Cathedral Cove Coast and Cave Activity
5
Cathedral Cove Coast and Cave Activity
By Mercury Bay Discoveries - Cathedral Cove & Coastal Tour
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
About
Free cancellation • Full refund if cancelled up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time).
Reserve now & pay later • Secure your spot while staying flexible.
Lowest price guarantee • Find a lower price online? Get the difference refunded!
Ages 0-99, max of 29 per group
Duration: 2h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
- Use of Snorkelling equipment
- Restroom and changing room
- Warm fresh water shower for after swimming
- Coffee/Tea & Water available to purchase onboard
- Start:
- 1 The Esplanade, Whitianga 3510, New ZealandMeet 20 mins before tour on the grassy area beside our orange flag at the end of Blacksmith Lane. This is next to the ramp that leads down to Z Pier where the boat is berthed.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Wheelchair accessible
- Pushchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 450952P1- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Most travellers can participate
- 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 29 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: 450952P1
From
$130.00
per adult
Select date and travellers
Similar experiences
Buy it with
Top rated
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
Mercury Bay Discoveries - Cathedral Cove & Coastal Tour155Whitianga, New ZealandJoined in December 2023- Dreamer410725884550 contributionsAmazing clear waterIt was a amazing trip, Graeme n Mila was very nice during the trip, beautiful sceneries Highly recommended it's worth doing itWritten 31 January 2025
- Qatarsusie0 contributionsScenic boat trip with snorkelingGreat day on the water - love that you can walk around the boat, it is covered, a bathroom, refreshments on offer and a hot shower when you get out of the water after snorkeling. Captain Adam and crew were knowledgeable and friendly. Highly recommend!Written 8 April 2024
- muenster290 contributionsA great boat tour along the coastIt was a great tour to Cathedral Cove and other beautiful places along the coast. Especially the cave we went into which was full of fish was great. And the crew were such nice guys. Welcoming, helpful and always up for a joke. Thank you!Written 8 March 2024
- johannacP1141PH0 contributionsHard to beat!Best ever boat tour, the conditions were perfect, the scenery world class and the hosts Adam, Esther and Ella made it super fun and educational. We loved the snorkeling. Thanks Mercury Bay Discoveries for a very memorable special day...Written 5 February 2024
- Footprints8243300 contributionsTop Adventure well worth it Must doAdam and his crew were amazing 👏 Had so much fun and the snorkeling was a bonus👌 up close to big snapper and blue maomao fish well worth going thanks team ❤Written 5 February 2024
- Catherine D0 contributionsCruising the coast with Mercury Bay Discoveries in Whitianga. Such a pleasurable experience.Such an enjoyable boat ride and amazing crew. Wonderful way to see Cathedral cove and the coast.Even had the opportunity to snorkel.Written 1 February 2024
- Cindi S0 contributionsFabulous Trip and GuidesOur Skipper and Crew (Esther) were fabulous tour guides. We had perfect weather and enjoyed seeing a Gannet and blue mau mau fish, in addition to Cathedral Cove and many other sights. The boat is new, clean and comfortable. One of the best features is the warm shower for after snorkeling! Would highly recommend this adventure!Written 31 January 2024
- Boemens0 contributionsAmazing tour and great skipper and crewHad an awesome time on the boat tour. We have been coming to ferry landing for almost 40 years and still learnt from the crew and skipper. Kids had a great time. Crew were tentative and helpful. Would definitely recommend!Written 3 January 2024
- Pioneer7718890 contributionsNice Boat TripFantastic Cruise, 1 Skipper and two Girls told us many stories and also took time for little Chats during the Cruise. Prices for Snacks and Drinks are 3,00.Written 27 December 2023
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.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
5.0
147 reviews
Excellent
142
Very good
4
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Monisha P
1 contribution
Oct 2024 • Friends
I had an incredible experience on our day trip, all thanks to the wonderful staff on board. From start to finish, they were attentive, knowledgeable, and made sure everyone felt comfortable and safe. I was feeling very sea sick Koral and Sienna were so amazing and caring.
The crew shared fascinating insights about the area and navigated us through some stunning spots. They were well-prepared with everything we needed—from refreshments to safety equipment—and made sure to check in with each guest to see if we needed anything throughout the trip.
