CATHEDRAL COVE TOUR
Ocean Leopard is a locally owned and operated family business running Cathedral Cove boat tours out of Whitianga since 2010. It’s become one of the most popular ways to see the Coromandel coastline. Our experienced local skippers know this coast properly, and every trip is relaxed, safe, and easy.
The boat is built for good sightseeing: spacious seating, clear sightlines, and a smooth, stable ride that’s ideal for photography. Whether it’s your first Cathedral Cove boat tour or you’re rediscovering the Coromandel by water, we want the journey out there to be just as memorable as the destination.
Times & pricing
Explore the Coromandel Coast
Experience it first class
Our Cathedral Cove boat tour from Whitianga gets you close to things you simply can’t see from land: Orua Sea Cave, the islands of Te Whanganui-o-Hei Marine Reserve, and 12 kilometres of volcanic coastline shaped over millions of years. Smaller group sizes mean more room to move and a genuinely comfortable ride, with local commentary that brings the coastline’s history and geology to life.
Why Choose Our Cathedral Cove Boat Tour
- Small group experience with forward-facing comfortable seating
- Purpose-built vessel designed for stability and smooth cruising
- Local, knowledgeable skippers sharing insights into the coastline
- Access to sea caves, blowholes and hidden bays best explored by water
- Ideal for all ages, including those less steady on their feet
What You’ll See on Our Cathedral Cove Tour
- Cathedral Cove and its iconic natural arch
- Te Whanganui-o-Hei Marine Reserve
- Volcanic sea caves and blowholes
- Hahei Beach and surrounding coastline
- The chance to spot dolphins, seabirds and other marine life
Ocean Leopard - Guest Reviews
Over 1,300 five-star reviews make Ocean Leopard one of the highest-rated, award-winning Cathedral Cove boat tours in New Zealand — winner of a TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award, TripAdvisor Best of the Best Award and a Destination Coromandel Service Excellence Award. Comfort comes up again and again in what people say. It’s a smaller, more relaxed way to see Mercury Bay, with time to take in the coastline, the wildlife and the stories along the way.
We were welcomed at the wharf by Sam our skipper. We all knew who Sam was as we had read the previous reviews and they were spot on. Sam greeted us enthusiastically and was like that for the entire trip. Her commentary was fabulous and answered all our questions about the area. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone wanting to discover Cathedral Cove by boat.
This was a spectacular boat tour. We got up very close to Cathedral Cove, sea caves and even entered a cave which was full of fish. Sam was amazing with her knowledge and commentary. We thoughtfully enjoyed this experience.
We greatly enjoyed our excellent tour with the very capable, friendly and knowledgeable Justin. In addition to a stunning tour of the coast, he made interesting and humorous points about what we saw (flora, fauna, history, geology etc) and always ensured that everyone had ample opportunities to take pictures. His handling of the boat (including in a cave with swell!) was impressive.
Very safe and competent! Highly recommend. Thank you!
We saw advertisements for different boat trips and the options seemed a little overwhelming, but after a little reading we settled on Ocean Leopard and I'm really glad we did. The boat felt very safe, with comfortable and modern life vests, and skipper Sam was charming and held our attention with details about everything we were seeing.
It was a very fun trip!
Our early morning Cathedral Cove Tour was perfection. Our captain, Sam, perfectly balanced scenic views with interesting facts and information about the area and the culture. She provided us with an in depth understanding of the conservation efforts that are taking place in Whitianga. The boat was extremely comfortable; seats with backs which faced forward and a cover over the boat made the trip very enjoyable.
Today’s tour with Ocean Leopard Tours was truly one of the highlights of our trip. From the first moment we stepped on board, we felt warmly welcomed and genuinely cared for, not just like customers, but like guests. Captain Justin was incredible: calm, friendly, and so passionate about the ocean and the area. That kind of energy makes you feel safe, relaxed, and excited at the same time. What made it even more special was the wildlife we were lucky enough to see, we unexpectedly spotted a shark along the way, and later saw seals sitting peacefully on the rocks. Moments like that are unforgettable. You can really feel the heart behind this small, family run business. Thank you for giving my partner and me such a meaningful experience. We’ll be recommending Ocean Leopard Tours to anyone visiting Whitianga.
