THE LOG BOOK
Stories, local knowledge & life on the water
The Log Book is where we share more about the places we visit, the stories behind them, life on the Coromandel coastline, and what goes into running a boat tour from Whitianga. You’ll also find practical advice for visiting Cathedral Cove and exploring this special part of Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Written by locals, from a place we love and know well.
Discovering Cathedral Cove by Boat
For many visitors to New Zealand, Cathedral Cove isn’t simply another stop on the itinerary. It’s the destination. People travel from all over the world, navigating the winding roads of the Coromandel Peninsula because they’ve seen photographs of the famous arch, heard stories from friends, or dreamed of experiencing one of New Zealand’s most spectacular natural landmarks for themselves….
The Local’s Guide to Visiting Cathedral Cove
Cathedral Cove is one of those places almost everyone has seen before they arrive.
The great stone arch has appeared on postcards, travel guides and screensavers for decades, and for many visitors it sits near the top of their Coromandel must-see list. But photographs don’t give you much sense of where Cathedral Cove actually sits.
It’s one small part of a remarkable stretch of coastline within Te Whanganui-o-Hei/Cathedral Cove Marine Reserve…
Orua Sea Cave: The Surprise Beyond Cathedral Cove
There’s a moment when you enter Orua Sea Cave when almost everyone does the same thing — they look up. From outside, the opening in the cliffs already looks substantial, but it isn’t until the boat moves inside and the walls rise around you that you really understand the scale of the place. For many of our guests, it’s a complete surprise. They join us knowing exactly what Cathedral Cove looks like, but most have never heard of Orua Sea Cave, and some don’t even realise that caves this size exist along the Mercury Bay coastline at all…
How To Choose A Cathedral Cove Boat Tour
If you search for a Cathedral Cove boat tour, you’ll find no shortage of options. Different boats, different lengths, different routes and different price points, all promising a similar thing: a trip along one of the Coromandel’s most spectacular stretches of coastline.
That can make choosing harder than it should be, so here’s what we think is actually worth considering before you book.
Why Ocean Leopard No Longer Offers Snorkeling
Until last year, snorkeling was part of the Ocean Leopard tour. Guests could jump in around the marine reserve, spend a few minutes in the water, and climb back aboard before we continued along the coast. We took it away, and it wasn’t a marketing decision. It came out of a genuine safety review, and it’s one we’d make again….
Thanks for Teaching Me the Sea
2 Sept 2026
With Father’s Day coming up, I’ve been thinking about where my love of the ocean really began. The answer’s simple: it came from Dad.
Dad grew up in Thames, here on the Coromandel, and the ocean has been part of his life for as long as he can remember. He was always active — fishing, diving, and later completing PADI dive training with Mum, back when being on or under the water became part of their life as a couple too.