Special shout-out to -Jeremy, Koral and Sienna for going above and beyond in making the trip memorable! Their warmth and energy truly made the experience feel personal.
Highly recommend this trip and this amazing crew!
Nga Mihi
Monisha, Namrata, Akash, Simran, Ranbir and Abhishek.
The crew shared fascinating insights about the area and navigated us through some stunning spots. They were well-prepared with everything we needed—from refreshments to safety equipment—and made sure to check in with each guest to see if we needed anything throughout the trip.
Special shout-out to -Jeremy, Koral and Sienna for going above and beyond in making the trip memorable! Their warmth and energy truly made the experience feel personal.
Highly recommend this trip and this amazing crew!
Nga Mihi
Monisha, Namrata, Akash, Simran, Ranbir and Abhishek.
Written 27 October 2024
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.
Thank you so much for the great review Monisha! Our crew are an amazing bunch.. They truely are genuine and caring. I am so glad you felt safe and looked after! We really appreciate the recommendation and kind words. Thanks again, Chris and the Mercury Bay Discoveries team.
Written 29 October 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
A Ball
18 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
We did the Mercury Bay Discovery Cruise yesterday and it was fantastic. Adam and Sophie made us feel very welcome and looked after us on a very beautiful day on the water. The scenery was amazing and it was great to see how clear and clean the water is in New Zealand and the abundance of fish and see life that we saw was wonderful . The bonus of the day was seeing a whale breaching and Adam manoeuvered the boat to the correct distance away. All on board were thrilled to see this fantastic sight. We would highly recommend this company to anyone wanting a great experience while visiting Whitianga.
Written 8 November 2024
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.
Incredible you got to see a whale breaching! Such an unforgettable experience! It was the perfect trip for sure. Thank you so much for the amazing review and recommendation.. hope we can see you again one day in the future. Thanks again and safe travels from Chris and the Mercury Bay Discoveries Team.
Written 10 November 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
marshsandra
7 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
This tour is excellent and well worth the money. Two and a half hours on a lovely boat with a half hour stop for snorkeling, if you wish to go in the water (snorkles and life vests are provided by the boat). Adam, the skipper, obviously loves his job and is keen for everyone to have the best trip possible. Very knowledgeable on the area, he points out all the locations with a bit of history and humour added in. We were lucky to have the most fabulous clear, calm day, so were able to go inside a wonderful sea cave with loads of fish. Ellie, his 'first mate' was also excellent. We highly recommend this trip, book early as it only goes out once a day at 10am. It was certainly a highlight of our first week in NZ.
Written 29 February 2024
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.
175liz
Sheffield, UK6 contributions
Feb 2025 • Couples
We had a great trip today, thank you Graeme, Libby & Mateo!
Started off with a bit of a swell which made for an exciting trip, unfortunately also meant we couldn't get close in to the sea cave for safety reasons. Fantastic views and an informative commentary!
We were amazed to have calm, shallow waters for swimming and snorkeling, brilliant thank you.
Mateo was the star of the day for retrieving a piece of lost property from the bottom of the sea and deserves full recognition for his meticulous search! Well done!
We enjoyed the whole experience, thank you.
Started off with a bit of a swell which made for an exciting trip, unfortunately also meant we couldn't get close in to the sea cave for safety reasons. Fantastic views and an informative commentary!
We were amazed to have calm, shallow waters for swimming and snorkeling, brilliant thank you.
Mateo was the star of the day for retrieving a piece of lost property from the bottom of the sea and deserves full recognition for his meticulous search! Well done!
We enjoyed the whole experience, thank you.
Written 11 February 2025
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.
Thank you for the great review and sharing your experience! We appreciate you taking the time to write this. That was an amazing story of Mateo finding the wedding ring on the sea floor! Something all involved won’t forget in a hurry. Thanks again for giving us the opportunity to show you around our home, maybe we will see you again one day - from Chris and the Mercury Bay Discoveries team.
Written 16 February 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
gdun1342
Tauranga, New Zealand3 contributions
Jan 2025 • Family
This is an absolute must when you’re exploring the Coromandel. Fascinating, informative, exciting and memorable. Skipper Graeme and his crew - Mateo and Libby - made everyone feel welcome and had us enthralled with their knowledge of the Cathedral Cove, Mercury Bay area. The Mercury Bay Explorer boat is very comfortable and safe. Awesome not to be missed experience.
