Starting from Whitianga, the Cathedral Cove & Hot Water Beach bus tour takes you to:

• Hahei lookout over the Marine Reserve from where you walk down to Cathedral Cove

• Hot Water Beach where you can dig your own thermally heated hot pool

• historic Ferry Landing

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The bus tour takes 5.5 hours and costs $69 for adults and $49 for children, or $199 for a family

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Departure times depend upon low tide times at Hot Water Beach.  

The bus will collect you either from from Ferry Landing (short ferry ride from Whitianga) and returns to Whitianga iSite; or departs from Whitianga iSite and returns you to Ferry Landing. 

This changes so that we can coincide with tides, and allows you to visit Hot Water Beach, Cathedral Cove and Ferry Landing in the one bus trip.

Departure details for your day will be in your emailed booking confirmation.

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Tour is based on someone staying in Whitianga, you can also book our daily shuttle to and from Auckland if required

Please note that ferry fares are not included in day tour cost, you can purchase these tickets on board the ferry.

Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach have limited paid parking available, our bus tour drops you as close as we can to these activities, giving you ample time to enjoy nature at it’s finest

CATHEDRAL COVE

The stunning natural wonders of Cathedral Cove await you!

Right from the start of the walk to Cathedral Cove there are panoramic views of Mercury Bay and Te Whanganui A Hei Marine Reserve. It’s a 45 minute walk to Cathedral Cove, along the way there are photo opportunities with dramatic views of spectacular coastal scenery.

The first side track you come to is to Gemstone Bay, just a few minutes walk to a boulder bay where you can snorkel or swim following the snorkel trail.

The next side track brings you to Stingray Bay, with it’s white sand beach, and majestic cliffs. Look out for stingray feeding.

A side loop track after Stingray Bay takes you through a grove of native puriri tree before rejoining the main trail.

At the Cove itself you can swim in either of the two sandy beaches, accessed via a majestic natural rock arch, the Cathedral itself. Do not forget your camera! These beaches are fun for swimming and jumping off the rock island is very popular. 

NGATI HEI / HISTORY OF CATHEDRAL COVE

Te Whanganui-A-Hei is part of a special area first claimed by Hei, a Tauira (teacher/skilled person) from the waka Te Arawa, some time around 1350 AD.

On a northbound voyage from the Bay of Plenty to Hauraki, Hei chose the area around Mercury Bay to settle with his people. He proclaimed ownership by referring to Motueka Island as “Te kuraetangao-taku-Ihu” (the outward curve of my nose).

Hei’s descendants still retain a strong ancestral and spiritual attachment to the area and continue their role of kaitiaki (guardians) of the bountiful resources within it.

HOT WATER BEACH

Hot Water Beach is best visited 2 hours either side of low tide, and our Day Tour is tailored to this.

At Hot Water Beach grab a spade (provided) and head towards Hot Rock, where you can dig yourself your own thermally heated spa.  It doesn't matter what the weather is doing - the underground spring always provides hot water, up to 64 degrees celsius, you can even boil an egg!

Hot Water Beach has rolling surf, craggy rocks and a huge view of blue ocean with scattered islands in the distance.  

FERRY LANDING

Ferry Landing is a recently restored historic stone wharf originally used to support kauri logging activities in the 1800s. From here you can follow the track up on to Whitianga Rock which gives you great views of Back Bay and Whitianga. If you are feeling extra energetic there is another track (all sign posted) which takes you up to a viewing platform high above Back Bay.

Ferry Landing is a short ferry ride from Whitianga. Ferry tickets are not included in bus tour cost.