It's a good place to get some fresh air and take a walk. controlNav:false, Giant forest trees that have fallen from the mountainous slopes complete the other-worldly atmosphere.Top tip: Take your time to absorb the life on the walls as you descend. The center is just a short walk from the beach and is a great way to get acquainted with marine life in the area. We were here on a weekday and the beach was almost deserted - just a few walkers some with dogs and a lonely fisherman - there are clean toilets here and places to sit above the beach - we stopped for a while on our way to Shakespeare Park to take in the views - swimming looked safe but the water was cold so we gave that a miss. 2 Fiordland: Acheron Passage This area contains some of the most other-worldly, atmospheric diving on the planet. var timer_metaslider_57782 = function() { It is also known to house the largest ever sea cave in all of the Southern hemisphere, the Riko Riko Cave. layer.css('cursor', 'pointer').on('click', function(e) { We took the kids to the beach to collect some Kina and cockles from the bay on the other side. Find your way to Goat Island. Cross this and head out to the rocks, but dont go too far no need to go around the point. Although we see hundreds of fish, we cant communicate to ask what they are until later. Kaikoura. Hollis produce the suits in nine sizes from SM through to 3XL. Need easy access to toilet facilities, stroller friendly terrain as plenty of kids in the group and safe swimming spot. reverse:false, ARMY BAY BEACH (Whangaparaoa) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. $(this).css('display', 'block'); BECOME A SUPPORTER. This enables us to provide you with a high level of customer service and quick turnaround times when you want your gear serviced or your cylinders tested. (If you are unsure check with local dive or snorkel hire businesses). This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in New Zealand. We headed out from Whangaroa Marina in the far north of New Zealand on Nautilus Charters in search of some big snapper to test out the new reels and they performed flawlessly! The views are lovely. Here's what you need to know to ensure your trophy fish legally qualifies for a category record. Heres where to experience the best snorkelingin and around Auckland. Plenty of off street parking and quite a few families picnicking. Wow! Schools of large silver drummer, blue maomao, big snapper and occasional blue moki are regularly seen. Check the sea conditions before you head out as there is often some swell. Take a look at the best places to go scuba diving in New Zealand to satisfy the thrill-seeker within you on your next holiday! The daily limit is 150 per person, except in the Auckland and Coromandel fishing area . The views are lovely. We stopped at Army Bay Beach for a picnic lunch - the area is spotlessly clean with toilets, changing rooms and a shower. Here visitors can take a dip to view tumbled rock and reefs that are swarming with a number of grazing invertebrates. Alphabet Bay on the north-west side of the island has good kelp forests and fish life. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. This is the final resting place for the former Navy Frigate HMNZS Canterbury, an impressive wreck dive with resident schools of fish in certain parts of the vessel. The littlies will enjoy exploring the rock pools here. Finally we can tell you that we saw the following: clown nudibranch, snapper, kina urchin, black spiny urchin, scorpionfish, blue maomao, black angelfish, red pigfish, red moki, strangers wrasse, grey moray (eel), leatherjacket, demoiselle, elegant wrasse and New Zealand fur seal! 2023 NZ Pocket Guide. $('#metaslider_57782 .msHtmlOverlay').each(function() { Its hard to believe this getaway is just a 45-minute trip away from the hustle and bustle of Aucklands CBD. This picturesque spot is renowned for its beaches that are great for swimming, fishing andof coursesnorkeling. It also boasts of a great diversity of not just fish, but also stingrays, dolphins, and eels among other varied marine mammals and plants. Youll only need one, and hey presto:big snapper. People feel for the shellfish with their feet, only grasping them with their hands when they have located a group. downscale_only: false, For more New Zealand travel ideas and inspiration, go to newzealand.com. Quiet and peaceful on a sunny winters day with no wind. The Island Bay Snorkel Trail is a great way to explore the area and learn about the marine life in the