Written 13 February 2025
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.
Glad we could give you such an amazing experience! Greame, Mateo and Libby will love reading this positive feedback. We really appreciate you taking the time to review us 😊 hope we might see you back aboard with us in the future - kind regards from Chris and the Mercury Bay Discoveries team.
Written 16 February 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Liz A
2 contributions
Nov 2024 • Friends
Thank you, Adam and Koral, for a great trip to Cathedral Cove. The scenery was amazing and Adam’s commentary, along with comprehensive answers to our questions, made it an interesting and informative experience. Koral’s interactions with those on board and Adam’s jokes made it a fun outing for all on board.
Written 7 November 2024
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.
Thank you for the great Review Liz!
Adam is extremely experienced in tourism and growing up in this area his local knowledge of the geology, history and marine life is unreal.. glad you enjoyed his tour! And Koral is a fantastic crew isn’t she 💫 I’ll make sure they get this feedback. Thanks again for the great review. Kind regards from Chris and the Mercury Bay Discoveries team.
Written 7 November 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Pranay
Auckland, New Zealand2 contributions
Our experience was absolutely fantastic! We had a diverse group—one senior, four adults, and four kids under 16—and everyone had an amazing time. The skipper was outstanding—well-spoken, knowledgeable, and passionate about the area. The two young assistants were friendly and made the trip even more enjoyable.
We learned so much about Whitianga and got to visit all the must-see spots, including Cathedral Cove, Hot Water Beach, and more. One of the highlights was going inside a cave—such a breathtaking experience! We also had the chance to feed fish, which was a fun bonus.
The absolute best part? Scuba diving in the marine reserve! Seeing massive snapper up close was unreal. If you’re looking for an unforgettable adventure on the water, this is it!
We learned so much about Whitianga and got to visit all the must-see spots, including Cathedral Cove, Hot Water Beach, and more. One of the highlights was going inside a cave—such a breathtaking experience! We also had the chance to feed fish, which was a fun bonus.
The absolute best part? Scuba diving in the marine reserve! Seeing massive snapper up close was unreal. If you’re looking for an unforgettable adventure on the water, this is it!
Written 10 February 2025
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! Amazing review, and thanks for the high recommendation. That was a great read, we appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. It means the world to us to get such amazing and kind feedback, thanks. Hope the rest of your time here in coromandel is just as great. Kind regards from Chris and the rest of the Mercury Bay Discoveries team.
Written 16 February 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
MLGCEssex
Essex259 contributions
After being personally welcomed on board we had a wonderful morning with Chris and Mila discovering the wonderful coastline around Whitianga. Mercury’s boat is very new and was spacious, spotlessly clean (including the toilet) and we didn’t feel we were being rushed during our time on board. We would highly recommend Mercury Bay Discoveries.
Written 3 December 2024
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.
Lovely review thanks guys! 😊 we had a really good trip this morning! A relaxing fun vibe. And epic conditions you scored! One of Mila’s first trips as crew.. She is amazing and will be excited to get this feedback! Thanks again for the recommendation, from Chris and the Mercury Bay Discoveries team.
Written 3 December 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Alan H
3 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
We had an awesome tour with Adam and Chris. The views and commentary were great. Loved the Orua sea cave. Toilet on board was added bonus. Those that swam appreciated the hot shower. The day was very hot but with roof to protect us the temperature onboard was pleasant
Highly recommend this tour.
We'll be back.
Alan and Judi
Highly recommend this tour.
We'll be back.
Alan and Judi
Written 18 December 2023
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.
NigelG603
Luton, UK4 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
We went on tour of Cathedral Cove and Mercury Bay’s sea caves. The design of the boat was a key element to our booking. As mentioned by others the catamaran design gives for a smoother ride even at higher speeds. The facilities on board such as toilets were important to our group. The crew were very approachable and knowledgable and were able to answer questions in a light hearted way. The experience of the skipper was really good and we went to a really good snorkelling spot and there was ample time to swim. We’ve done boat trips from Whitianga before but would say that this was the best so far and would definitely book again!
Written 10 March 2024
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.
No questions have been asked about this experience
*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.