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Whitianga Tours
Ocean Leopard Tours - Cathedral Cove Boat Tour
5

Ocean Leopard Tours - Cathedral Cove Boat Tour

By Ocean Leopard Tours
Recommended by 100% of travellers
100% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-110, max of 16 per group
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • Lifejackets
What's not included
  • Restroom on board


Start:
  • Whitianga Wharf, The Esplanade, Whitianga 3510, New Zealand
    Esplanade rd,across the road from the Harbor House Cafe.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Near public transportation
    • Infants must sit on laps
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 262806P1

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Most travellers can participate
    • It is accessible for the mobility impaired.
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travellers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 262806P1

    From
    $140.00
    per adult
    Select date and travellers

    Similar experiences

    Itinerary
    • The Esplanade, Whitianga 3510, New Zealand
      Esplanade rd,across the road from the Harbor House Cafe.
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    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Ocean Leopard Tours
      1,146
      Whitianga, New Zealand
      Joined in January 2012
    • maxeenl
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Best boat tour!
      I live in an oceanfront tourist town, and this takes the cake for best boat tour I've been on! Liam was entertaining and extremely informative. We booked the Full Monty and would absolutely recommend. We were unable to go snorkeling due to getting new tattoos, but the option was there which is a plus!
      Written 30 January 2024
    • Brett P
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Best tour of Coromandel Peninsula
      What a great tour operator Liam is , his knowledge being a local for all his 23 years is fantastic. Being a conservationist his love for the environment is second to none!
      Written 10 January 2024
    • Lucinda j
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing couple of hours
      Liam our host and skipper provided a feast of history, fun facts and humour to keep us well entertained. Drop dead gorgeous scenery and two hours went so fast, a great snorkel was had and lovely that Liam joined my partner.
      Written 8 January 2024
    • X9155BXjann
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A speedy and interesting boat trip from Whitianga to Hot Water Beach and back.
      Some hours in the speedy boat gave us nice insights and views about the costline from Whitianga to Hot Water Beach. The shipper/guide ”Liam” drove safely and made stops in places of special interest where he also gave some interesting information. We also got the opertunity to make some snorkling in a place with really large ”Snappers”.
      Written 21 November 2023
    • Michael2810
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Very worthwhile…
      A terrific experience. We chose Sea Leopard Tours because we were able to see the boats from different tour companies at the wharf. Sea Leopard tours easily had the most comfortable looking boat. We were not disappointed. Liam was a terrific tour guide and boat driver. It is clear he knows the area as only someone who has grown up in the area can. A worthwhile way to spend a couple of hours.
      Written 2 April 2023
    • Billis1965
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      New Zealand Waterworld in the wild
      Totally amazing experience and right up there with the best tourist activities in the maritime world. Interesting, exciting, great crew and comfortable considering what and where we went
      Written 29 March 2023
    • Dad_Poundy
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Comfortable and interesting tour.
      Fabulous tour, our skipper Liam was a young local with extensive knowledge of the area. You don't just visit the cave (which unfortunately the beach was closed due to cyclone damage) but to a multitude of interesting locations. The boat is very comfortable and I believe the only front facing seated boat running. Highly recommended.
      Written 5 March 2023
    • Carol O
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great tour
      Awesome day. Liam was a great tour director and boat driver. We were lucky to have beautiful weather so made it even much more enjoyable. The rugged coastline was spectacular and I would definitely recommend.
      Written 5 March 2023
    • GoPlaces642063
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great boat trip
      Thoroughly enjoyed the 2 hour boat trip. Liam our skipper was really informative and obviously knew the history of the area. Well worth doing. Saw caves and rock formations that can only be seen by boat.
      Written 1 December 2022
    • dieblaufuesse
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Had a great time!
      We had a great Tour with Liam today. Enjoyed a beautiful 2 hours cruise along the coast with spectacular views of scenic beaches, coves, Rocks and Wildlife. Liam gave us good information about the history of the Region. Really enjoyed it!
      Written 30 November 2022
    • hillbillytash
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Whitianga Highlight
      The most memorable experience ever! So many items ticked off the bucket list! The dolphins definitely the highlight, a dream come true, along with swimming with snapper and seeing penguins! The hosts shared so much local knowledge and went above and beyond! An absolute must do when visiting Whitianga!
      Written 26 October 2022
    • pravishc2022
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing Experience
      Was an awesome experience. Liam took us around to various spots and told us about the history each place had. Thanks.
      Written 6 October 2022
    • WilliamBill M
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Just a brilliant experiance
      Suggest that you book in advance, great people to be with, hope for good weather, a really great experience
      Written 15 August 2022
    • H8055KDandream
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Breathtaking beauty
      This was an excellent trip. The weather wasn't great when we arrived, but Ocean Leopard tours were in daily contact and ensured that we were able to go as soon as the weather permitted. Our guide was welcoming, friendly and very informative (also had a great sense of humor) and made sure all aboard had an awesome experience, even ensuring that there were plenty of excellent photo opportunities. What an awesome way to explore this beautiful part of NZ. Would recommend this trip to anyone. Thank you so much Ocean Leopard tours.
      Written 31 October 2021
    • CodyV1231
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      10/10 experience
      I cannot recommend this tour enough. We had a beautiful morning on the water being shown some of New Zealand’s best coastal views. Justin is incredible at what he does, educating us about the marine life and some of the history of the area. I’ll most definitely be back.
      Written 3 October 2021
    See all 1,146 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles236 reviews
    Excellent
    229
    Very good
    7
    Average
    0
    Poor
    0
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    0

    sandra m
    Gold Coast, Australia38 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2020 • Family
    It was a tough decision between this tour and the glass bottom boat one but we were all so pleased we chose this one! The boat ride was very comfortable, the boat motor not loud, heaps of space on the boat (only takes 10 passengers) and individual, comfortable forward facing seats that enabled a fantastic view.