reserve. Head south back towards Waiwera until just before the point. Fish this on an out-going tide a lot of fish come out of that river. Well, it doesnt feel quite so winterless when we are scraping ice off our windshield this morning. Kiwi Scuba Divers also offer internationally recognised freediver training through SSI Freediving. Those rocking snorkelling gear can explore the rocks close to the shore, while divers can drop onto the reefs further out with depth ranges of up to 25 metres. The other terrific snorkel spot in the region is the Tonga Island Marine Reserve in the Abel Tasman National Park, which has stunningly clear waters. The walls have solitary corals, brachiopods, sponges, soft corals, nudibranchs and a good selection of fish species. Any suggestions most welcome. Use big floating baits at dusk. Kina Scollay is a Picton-based shark researcher, cameraman, film and documentary production expert. Every summer, several hundred tourists head to this marine reserve to enjoy goat island snorkeling among sting rays, king fish, kahawai, jack mackerel, and huge snappers. There's also another option for those who want to learn without having to get into the water themselves - the Island Marine Discovery Centre, which holds the largest collection of marine life in New Zealand. Here, we get on the top deck of the boat which is open to the coastal scenery made by a super volcano and carved by the ocean over the years. Once upon a time, the area was barren because of overfishing, but since a marine reserve was established in 1975, the area is now teeming with fish and sea life. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. The wall drops to sand where it is dotted with rocks covered with sponges, kelp and heaps of goatfish. While we admit the island is QUITE off the beaten track, the marine life here makes the trip well worth it. Well, Ariel, do we have news for you: you can make all your mermaid dreams a reality with snorkeling. As soon as the high tide will let you, walk out along the eastern side, heading for the old wreck. Kick off from the sports ground and swim towards Horseshoe Island or the large mangrove trees to the south. }); Those rocking snorkelling gear can explore the rocks close to the shore, while divers can drop onto the reefs further out with depth ranges of up to 25 metres. Kiwi Scuba Divers offer some of the best scuba diving in Auckland and across New Zealand to all certified newcomers and long-time enthusiasts. If you like sunny and warm days then you should plan your visit from December to March and if you are a lover of snowfall then you should visit from June to September. December and January are the best months for snorkeling. Changes include: Hpuku/bass has been removed from the combined daily bag limit with kingfish, with each now having a separate daily limit. In fact, you can snorkel with sharks (yes, sharks) at Aucklands very own Kelly Tarltons. Kiwi Scuba Divers offer some of the best scuba diving in Auckland and across New Zealand to all certified newcomers and long-time enthusiasts. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. The Puhoi River also empties out here so theres plenty of water movement. Yep, there are only five of us on the boat today and that folks, is the beauty of travelling in the shoulder season! With strong currents and deep water, divers should be experienced and have a skilled local skipper. Another Northland favourite dive site up north is Deep Water Cove in the Bay of Islands. Aussie slang is not the only thing that astounds tourists. A daily bag limit of no more than 2 hpuku/bass per person. This is a great beach on the north side of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, at the end of the road (before the military zone) and close to Shakespeare Regional Park. The fish life on top of the reef is glorious as well if you get the tides right. Kiwi Scuba Divers have a fully equipped dive equipment service centre and dive cylinder testing facility on site. They are often more interested in you than you are with them a feeling wed all like to experience, right? It was pretty busy and hardly any parks. View all hotels near Army Bay Beach on Tripadvisor, View all restaurants near Army Bay Beach on Tripadvisor, View all attractions near Army Bay Beach on Tripadvisor, Self-Guided Tours & Rentals in Whangaparaoa, ACTV Transport & ROLLING VENICE CARD (6-29 yrs), Private Boston Transfer: Airport to Hotel or Cruise Port, Private Full Day Tour to Mt Seorak and East Sea, Rotorua Day Trip from