Snorkeling Whitianga: Cave Cruzer inside Orua sea cave

Navigate inside caves other boats cannot reach, then snorkel the marine reserve

A 2-hour snorkeling tour from Whitianga aboard Cave Cruzer, a small open-topped vessel that enters sea caves and blowholes unreachable by larger boats. You'll cruise 24 kilometres of the Coromandel coastline, pass Shakespeare Cliff and Narnia filming locations, then snorkel in Gemstone Bay or watch marine life from the boat. Snorkel gear, life jackets and live guided commentary are included. Snorkeling and rock jumping depend on sea conditions.

Step-by-step itinerary

Cathedral Cove Cruise and Snorkelling

• Meet crew and safety briefing
• Hear Whitianga history en route
• View Shakespeare Cliff and learn Mercury Bay story
• Visit Cooks Beach Blowhole (conditions permitting)
• See iconic rock formations and Narnia locations
• Explore Champagne Bay caves and blowholes
• Enter Orua sea cave and hear music acoustics
• Snorkel or watch fish at Gemstone Bay
• Optional rock jumping (conditions permitting)
• Pass through "Hole in the Rock"
• Tour concludes

The experience

Cave Cruzer is built to go where standard tour boats stop. At 7.8 metres, it's the only vessel of its size in Mercury Bay: small enough to slip inside caves and blowholes, open-topped so nothing blocks your view above. The boat leaves from the floating pontoon opposite 13 The Esplanade, and the first stop is Shakespeare Cliff, named by Captain Cook in 1769. From there the route opens south along the volcanic coastline, passing Te Hoho Rock and Narnia filming locations seen from the water the way most visitors never see them.

The centrepiece is Orua, New Zealand's second-largest sea cave. Cave Cruzer is the only tour to take you inside it. Brian, your guide, plays music in the cave so you can hear the acoustics for yourself. The sound carries differently in that space than anywhere else you'll stand that day. His local knowledge of the geology, Māori history and marine life of Mercury Bay shapes what you actually learn, not just what you pass.

After the caves, you'll head to Gemstone Bay or the best spot conditions allow that day. Snorkel gear is provided. You can gear up and snorkel among fish in the marine reserve, or stay on the boat and watch them from the side. Rock jumping is optional and available here if conditions permit. The tour wraps with a pass through the Hole in the Rock before returning to the wharf. The whole trip runs roughly 2 hours. Snorkeling, rock jumping and cave access all depend on sea conditions and tide on the day. They cannot be guaranteed, but the boat and the guide are.

What’s included

• Snorkel gear and life jackets.
• access to caves and blowholes unreachable by other vessels.
• live guided commentary in English throughout the 2-hour cruise.
• safety briefing before departure.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 15:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (1 to 15 years)

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Cave Cruzer

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to enter sea caves most boats cannot navigate and snorkel the marine reserve in the same morning: the small size of Cave Cruzer is what makes both possible in a single 2-hour trip.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 15 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I snorkel if I've never done it before?

Snorkel gear is included and the marine reserve at Gemstone Bay is calm and shallow. You can also stay on the boat and watch the fish from the side if you prefer not to enter the water. A safety briefing happens before departure.

What is Te Hoho Rock and why do people come to see it?

Te Hoho Rock is an iconic rock formation on the Coromandel coastline, famous enough that most visitors only see it from the shore or from larger boats passing at a distance. Cave Cruzer's small size lets you get close to it from the water in a way standard tours cannot.

Will I definitely see dolphins or whales?

Marine wildlife sightings (dolphins, orca, seals and whales) cannot be guaranteed. The boat operates in Mercury Bay year-round, but animal presence depends on the season and conditions on the day you go.

What happens if the sea conditions are too rough?

Snorkeling, rock jumping and cave access are all subject to sea conditions and tide on the day. If conditions don't allow safe entry to the caves or the snorkel site, Brian will adjust the route to the best spot available and still deliver the guided tour of the coastline and the rock formations you can safely reach.

Do I need to arrange transport to the boat?

Check-in is at the Cave Cruzer boat on the floating pontoon, opposite 13 The Esplanade, Whitianga Wharf. Arrive 15 minutes before your departure time. Some booking options include transport to the wharf. Check which one you've selected at checkout.