The Cavilli Islands, one of the top dive sights in Northland.
The Cavalli Islands lie off the coast of Matauri Bay. The main island, Motukawanui, is a nature reserve with a walking track. You can paddle to the islands on a sea kayaking safari or arrange a local charter.
On the seafloor between the Cavalli Islands and Matauri Bay lies the Rainbow Warrior, the Greenpeace vessel that was scuttled here in 1987 to become a dive attraction. Today the wreck is a complex eco system covered in corals and sea anemones. Dive trips to the wreck run throughout the year and visibility is usually excellent.
Beautiful Matauri Bay is a popular surfing venue in an easterly swell. At other times it's a peaceful beach for swimming and snorkelling. From the ridge above the bay, there are panoramic views over the headland and out to the Cavalli Islands.
An unforgettable highlight of Matauri Bay is Mataatua II, a Maori war waka (canoe) built to commemorate the great Pacific migration that brought the Maori people to New Zealand around 700 years ago.
By Kate Malcolm