Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
encounter. Colourful sponges, forests of seaweed, boarfish, crayfish and stingrays are
common sights, and if you're very lucky you may see orcas and bottle-nosed dolphins.
Visibility is claimed to be at least 10m, 75% of the time.
A
glass-bottomed boat
( 09-422 6334;
www.glassbottomboat.co.nz
;
adult/child $28/15)
provides an op-
portunity to see the underwater life while staying dry. Trips last 45 minutes and run from
the beach all year round, weather permitting; ring to check conditions and to book.
Staffed by marine experts and graduate students from the University of Auckland, the
recently opened
Goat Island Marine Discovery Centre
( 09-923 3645;
www.goatislandmarine.co.nz
;
Goat
Island Rd, Leigh; adult/child/family $10/5/20; 10am-4pm daily mid-Dec-March)
is packed with interest-
ing exhibitions on the ecosystem of the marine reserve, and is definitely worth visiting be-
fore venturing into Goat Island's waters. The interactive displays and the tide pool full of
marine creatures is great for children. Phone ahead for opening hours outside of mid-
December to March.
You can usually rent kayaks and snorkelling gear right from the beach. Snorkelling gear
(from $9) and wetsuits (from $12) can also be hired at
Seafriends
(
09-422 6212;
9am-7pm)
, further up the road, which also has saltwater
www.seafriends.org.nz
; 7 Goat Island Rd;
aquariums and a cafe.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Pakiri
Blissful Pakiri Beach, 12km past Goat Island (4km of the road is unsealed), is an unspoilt
expanse of white sand and rolling surf - a large chunk of which is protected as a regional
park.
Right by the water,
Pakiri Beach Holiday Park
( 09-422 6199;
www.pakiriholidaypark.co.nz
;
261 Pakiri
River Rd; sites from $50, units $80-400)
has a shop and tidy units of varying degrees of luxury in a
secure setting under the shade of pohutukawa.
Just 6km on from Pakiri is
Pakiri Horse Riding
( 09-422 6275;
www.horseride-nz.co.nz
;
Rahuikiri
Rd)
, which has more than 80 horses available for superb bush-and-beach rides, ranging
from one hour ($65) to multiday 'safaris'. Accommodation is provided in basic but spec-
tacularly situated beachside
cabins
(dm/cabin $35/155)
or in a comfortable four-bedroom
house
($500)
, secluded among the dunes.