    The best part was the thoughtfulness of skipper Justin. He was so calm and relaxed and sincerely loved the area - he wasn’t just taking us on a tour he was sharing his local area with us. I think he enjoyed the scenery as much as we did as he even took out his phone to take photos when we stopped. He had so much information but not annoying or overwhelming, turned the boat around at every sight so we all had the best view, offered to take group photos with Cathedral Cove in the background. Justin offered everyone spray jackets and dropped the screens on one side of the boat to block the wind and spray when the weather turned worse.

    The scenery was awesome - the beaches, cliffs and even drove into a cave. The fish reserve amazing (although we decided against snorkelling due to the bad weather although Justin was very happy for us to go snorkelling). The water so clear and a spectacular colour.

    Just a wonderful boat tour and despite the cost ($345 for two adults, a 15 and 13 year old) we loved it. (The glass bottom boat would have been $310 so not much cheaper).
    We would highly recommend this tour especially as Justin was the perfect host/skipper. That you Justin for sharing you piece of paradise with us.
    Written 8 January 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Max H
    La Santa, Spain9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2020 • Friends
    Booked at 9:30 PM the night before, we started at 8:00 AM sharp the next morning.

    On top of this flexibility, Justin provided us the best tour possible with great insights and historical facts. Wildlife, scenery, swimming with fishes in clear water, we could not expect a better moment.

    Thank you very much, we'll come back!

    Written 5 February 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Carmen
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2020 • Family
    We joined the tour as a family of 5 - grandma, mum, dad and 2 children (8 and 10 years old). We had a wonderful tour of the different beaches from the Whitianga wharf, Lonely Beach, Cathedral Cove, Hahei and Hot Water Beach, from the vantage point of the open sea. Justin is a knowledgeable and great guide. He clearly loves what he is doing because it shows in his enthusiasm in greeting us all onboard, answering our questions and telling us stories about the different beaches and rock formation. He made us feel safe. It was an enjoyable couple of hours and would recommend this tour!
    Written 5 January 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Exploring_Cool_Spots
    Canada30 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2020
    We had an excellent tour with Ocean Leopard and our captain, Brian, as we explored the coastline near Whitianga. Brian was very knowledgeable and shared a lot of information about the geological formation of the coast, the history of the first settlers and later discovery by European explorers. As we cruised, we observed the beautiful coast, rock formations, caves and Cathedral Cove. The Ocean Leopard boat was comfortable and well equipped for the ocean conditions, even though our weather was very nice with small waves. It was a great way to see the scenic coastline!
    Written 19 February 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Elaine K
    11 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2020 • Couples
    My husband and I loved this trip so much. The scenery was second to none, the boat smooth and comfortable and the skipper gave a great commentary and gave ample time for photos. He knew all the most stunning spots and ensured that we got a perfect view. Loved seeing the snapper in the marine reserve.Can't reccommend this tour highly enough.
    Written 26 February 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Judith & Steve
    8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Justin was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and went out of his way to ensure we got to go on this trip as weather had been very unpredictable. He gave us opportunities to take photos and manoeuvred the boat into blow holes to give us an awesome and spectacular view of the beautiful Coromandel coast. Thank you Justin you made our two hour trip one to remember.
    Written 12 July 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    John L
    Cambridge, New Zealand225 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2021
    this is the second time i have been on this trip with Ocean Leopard and this time it was even better. Justin is a brilliant tour leader and always considerate of his passengers. We were blessed with wonderful weather so we were able to get full value from all the attractions during the two hour trip.
    Seeing the shoals of snapper around the boat was fascinating (i never knew that they have blue fins!!) and whilst seeing Cathedral Cove was great , i thoroughly enjoyed the massive cave that Justin was later able to take us into.
    Before deciding on Ocean leopard, we looked at competing tours some of which were cheaper but of shorter duration, but in my mind, this tour gives great value for money and is quite memorable.
    Written 26 February 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Stevie-Lee Davies
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2021 • Couples
    This is hands down one of the coolest things I’ve ever experienced- everyone needs to do it. We can’t thank Justin enough for the breathtaking morning we had seeing NZ’s coastal beauty as well as hearing some local history. Thank you thank you thank you
    Written 3 October 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Wow Stevie, thank you so much for this amazing review and rating! I really appreciate you taking the time to write your review and all the kind words. Thanks for supporting local business. Cheers, Justin
    Written 17 October 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Dave P
    Canterbury, UK32 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2020 • Couples
    Justin runs a well constructed boat tour taking in the highlights around the coast line in a safe controlled environment managing the boat to the sea state with little effect on the passengers.
    You go inside caves and the boat is positioned so everyone gets the best view for photos.
    Very attentive to passengers so they are not cold or uncomfortable.
    A superb tour highly recommended
    Written 15 March 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    maureen
    Nelson-Tasman Region, New Zealand5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2021
    I did this trip with my daughter in 2015, absolutely loved it then and came back with friends in January this year
    This is a stretch of coastline I would never otherwise see, and I never tire of it .My friends have raved ever since, about the comfort and safety of the boat combined with the up close experience of the ocean .It was a very hot day, so the shade overhead was much appreciated
    Thank you Justin, I'm so impressed by the way you remembered everyone's names!
    I hope to be back soon and thoroughly recommend this trip
    Written 2 February 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi Maureen, thank you so much for taking the time to review Ocean Leopard Tours, it means a lot. We're always so grateful for those return customers, it speaks volumes. Thanks again and I hope you're having a great summer. Cheers, Justin
    Written 21 February 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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    *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

    Ocean Leopard Tours - Cathedral Cove Boat Tour provided by Ocean Leopard Tours

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