Skip to main content
Get Your Guide logo
Anytime
  • Become a supplier
  • Wishlist
  • Cart
  • Profile
    Menu

    Explore North Island

    Places to see
    Back
    Places to see

    Attraction types

    Day trips

    Island tours

    Theme & amusement parks

    Wellness & spas

    Cities

    Auckland

    Rotorua

    Waitomo

    Matamata

    Taupo

    Paihia

    Wellington

    Hahei

    National Park, North Island

    Coromandel Town

    Whitianga

    Russell

    Outside North Island

    Nearby destinations

    Waikato tours

    Bay of Plenty Region tours

    Auckland (Region) tours

    Waiheke Island tours

    Northland tours

    Bay of Islands tours

    Nearby sights

    Abel Tasman National ParkAttraction in Tasman District, New Zealand

    Queen Charlotte Sound / TōtaranuiAttraction in Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand

    Golden Bay, Tasman RegionAttraction in Tasman District, New Zealand

    Omaka Aviation Heritage CentreAttraction in Blenheim, New Zealand

    Cable Bay Adventure ParkAttraction in Nelson, New Zealand, New Zealand

    Things to do
    Back
    Things to do

    Top experiences

    Sightseeing cruises

    Hot springs

    Lord of the Rings

    Hiking

    Wine tasting & winery tours

    Volcano tours

    Canoe & kayak tours

    Bike tours

    Speed & jet boat tours

    River rafting

    Dolphin & whale watching

    Rail tours

    Interests

    Nature & adventure

    Culture & history

    Food & drinks

    Extreme sports & adrenaline

    Safaris & wildlife activities

    Music activities

    Fitness & health

  • Explore North Island
  • Places to see
  • Things to do
  • Attraction types
  • Cities
  • Outside North Island

Day trips

Island tours

Theme & amusement parks

Wellness & spas

Auckland

Rotorua

Waitomo

Matamata

Taupo

Paihia

Wellington

Hahei

National Park, North Island

Coromandel Town

Whitianga

Russell

Nearby destinations

Waikato tours

Bay of Plenty Region tours

Auckland (Region) tours

Waiheke Island tours

Northland tours

Bay of Islands tours

Nearby sights

Abel Tasman National ParkAttraction in Tasman District, New Zealand

Queen Charlotte Sound / TōtaranuiAttraction in Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand

Golden Bay, Tasman RegionAttraction in Tasman District, New Zealand

Omaka Aviation Heritage CentreAttraction in Blenheim, New Zealand

Cable Bay Adventure ParkAttraction in Nelson, New Zealand, New Zealand

  • Top experiences
  • Interests

Sightseeing cruises

Hot springs

Lord of the Rings

Hiking

Wine tasting & winery tours

Volcano tours

Canoe & kayak tours

Bike tours

Speed & jet boat tours

River rafting

Dolphin & whale watching

Rail tours

Nature & adventure

Culture & history

Food & drinks

Extreme sports & adrenaline

Safaris & wildlife activities

Music activities

Fitness & health

Whitianga: 2-Hour Cathedral Cove and Volcanic Coast Cruise

Top rated
4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8
684 reviews
Activity provider:Ocean Leopard Tours
Whitianga: 2-Hour Cathedral Cove and Volcanic Coast Cruise
Top rated
4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8
684 reviews

Explore 12 kilometers of rugged volcanic coastline in Mercury Bay on this cruise from Whitianga Wharf. Visit nearby islands and stunning beaches like Lonely Bay, Cooks Beach, and the spectacular Cathedral Cove.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Reserve now & pay later
Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Duration 2 hours
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English

Highlighted reviews from other travelers

I
Ian – New Zealand

This is a great trip in a comfortable and safe boat. Our skipper Sam was brilliant, explaining the flora and fauna with lots of time for photos and questions. A beautiful activity, highly recommended.

S
Sue – Australia

Fantastic experience with our guide Sam ensuring a safe and informative boat ride which far exceeded our expectations. What a beautiful bay!

Select participants and date

Participants

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

Explore Cathedral Cove from the luxury of our purpose built tour boat, complete with sunshade and cushioned seats. This scenic boat cruise strikes the perfect balance of comfort and professionalism, and showcases Mercury Bay’s stunning coastal paradise at its finest. Embark on a 2-hour journey across the rugged volcanic shores of the bay and explore its beautiful beaches including Hahei and Lonely Bay. We’ll get you closer to the key attractions than bigger boats can, and provide a service that’s second to none.

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 more than 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

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. Most often our yellow and black tour boat will be parked on the jetty. If the skipper/captain is on the boat you may head down the ramp and embark, however if nobody is in attendance please wait for them to return so you may be seated.

Open in Google Maps

Important information

What to bring

  • Comfortable shoes
  • Sunglasses
  • Jacket
  • Camera

Know before you go

  • Make sure you bring refreshments, a warm jacket, camera/binoculars, sunhat and sunscreen
  • Be sure to arrive 15 minutes prior to departure

From $83 per person

Reserve now & pay later to book your spot and pay nothing today
Reserve now & pay later to book your spot and pay nothing today

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.8 /5

based on 684 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.9/5
  • Transportation
    4.9/5
  • Value for money
    4.7/5

Customer photos

+81
Filter
By star rating
Sort by:
Recommended
Recommended
Most recent
Highest rated
Lowest rated
I
Ian – New ZealandMay 24, 2025 – Verified booking
This is a great trip in a comfortable and safe boat. Our skipper Sam was brilliant, explaining the flora and fauna with lots of time for photos and questions. A beautiful activity, highly recommended.
S
Sue – AustraliaApril 10, 2025 – Verified booking
Fantastic experience with our guide Sam ensuring a safe and informative boat ride which far exceeded our expectations. What a beautiful bay!
N
Nigel – United KingdomMarch 24, 2025 – Verified booking
We had a great time getting to see very interesting places along this coastline. But what made it so special was the skipper/tour guide Sam her knowledge and enthusiasm for this area especially the marine reserve was outstanding.

