Experience the adventure on the Hahei Explorer as we show you the best of what Hahei, Cathedral Cove and our incredible volcanic coastline has to offer.
The stage is yours, Hahei Explorer. Tell our travelling friends about the amazing adventures that await in Hahei. This is your guest blog post….
Book a tour with us by phone or by popping into our brand new office in the Hahei township, then head down to the south end of Hahei Beach where you will be greeted by one of our friendly crew. Here you can pay with cash, credit/debit card or EFTPOS, pop off your shoes (if you are wearing any) and get a life jacket. Once the boat arrives you will walk into the water getting wet to just above your ankles, hop on the boat and we will whisk you away to the very best scenic and natural locations in the area.
The tour visits coastal islands of the Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve, reefs, massive sea caves and bays, including the world-famous Cathedral Cove. The magnificence of this natural volcanic scenery is legendary and the approach by sea, combined with an insightful, yet relaxed commentary further enhances the experience.
Our boats seat only 10 people and with our knowledgeable skippers doing commentary themselves you will receive a truly unique experience from a local perspective not available on larger tour boats. Another great advantage of our small boats is that it allows us to enter caves and shallow bay areas not accessible to larger watercraft.
The Hahei Explorer visits the stunning scenery of the two film locations at Champagne Bay and world-famous Cathedral Cove from The Chronicles of Narnia – Prince Caspian movie. If you are lucky you may even spot dolphins, seals and little blue penguins if they take time out of their busy schedules to visit us in the bay.
One of the leading attractions of this extraordinary volcanic coastline is the awesome blow-hole. When the tide is right we venture through a secret sea cave underground into a gigantic rock cylinder 80 feet high and open to the sky – truly a magical place!
Smell the seaweed, watch Gannets dive headlong around the islands, observe Cormorants hunting in the clear waters and sunbathing on rocks, reach out and touch the rainbow-coloured rock formations and hear stories of Maori encampments!
The Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve that we enter is 26 years old with the marine life inside it increased by an incredible 1200% over that time. As the fish life is so abundant our skippers will only be too happy to show you what lies beneath the water in this amazing protected sanctuary.
The one-hour long trip will finish at the beautiful beach where we started and you will end the tour with the knowledge of the best places to walk, snorkel and swim around Hahei and Cathedral Cove, as well as a new appreciation of the history and the natural environment here in our slice of paradise that we call home.
The Hahei Explorer is the original boat tour to Cathedral Cove and the Marine Reserve and have over 25 years experience. We visit Hahei on our 24 day Wanderlust tours, so ask your driver-guide on the way to Hahei and they will be glad to book you a trip!
