the coast, there’s plenty to see, photograph and experience.
✓ Lifejackets✓ Onboard toilet✓ Blankets1 Departure point
5 min
· 5 min
2 Lonely Bay
5 min
Beautiful photos of Lonely Bay and Shakespeare Reserve
· 5 min
3 Cooks Beach
10 min
We get up close to sectacular Cooks Blow Hole at the North West end of Cooks Beach and see right through the top from the boat.
· 10 min
4 Cathedral Cove
8 min
Cruise into spectacular Cathedral Cove and pause to take in the iconic natural arch, white-sand beach and towering cliffs from the water. Your local skipper shares stories of the area’s geology, history and marine environment, with time to enjoy the scenery and capture photos. No beach landing.
· 8 min
5 Cathedral Cove Walk
8 min
Experience Cathedral Cove from the water on our scenic boat tour. Cruise into the bay for spectacular views of the famous natural arch, beach and surrounding volcanic coastline while your local skipper shares the stories, geology and history of the area. Please note this is a boat-based experience with no beach landing or walking component.
· 8 min
6 Te Whanganui-a-Hei Marine Reserve
20 min
Cruise through the protected waters of Te Whanganui-a-Hei (Cathedral Cove) Marine Reserve, home to spectacular volcanic coastline and a rich marine environment. Your local skipper shares stories about the reserve, its marine life, geology and history as you explore Cathedral Cove, dramatic cliffs, rock formations and sea caves.
· 20 min
7 Hot Water Beach
5 min
We see Hot Water Beach from a distance just before entering Orua Sea Cave, the second largest sea cave in NZ
· 5 min
8 Orua Sea Cave
10 min
Venture inside the immense Orua Sea Cave, one of New Zealand's largest sea caves accessible by boat. Experience its towering volcanic walls and remarkable acoustics as your skipper manoeuvres into this spectacular natural formation. Entry is weather and sea-condition dependent.
· 10 min
Mobile or paper ticket accepted. One per booking
Esplanade rd,across the road from the Harbor House Cafe.
Esplanade rd,across the road from the Harbor House Cafe.
Tickets will be taken directly on the boat 15 minutes prior to departure time.
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
Public transportation options are available nearby Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap Suitable for all physical fitness levels It is accessible for the mobility impaired, however wheelchairs cannot board the boat Snorkeling/swimming is not a part of this tour Ocean Leopard - Cathedral Cove & Volcanic Coast Boat Tour
Arrive 15 minutes prior to departure time for ticket collection. This is a boat-based experience; no beach landing or walking is involved. Infants must sit on an adult's lap. While accessible for the mobility impaired, wheelchairs cannot be accommodated on the boat. Snorkeling and swimming are not part of this tour. For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Product code: 262806P1
Activity offered by Ocean Leopard - Cathedral Cove Boat Tours via Viator.
WizardTrip Help Center All physical fitness levels Mobility impaired (wheelchairs cannot board) Explore 12 kilometers of dramatic coastline Visit Cathedral Cove and Mercury Bay See volcanic cliffs, pinnacles, blowholes and sea caves Learn about volcanic origins, Māori history, and marine life Comfortable boat with forward-facing seating and shade Onboard toilet available on Ocean Leopard 2
Population 6,160 (2020)
Currency New Zealand dollar
Official languages Māori, English
Driving on the left
Power plugs I · 230 V
Emergency number 111
Capital city Wellington Average temperatures 19° Jan 20° Feb 19° Mar 17° Apr 15° May 13° Jun 11° Jul 12° Aug 13° Sept 14° Oct 16° Nov 18° Dec Sources: Wikidata; climate: NASA POWER, 2001-2025 averages.
What is the duration of the Ocean Leopard boat tour? + The tour lasts for 2 hours.
Where is the departure point for the tour? + The departure point is on Esplanade rd, across the road from the Harbor House Cafe.
What are the key sights included in the tour? + The tour includes Cathedral Cove, Lonely Bay, Cooks Beach, the Te Whanganui-a-Hei Marine Reserve, Hot Water Beach, and Orua Sea Cave.
Is there a toilet on board? + Ocean Leopard 2 has an onboard toilet; the original boat does not.
Can I swim or snorkel during the tour? + Snorkeling and swimming are not part of this tour.
★★★★★ Tripadvisor review
Excellent!
valerietQ7111WK, October 2026
Justin did a great job! He was friendly, accommodating, and shared a lot of fun facts about the coastline. He provided blankets if we wanted one and I’m glad I took a turn using the restroom.. it was larger than you’d imagine! Clean, new boat! Definitely would recommend this charter for touring the Cathedral Cove area.
Response from the operator · Zinnia & Justin Hi Valerie, Thanks so much for the lovely review! Great to hear you enjoyed your time with Justin and found the new boat so comfortable. We're pretty pleased with the restroom too! Thanks again for joining us and for the recommendation. All the best Zinnia
★★★★★ Tripadvisor review
A great trip including a whale!
A8281JCnigelb, October 2026
We had a very enjoyable morning with Justin on his new boat. We saw all the promised sights, including Cook's bay, Shakespeare cliff, tower rock, orua cave and cathedral cove. Justin provided an excellent commentary on the geology and history of the area as well as telling us about the wildlife. The unexpected bonus was spending time in the company of Southern Wright Whale. Justin made sure that we had every opportunity to take photos and videos. We also saw a very cute Little Blue Penguin.
All in all an unforgettable experience. We highly recommend Justin and the Ocean Leopard team.
Response from the operator · Zinnia & Justin Hi Nigel, Thanks so much for the lovely review! You certainly picked a great day to come out with us. Seeing a southern right whale and a little blue penguin was pretty special! So glad you enjoyed the trip with Justin, and thanks again for the recommendation! Safe travels, Zinnia
★★★★★ Tripadvisor review
It’s just a bloody good cruise.
lsopp, October 2026
Great 2 hours with spectacular coastal scenery and good commentary and history from Sam. Their new boat is a corker so smooth over the waves. Highly recommended
Response from the operator · Zinnia & Justin Thanks Les, love the title! Thanks so much for the great review. Glad you enjoyed the trip with Sam and the new boat. We're really happy with how she handles too! Thanks again for coming out with us. Cheers, Zinnia
★★★★★ Tripadvisor review
A trip to remember!
Traveler28433749732, October 2026
What a great tour! The coastline in amazing, with examples of different types of stone derived from eruptions. Our guide was friendly, knowledgeable and went out of the way to ensure everyone was able to have the best experience possible. We saw Cathedral beach, Shakespeare's cliff and the champagne cup rock amongst others. And... We saw a whale! Possibly a bride's whale or a juvenile southern wright. We followed it and it followed us for quite a while! Ocean Leopard's newly commissioned boat is second-to-none and provided a smooth ride, excellent views and we cannot recommend it enough!
Response from the operator · Justin and Zinnia Hopkins Thank you so much for such a lovely review! How special to have a whale join you on the tour, definitely an experience to remember! We're so pleased you enjoyed the coastline and found our new boat comfortable too. Thanks again for joining us and for the wonderful recommendation!
★★★★★ Tripadvisor review
Really amazing
Bells36, October 2026
Really amazing experience, guide Sam was fantastic. Really easy and views were out of this world.
Response from the operator · Justin and Zinnia Thank you so much for your lovely review! We're delighted you had such an amazing experience exploring the coastline with us. Sam will be thrilled to hear your kind words. Thanks again for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back one day!
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