Auckland with Options -, Private Nadi Airport Arrival Transfer Shuttle Charter. Of course, if you're still fascinated by great white sharks, you can dive with them in Foveaux Strait - but from the safety of a cage. The estuary here is home to an abundance of marine life. He stars in season two of Our Big Blue Backyard, premiering tonight at 7.30pm on TVNZ 1. Contact Kiwi Scuba Divers today or drop by the shop and see us for your diving requirements. At the end of Tiri Road, just on dusk, drop a big floating bait (fresh if possible) in between the reefs over the foul ground. From the waters of Mokohinaus to Great Barrier Island, Poor Knights, Bay of Islands Islands and many, many more. Do not be surprised to find some friendly triple fins swim right up to your mask! Start from the Whangateau Domain or the holiday park and swim towards Horseshoe Island or the large mangrove trees just to the south. Check out the best places to kayak, paddle board and learn to surf around auckland. }); Parore and other fishes usually school around the mangrove trees. Oops! $('li:not(".flex-active-slide") .animated', slider).not('.disabled').each(function(index) { Simply don your snorkel and wetsuit and set out on the Island Bay Snorkel Trail for a once in a life experience. Members Profile. Heres another spot that can give up big fish, but for some strange reason small baits like anchovies do well here. And I've had a great time filming outside the western end of the arch where you can see large kingies, stingrays and huge snapper. From the stream around to Cudlip Point is a good shelf that faces back toward Brazier Rock. Snorkellers can swim out alongside the rocks at the eastern end of the beach and across to the little island. ADCT is a registered not-for-profit charity with the New Zealand Charities Commission (CC42144). Small black fish with colourful spots slowly swim past us, not bothered by our presence what-so-ever. $(this).remove(); Travel by ferry or enjoy a birds-eye view and catch a flight with Fly My Sky. Good place to kayak as well. Its a long trip right to the end of the peninsula, but worth it. Steve takes us between towering cliffs of the islands and under numerous giant archways, before anchoring up at a dive spot that Jacques Cousteau himself once explored! Take a look at the best places to go snorkeling in New Zealand for a thrilling experience in the beautiful country while holidaying there! . This snorkeling platform may be accessed by crossing a lovely stretch of white sand beach. Stumbled across it by accident but boy what a find. The fish that steals the show, though, just happens to be the massive school of blue maomao. The best time to visit New Zealand depends on what are your interests. Auckland Diving provides professionally run classes for brand new divers, right through to competitive training at Olympic level. Use an operator who knows and loves the region. The boys are not disappointed, as snapper and kingfish are landed. From the get go, our breath is taken away by the variety of fish seen in the water (but we remember to keep on breathing because literally losing your breath wouldnt be a good thing when diving). . directionNav:true, Easy parking for large vehicles. For more information see our privacy and information policy. Snorkel your way through the Blue Mao Mao Arch to be welcomed by huge schools of the Blue Mao Mao swimming merrily. TBA 97% of travellers recommend this experience. Before we get too carried away with the sights of the underwater world just yet, we repeat a couple of diving skills in the water, which is far less scary than anticipated. When you are under the rock arch, the effect of light coming from the entrance and exit is stunning. About 100 metres before you reach the wreck there is a shelf that fishes well in a northerly wind. Check out our Online Shop for more information on the products we supply. Although the Poor Knights Islands are meant to feature world-class diving beneath the surface, the scenery above the surface is pretty awesome too. Snorkeling in New Zealand bay of islands is a fun way to explore the mind-blowing amount of marine life at close quarters. Nested in the southern harbour of the Poor Knights islands, this site offers clouds of fish - especially the blue maomao that give the arch its name. Look out for anemones and sponges clinging to the rocks, crustaceans scuttling between boulders, seaweed and fish, as well as ambush starfish, which are endemic to New Zealand. Information courtesy of IGFA. There are