FAQ
Your questions answered....
Yes. You're welcome to bring snacks and non-alcoholic drinks to enjoy during your tour.
If you're looking for something to eat before or after your trip, you'll find several great cafés and restaurants within a short walk of Whitianga Wharf, including The Espy Café, Harbour House Café, Buffalo Beach Club and Grace O'Malley's Irish Inn.
Absolutely. We welcome guests of all ages and have specially designed infant life jackets available for babies and young children.
Many parents are pleasantly surprised to find that the gentle rocking of the boat and the steady sound of the engines often help little ones drift off to sleep, making for a relaxing experience for the whole family.
No. Ocean Leopard is a sightseeing tour designed to showcase as much of Mercury Bay's spectacular coastline as possible. Rather than anchoring while guests swim or snorkel, we spend the full two hours exploring sea caves, volcanic formations, Cathedral Cove, marine wildlife and other hidden coastal highlights.
This approach allows you to experience more of the coastline and reflects our commitment to providing a safe, comfortable experience for guests of all ages.
The best way to secure your seat is to head to our booking page.
Once your booking is confirmed, you'll receive a confirmation email with everything you need to know before your tour, including where to meet and what to bring.
If you're booking on the day, we also accept:
Our boat is not wheelchair accessible, as wheelchairs cannot be taken on board.
However, many guests with limited mobility are still able to enjoy the tour. If you can transfer from your wheelchair onto the boat with assistance, our comfortable forward-facing seats with supportive backrests provide a secure and enjoyable place to sit throughout the journey.
Every guest's needs are different, so we encourage you to give us a call before booking. We'll be happy to discuss your individual requirements and let you know whether the tour is likely to be suitable.
Most guests are pleasantly surprised by how comfortable the ride is. Ocean Leopard's deep-V hull provides a smooth ride, and the open-air design allows you to focus on the horizon, which many people find helps reduce the likelihood of seasickness.
If you know you're prone to motion sickness, we recommend taking a travel sickness tablet before your tour as a precaution.
We recommend bringing:
- A warm jacket or extra layer, as it can feel cooler on the water.
- Sunglasses, a sunhat and sunscreen, even on cloudy days.
- A camera or binoculars if you'd like to capture the spectacular scenery and wildlife.
- Water and any snacks you'd like to enjoy during the tour.
Comfortable, non-slip footwear is also recommended for boarding and disembarking.
Yes. Many of our guests are older travellers who are looking for a comfortable and relaxing way to experience Cathedral Cove. There is no walking involved, and our purpose-built sightseeing boat features comfortable forward-facing seats with supportive backrests.
If you have any mobility concerns, please get in touch before booking. We'll be happy to discuss whether the tour is suitable for your individual needs.
We take you right up to Cathedral Cove, giving you an incredible view from the water. Conditions permitting, we'll get close enough for you to see right through the famous arch and appreciate the towering cliffs from a perspective that's simply not possible from land.
Seeing Cathedral Cove from the water also allows you to appreciate the surrounding coastline, hidden beaches and dramatic volcanic formations that many visitors never get to experience.
Your safety and enjoyment are always our priority. If sea or weather conditions are unsuitable, we may cancel or postpone the tour. If this happens, we'll contact you as soon as possible to discuss alternative departure times or provide a full refund if we're unable to reschedule.
Many days that appear cloudy or show light rain forecasts can still offer excellent conditions on the water, so we recommend checking with us if you're unsure.
Yes. Ocean Leopard welcomes children of all ages and our Cathedral Cove boat tour is a great option for families. The boat has comfortable forward-facing seats with backrests with plenty of shade and protection from the weather. There’s lots to keep kids interested along the way, from sea caves and blowholes to wildlife and the dramatic volcanic coastline. Lifejackets are provided for all passengers, including appropriately sized lifejackets for children.
Absolutely. Ocean Leopard is a sightseeing-focused Cathedral Cove boat tour and we don't include a snorkelling stop. Instead, we use the full two hours to explore the coastline, including Cathedral Cove, sea caves, blowholes, volcanic formations and Te Whanganui-o-Hei Marine Reserve. It's a great choice if your priority is seeing as much of the coast as possible rather than spending part of the tour in the water.
No. Our tour is a fully boat-based experience, so you remain on board throughout the journey. We'll take you close enough to Cathedral Cove to enjoy spectacular views and see right through the famous arch, all from the comfort of the boat.
Staying on the water also allows us to explore more of Mercury Bay's spectacular coastline, including sea caves, volcanic formations and other highlights that can't be experienced from land.
No. Our tour is a fully boat-based experience, so you remain on board throughout the journey. We'll cruise past Hot Water Beach and share the story behind this unique natural attraction while enjoying fantastic views from the water.
Because we don't stop to go ashore, we have more time to explore Mercury Bay's spectacular coastline, including Cathedral Cove, Orua Sea Cave, dramatic volcanic formations and other hidden coastal highlights.
Dolphins are regular visitors to Mercury Bay, and we're fortunate to encounter them on many of our tours. Whales also occasionally visit our coastline, although sightings are much less common.
As all marine mammals are wild and free-ranging, we can't guarantee you'll see dolphins or whales on your tour. Every trip is different, but we'll always keep a lookout and share any wildlife we encounter along the way, while following Department of Conservation and Maritime New Zealand guidelines to ensure these incredible animals are respected and protected.
Our current tour boat does not have an onboard toilet. However, public toilet facilities are available at Whitianga Wharf before departure and immediately after your tour.
From October 2026, our brand-new purpose-built sightseeing vessel will feature an onboard toilet, providing even greater comfort and convenience for our guests.
Ocean Leopard doesn't have a public office. If you have any questions before your tour, we're happy to help by phone or email.
On the day of your tour, you'll meet us at Whitianga Wharf, where your skipper will greet you before departure.
You will be contacted on the morning of the tour if not before, and will receive a full refund if you’re not able to reschedule your tour.
Our boat canopy provides some protection from the elements, so light rain doesn't usually affect the tour. In fact, some of the most dramatic coastal scenery can be experienced on overcast days. Waterproof ponchos are available if required.
If conditions become unsafe due to strong winds or rough seas, we'll always make the decision to postpone or cancel the tour.
Yes. The boat is designed to give passengers excellent visibility of the coastline, with forward-facing seating and plenty of opportunities for photos throughout the tour. We visit Cathedral Cove and explore around 12 kilometres of the volcanic coastline, including sea caves, cliffs, blowholes and other geological formations. Our skippers also know the coast intimately and will position the boat to give all passengers a great view of each of the places we visit.
A boat tour offers a completely different perspective. From the water you'll experience Cathedral Cove as it was intended to be seen, while also discovering spectacular sea caves, hidden beaches, towering volcanic cliffs and the wider Mercury Bay coastline that can't be appreciated from land.
Rather than simply visiting Cathedral Cove, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the history, geology, marine life and stories that make this coastline so special.
Many passengers with limited mobility can comfortably join our tour, and our crew are happy to assist with boarding where needed. However, passengers do need to be able to step aboard the boat from the wharf, and the boat is not wheelchair accessible. If you have particular mobility requirements, please contact us before booking and we can talk you through the boarding process and help you decide whether the trip will be suitable for you.
Yes. Free street parking is available close to Whitianga Wharf. If you’re travelling in a campervan or motorhome, you can park in the boat trailer parking area beside the children’s playground, just a short walk from the wharf.
All parking is free.