Te Hāwere-a-Maki (Goat Island Marine Reserve) is one of the best places in New Zealand to go snorkelling or diving. You’ll get to see a huge variety of fish and stingrays! If you spend a day here, you can either bring your own gear or easily rent some when you arrive.

If you’re travelling with small children and are nervous about them getting in the water, the water around Goat Island is crystal clear, which makes it super easy to see the colourful fish swimming around the rocks!

There’s so much to do beyond snorkelling. You could visit the Goat Island Marine Discovery Centre to learn all about the marine life in the area. If you’d prefer to stay dry but still want to see the fish, you can rent kayaks, clear-bottom kayaks or go on the famous glass bottom boat.

How to get there

Getting to Goat Island from Auckland CBD takes some time, but it’s very straightforward. Because the area is so popular, there are lots of tour companies that will take you out here. So, you don’t need to worry if you don’t have your own car. However, if you do, I recommend driving yourself as you’ll get to stop at many other lovely places along the way. My favourites include the Matakana Village Farmers Market (open every Saturday) and the Leigh Sawmill Cafe.

Goat Island can get extremely busy on the weekends, so you should arrive as early as possible to get a good parking spot and space on the beach. We usually arrive by 9:30 am. The beach isn’t white and sandy like the others around Auckland. If you want to lounge around and sunbathe, I recommend heading up the grassy bank and grabbing a spot under the trees.

Know before you go

Goat Island is a protected marine reserve; please be respectful, Leave No Trace and follow all of the Department of Conservation’s rules: no fishing (from shore or boat), no taking anything from the park (rocks, shells, or seaweed etc.) and no feeding the fish as it disrupts their natural behaviour. In New Zealand, we have a lot of Kina (Sea Urchins). If you haven’t seen them, they look like black or brown balls with spikes. These are living creatures, so it’s illegal to crush or open them. The rules are strictly enforced, and the penalties include gear confiscation, fines and/or imprisonment.