Product ID: 243857

Activity provider:Ocean Leopard Tours
  • New Zealand
  • North Island
  • Mercury Bay

Experiences in North Island

  • 1North Island Dolphin & whale watching
  • 2North Island Hot springs
  • 3North Island Family-friendly activities
  • 4North Island Winter activities
  • 5North Island Multi-day trips
  • 6North Island Sky diving
  • 7North Island Wine tasting & winery tours
  • 8North Island Extreme sports & adrenaline
  • 9North Island Air & helicopter tours
  • 10North Island Day trips
  • 11North Island Lord of the Rings
  • 12North Island Horse riding
  • 13North Island River rafting
  • 14North Island Speed & jet boat tours
  • 15North Island Cruises & boat tours
  • 16North Island Fishing tours
  • 17North Island Glow worm experiences
  • 18North Island Canoe & kayak tours
  • 19North Island Stargazing
  • 20North Island Rail tours

Tours in New Zealand

  • 1Queenstown Tours
  • 2Auckland Tours
  • 3Rotorua Tours
  • 4Christchurch Tours
  • 5Wellington Tours
  • 6Wanaka Tours
  • 7Lake Tekapo Tours
  • 8Taupo Tours
  • 9Kaikoura Tours
  • 10Te Anau Tours
  • 11Tauranga Tours
  • 12Dunedin Tours
  • 13Paihia Tours
  • 14Nelson, New Zealand Tours
  • 15Aoraki Mount Cook Village Tours
  • 16Fox Glacier Tours
  • 17Franz Josef Town Tours
  • 18Glenorchy Tours
  • 19Akaroa Tours
  • 20Napier Tours

Things to do in New Zealand

  • 1Things to do in Queenstown
  • 2Things to do in Auckland
  • 3Things to do in Rotorua
  • 4Things to do in Christchurch
  • 5Things to do in Wellington
  • 6Things to do in Wanaka
  • 7Things to do in Lake Tekapo
  • 8Things to do in Taupo
  • 9Things to do in Kaikoura
  • 10Things to do in Te Anau
  • 11Things to do in Tauranga
  • 12Things to do in Dunedin
  • 13Things to do in Paihia
  • 14Things to do in Nelson, New Zealand
  • 15Things to do in Aoraki Mount Cook Village
  • 16Things to do in Fox Glacier
  • 17Things to do in Franz Josef Town
  • 18Things to do in Glenorchy
  • 19Things to do in Akaroa
  • 20Things to do in Picton

Top destinations

  • Paris
  • Rome
  • Barcelona
  • Amsterdam
  • Prague
  • London
  • Dubai
  • Marrakesh
  • Milan
  • Budapest
  • Vienna
  • Lisbon
  • Venice
  • Istanbul
  • Florence
  • Madrid
  • New York City
  • Seville
  • Málaga
  • Berlin

Top attraction categories

  • Amsterdam Cruises & boat tours
  • Budapest Cruises & boat tours
  • Paris Cruises & boat tours
  • Paris Hop-on Hop-off tours
  • Venice Gondola tours
  • Berlin Cruises & boat tours
  • Rome Hop-on Hop-off tours
  • Paris Family-friendly activities
  • Paris City cards
  • Paris Shows & musicals
  • Rome City cards
  • Tokyo Sumo experiences
  • London Harry Potter tours
  • Hamburg Cruises & boat tours
  • Vienna Concerts & operas
  • Prague Cruises & boat tours
  • Berlin Shows & musicals
  • Marrakesh Balloon tours
  • New York City City cards
  • Amsterdam City cards

Popular Attractions

  • Caminito del Rey
  • Sagrada Familia
  • Eiffel Tower
  • Seine River
  • Vatican Museums
  • Memorial and Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau
  • Disneyland Paris
  • Louvre Museum
  • Colosseum
  • Pompeii Archaeological Site
  • Warner Bros. Studio London
  • Moulin Rouge
  • Mount Vesuvius
  • Alhambra
  • Lake Como
  • Palace of Versailles
  • Mount Etna
  • Notre Dame Cathedral
  • Last Supper
  • Park Güell
  • New Zealand
  • North Island
  • Mercury Bay
Get it on Google PlayDownload on the App Store
  • Contact
  • Legal Notice
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies and Marketing Preferences
  • General Terms and Conditions
  • Information according to the Digital Services Act
  • Sitemap
  • Do not Sell or Share my Personal Information
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Blog
  • Press
  • Gift Cards
  • Explorer
  • As a Supply Partner
  • As a Content Creator
  • As an Affiliate Partner
Paypal
Mastercard
Visa
Maestro
American Express
Jcb
Discover
Klarna
Google Pay
Apple Pay
Ideal
Bancontact

© 2008 – 2025 GetYourGuide. Made in Zurich & Berlin.

Facebook Instagram Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn