Tutukaka - North Island, New Zealand

The small sylvan village of Tutukaka is a beautiful harbour 30 kilometres to the northeast of Whangarei. It is a popular destination amongst the local kiwi vacationers for its big game fishing and scuba diving.

Tutukaka is the launching pad for the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve, one of the best dive locations in the world, located 25 kilometres offshore. The Poor Knights waters are crystal clear with visibility up to 30 metres most of the year.

These dive waters are home to an amazing diversity of sea life not found anywhere else. This area is blessed with vertical rock faces that fall a sheer 100 metres into a maze of caves that are active with rainbow-coloured fish, coral, shellfish and crabs.

The Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve lies along the migratory routes of blue whales, humpback, sei and minke whales and dolphins. These reserves are islands where no one is allowed to land. These islands abound with geckos and tuataras, pre-historic lizard-like creatures not found anywhere else in the world.

The harbour at Tutukaka has a cafe and a restaurant with bar attached.

Tutukaka Accommodation

Most accommodation is based in the south part of Tutukaka along Tutukaka Block Rd in the form of cottages, motels, lodges and a holiday park with camping sites and backpacker cabins.

Tutukaka Activities

Big game fishing outside the Poor Knights Reserve is extremely popular. Big game anglers go after marlins, sharks and tuna by renting game fishing boats for the day. There is a list of operators available from the Whangarei Deep Sea Anglers Club.

The diving experience in the Poor Knights Marine Reserve is a fabulous experience for professionals and novices alike. To sample the best of it, prior diving experience is required, however snorkeling and sightseeing are also fantastic experiences. There are a host of operators operating trips daily during the peak season of April to November.

Boats leave from Tutukaka and there is an additional free service of picking up backpackers from Whangarei. The cost of the dive trip is based on either just going on the trip, or includes tanks or renting full gear. There is an opportunity for first-time divers to try a resort dive with full gear and one-on-one instruction.

There are a variety of boat trips from Tutukaka. The popular fast boat trip takes you on a two and a half hour ride to the Poor Knights Islands and then into Rikoriko Cave, the largest sea cave in the world.

There are also the pleasurable day and a half day cruises aboard the Wairangi which stops for snorkeling and dolphin sightings along the way. Another operator offers a full day sailing trip to the Poor Knights Islands with stops enroute for snorkeling and kayaking.

LooknbookNZ can arrange your Tutukaka accommodation and Tutukaka activities bookings and to allow you and your family/friends to have a fantastic time in exciting Tutukaka.