Te Whanganui-o-Hei/Cathedral Cove Marine Reserve
Located in Hahei area in the Coromandel region
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Introduction
The reserve protects a wide range of habitats from sandy flats to rocky reefs, offering great snorkelling and diving. Visitors to the reserve can also enjoy swimming, kayaking and viewing the interesting coastal geology.The marine reserve was established in 1992 to protect and restore the diversity of the marine species and habitat.
Find things to do and places to stay Te Whanganui-o-Hei/Cathedral Cove Marine Reserve
Boaties are allowed to explore the marine reserve as long as they follow the rules:
- no fishing or taking of any kind
- no feeding the fish or discharging anything into the water.
Do not exceed five knots within 200 m of the shore or a dive flag, or within 50 m of any other boat or person in the water.
Extra caution may be needed in some areas, especially in summer due to the number of divers and swimmers.
There are public boat ramps at Hahei Beach, Whitianga, and Cooks beach.
Commercial and private vessels, including canoes and kayaks, land on the Mautohe-Cathedral Cove beach. Anyone planning to reach the beach by the marine reserve should be aware of the tide and sea conditions before attempting to land.
The marine reserve provides a unique opportunity to see what our coastal marine environment looks like without the pressures of fishing.
Snorkelling and scuba diving allows you to experience the diverse habitats and marine life that the reserve has to offer.
At Gemstone Bay there is a snorkel trail with marker buoys that have information panels on species and habitats. These are moored from 50 m to 150 m offshore. Gemstone Bay can only be accessed from the water, there is no track access to the bay.
Visitors to the area should swim or dive in pairs. Snorkelers should wear a wetsuit and life jacket (or use another flotation device such as a boogie board) when snorkelling in the marine reserve. This is particularly important for visitors who are not strong swimmers or used to swimming in the open sea.
Read about how to keep safe while snorkelling and diving at Water Safety New Zealand's Underwater safety webpage.
Kayaking is great way to explore the reserve. Kayaks can be hired at Hahei.
Kayak from Hahei beach north along the coast to see Gemstone Bay, Stingray Bay and Cathedral Cove. There are plenty of interesting features such as caves and archways along the coastline to explore.
If you are a confident kayaker, you can kayak around the various islands in the marine reserve which are around 800 m–1 km offshore.
It is not recommended for inexperienced paddlers without supervision.
Be alert while in the water, this is a high use area for marine vessels.
Be aware the marine reserve is currently only accessible via water, due to the current Cathedral Cove walk track closure.
Travelling by car, the trip is about one and a half hours drive from Thames in the west, and about two and a half hours drive from Auckland.
From Thames on the eastern side of the Coromandel Peninsula, travel east across SH25A which then joins SH25. Travel north on SH25 towards Whitianga and follow the signs to Hahei.
Island access
Access to Poikeke Island and Motueka Island is prohibited without permission from Ngāti Hei.
To help protect marine life inside the reserve, remember:
- no fishing of any kind, either from a boat or from shore
- no taking or disturbing any marine life, including shellfish and seaweeds
- no taking of any part of the sea floor, including rocks and shells
- no feeding the fish as it disturbs their natural behaviour.
Penalties for failure to comply under the Marine Reserves Act 1971 include confiscation of equipment, vessels or vehicles, fines and imprisonment.
Be aware of the boating rules of marine reserves (see the Marine Reserves Regulations 1993):
- The maximum speed permitted for all boats in New Zealand is 5 knots (about 9 km/h) within 200 m of shore or any boat with a dive flag, and within 50 m of any other boat or swimmer.
- Waste, ballast and sewage must not be discharged within the reserve.
- Drop your anchor responsibly to avoid damage to the reserve, and use the minimum amount of chain necessary.
Water safety
If you plan to enjoy the water, learn how to stay safe when swimming, boating and fishing.
It is currently the only marine reserve in the Waikato region and Coromandel Peninsula.
Kina barrens
Kina (urchin) barrens are areas of rocky reef that lack natural kelp cover. Kina graze on kelp and their population increase leads to dramatic losses in kelp cover. Kelp is an important habitat and food source for marine communities, so when kelp forests are lost it affects the diversity and productivity of the whole ecosystem.
These barrens have become an ecological indicator for the overfishing of species that graze on kina, such as snapper and kōura. Scientists have found kina numbers increase when snapper and crayfish populations are reduced. Kina barrens are less common within marine reserves (including Te Whanganui-o-Hei), as the kina’s natural predators such as snapper and kōura have been able to recover.
Te Whanganui-o-Hei/Cathedral Cove Marine Reserve is part of the area first claimed by Hei, a tohunga (priest) on Te Arawa waka at the time of the Polynesian migration to New Zealand, circa 1350 AD.
Hei settled his people on the area around Mercury Bay, asserting ownership by referring to Motueka Island as 'Te Kuraetanga-o-taku-Ihu' ('The outward curve of my nose').
It is said he made this claim near the present day site of Hahei. Hei's descendants, as tangata whenua, still retain a strong ancestral and spiritual attachment to the site, and continue their role as guardians, or kaitiaki, of the resources within it.
No dogs allowed
To protect our native wildlife, dogs are not allowed anywhere in this place.
Protect our marine reserves
- No fishing of any kind.
- Don't take or kill marine life.
- Don't remove or disturb any marine life or materials.
- Don't feed fish - it disturbs their natural behaviour.
- Take care when anchoring to avoid damaging the sea floor.
Contacts
| DOC Customer Service Centre | |
|---|---|
| Phone | 0800 275 362 |
| coromandeldistrict@doc.govt.nz | |
| Address | DOC offices |
