Beautiful scenery, but no beach. It is all rocks. Perfect snorkel place but hard to get down onto and no beach at all.

A short hop of the main track to Cathedral Cove just like the side track to Stingray Bay. A rocky foreshore, clear water, views of the cliffs and a good spot to get into the water for snorkelling.

The first time we visited, it was really choppy but we were all so excited. We hopped in the water and didn't see a thing. The visibility was terrible. We came back on a better day and it was utterly beautiful. We could see perfectly and there were huge snapper EVERYWHERE. They were so friendly, not scared of us and swam around without a care. I regularly visit Hahei and I always snorkel at gemstone bay at least once. There are stacks of stingrays there too, you just have to be patient. I would recommend bringing footwear because the beach is very rocky and it can be tough on your feet. Also visit on a calm day for a better experience. Accessing the water can sometimes be tricky because there are so many rocks, you may want a wet suit if you get cold easily. Overall I would very highly recommend Gemstone bay, the scenery is gorgeous if you aren't a swimmer and the snorkelling is exceptional, definitely worth the trip.