The Poor Knights Islands in Northland is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream come true
If you are looking for an adventure that combines your love of the outdoors with your love of diving, then look no farther. Just off New Zealand’s North Island lies the Poor Knights Islands. Here you will find a 4million year old volcano just waiting for you to explore.
Poor Knights Islands is a collection of three larger islands surrounded by smaller islets. The area has been uninhabited since the 19th century and had the feel of a lost world to it. The area has been designated both a nature and marine reserve in order to protect its unique, natural beauty.
What You Will Find
Marine life around the Poor Knights Islands is abundant and diverse. From lush kelp forests to soft corals, there is a colorful array to behold. Large pelagic species including sharks, dolphins and manta rays inhabit the waters.
For those who like to spend a little time underwater as well as above it, there is a wide range of diving available in the area. If you enjoy deep dives or exploring caves, you’ll find it here. You can also dive caverns, walls and wrecks to add variety. While here, snorkelers and sight-seers will have plenty to take in.
Underwater Experiences
You can experience nearly every aspect of ocean diving from this compressed marine eco system. Poor Knights Islands offers sunlit waters teeming with life and beauty for you to explore. From the upper levels of the ‘tumbling staircase’ to the depths and darkness of the numerous caves, an amazing underwater experience awaits.
Don’t miss the spectacular sponge gardens and gorgonian fields. Here fish of every species abound. Urchins, shellfish and anemones dance in the sparkling waters. The islands’ popular arches are another source of entertainment as numerous species of animals vie for space on their walls. Stingrays glide through archway waters in warmer months.
The marine reserve is home to many subtropical fish that cannot be found elsewhere in New Zealand. Many of these remarkable fish are known for their friendliness. An afternoon among these beauties will make for memorable vacation stories you will share for a lifetime.
If you are a novice diver, parts of the South Harbor are perfect for you. Nursery Cove is an ideal place for the novice and experienced diver alike. Some dive operators have special equipment on hand to help non-divers enjoy this underwater playground.
From the heights of the sheer cliffs that plunge to the depths of this remarkable underwater environment, the Poor Knights Islands are a blissfully, protected wonderland of natural beauty set in the coastal waters of one of New Zealand’s most protected and treasured assets. Make sure to spend some time here when you visit New Zealand.
