Matai Bay
Matai Bay is located at the top of the Karikari Peninsula in Northland. Looking out to the Pacific Ocean, the bay consists of two beautiful, crescent-shaped coves. It is the perfect spot for a camping / diving trip.
Matai Bay Pinnacle is a five minute boat ride from shore. The pinnacle just breaks the surface and descends to 50+ metres. Surrounded by schools of fish, including predatory Kingfish, the pinnacle is covered in life. Anemones coat the walls while nudibranchs graze on encrusting sponges and corals. The rocky reefs that make up the coastline provide plenty of dive sites to choose from, and house crayfish for the keen hunter.
Between boat dives you can dive from the shore at Matai Bay and see many nudibranchs, seahares and octopuses. Another great site to dive is the Sponge Gardens off Rangiputa. The site can only be safely dived a half hour either side of the change of tide, due to raging currents. The high tidal flow has resulted in spectacular growth of sponges, nudibranchs, octopuses, shrimps, seahorses, seastars and rays. The Sponge Gardens could possibly be the best muck diving site in New Zealand!
AUUC at Matai Bay
We will be camping at the DOC Matai Bay campground. You can turn up and leave whenever you want.
You can dive from the shore at Matai Bay (including night dives), or patiently wait your turn to be shuttled out to various dive sites such as Matai Bay Pinnacle on the club boat Grade Raider. Please expect only one boat dive a day. We will be working hard to get everyone out to the best dive sites. Shore dives can also be done from Rangiputa on the change of tide.
What you need to bring
Camping gear, all cooking paraphernalia from cookers/BBQ, pots and utensils to dishwashing liquid (the campground has the most basic of facilities: toilets, cold showers and tap water). It will be cheaper to buy your food in Auckland. The closest town is Whatuwhiwhi which has a fuel station. Read about the Matai Bay campground. It costs $8.10 per person per night to camp.
Bring all of your scuba gear. You are best to bring two tanks if you want to do a few dives. Tank fills can be obtained at the dive shop A to Z Diving Whatuwhiwhi. Please bring cash for boat dives (to be paid before you jump on).
Directions to Matai Bay from Auckland
Drive north on SH1 a really long way! At Pakaraka turn right onto SH10. Travel north on SH10. Just past Taipa (awesome fish and chips in Mangonui) turn right onto the Inland Road. Travel through Whatuwhiwhi and turn left onto Matai Bay Road. Turn right from the gravel road, towards the Matai Bay DOC campground. Auckland to Matai Bay takes around 5 hours.