basically six types of diving groups related to springboard and platform diving. We stopped at Army Bay Beach for a picnic lunch - the area is spotlessly clean with toilets, changing rooms and a shower. itemWidth:300, My previous experience on the Poseidon Mk6 meant that I was able to focus more on the Prism2 than the actual difference between open and closed circuit diving. By signing up with us, you get the opportunity to explore and dive in the some of the most picturesque dive sites New Zealand has to offer. This is a great place to enjoy some quality snorkeling Auckland. Watch for any boat traffic that may be moving past. Well all wetsuits get wet, on the inside. Until we see for ourselves, we have a 50-minute journey to the Poor Knights Islands to enjoy. It's a good place to get some fresh air and take a walk. All kinds of fish gently swim in the shelter of the arch fish usually found at greater depth. It's also an incredible snorkelling site for those who prefer to float on top of the surface. Milan tags along with a couple of keen young anglers who are trying to catch a king fish off the rocks. If you prefer to stay on land, the pohutukawa-lined beach is the perfect spot to curl up with a book. Here is a blue-water pinnacle in the midst of strong ocean currents, so it's possible to see incredible pelagics if you are lucky. Your submission has been received! You can snorkel over a kelp forest with more than 260 native seaweed species, and see giant paua, large tame blue cod, blue moki, wrasse and greenbone, as well as octopus, seahorses and giant lion's mane jellyfish. Sing your favorite song and listen to it echo back to you! Get our top stories direct to your inbox. From the little ramp you can go right to Army Bay or left to Coal Mine Bay; there are good shelves, gutters and points both ways. 28 Best Places To Visit In Mcleodganj In 2023 Thatll Make You Fall In Love With This Gem, 40 Tourist Places In Madhya Pradesh That You Should Be Visiting In 2023, 53 Best Places To Visit In Andaman In 2023 For A Mesmerizing Holiday Experience, 51 Places To Visit In Leh Ladakh For A Spell Binding Vacation In The Year 2023, Top 42 Places To Visit In Jodhpur That You Just Cant Afford To Miss In 2023, 20 Mysterious Places In India To Visit In 2023 More Bizarre Than The Bermuda Triangle, 10 Scariest Roads In India That Are A Drivers Nightmare, 101 Places To Visit In India Before You Turn 30 in 2023, 35 Exotic Places To Visit In December In India 2022 To Enjoy A Surreal Vacation, 60 Best Honeymoon Destinations In India In 2023. You'll learn all about these apex predators on board the boat to your dive site while understanding what an important role they have in the ocean. ADCT was created in 2009 as a collaboration between Diving Waitakere (DW) and North Harbour Diving (NHD) clubs in order to maximise opportunities, resources and talent to the benefit of both clubs and enhance diving in Auckland generally. Abundant. 11. Collecting kina and cockles - Review of Army Bay Beach, Whangaparaoa, New Zealand - Tripadvisor South Pacific New Zealand North Island Auckland Whangaparaoa Whangaparaoa - Things to Do Army Bay Beach Army Bay Beach 19 Reviews #6 of 13 things to do in Whangaparaoa Nature & Parks, Outdoor Activities, Beaches Lermontov Wreck. Check out our dive trip schedule for our list of trips and learn about the destination, date, meeting point, time and cost. Poor Knight Island Marine Reserve is a popular snorkeling destination just half an hour from Whangarei. 96% of travellers recommend this experience. With that, Sophie, Dave and Robin are throwing their lunch aside and throwing on their masks and snorkels. Once you get to the car park, a massive tidal platform awaits you just 50 meters away. Jump on board a ferry and nip over to Rakino Island. Goat Island. Recently I was lucky enough to pull together a team of New Zealand's best and most experienced underwater film-makers and take them the length and breadth of the country for the new season of Our Big Blue Backyard. Email:info@kiwiscubadivers.co.nz, Monday - Friday9.00am - 5:30pm New rules for recreational pua fishing in the area are: Daily limit: 5 blackfoot pua only. 92% of travellers recommend this experience. The currents are ferocious and you could easily be lost. A thorough understanding of tides and currents and how they behave in this particular spot is recommended. We specialise in technical diver training including extended range, sidemount and rebreathers. 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