A beach that you can only get to by foot or by sea is a little bit special. Cathedral Cove is one of those beaches.
No longer a hidden gem, having starred in the Chronicles of Narnia movies and being near the top of most Kiwis’ lists when it comes to iconic New Zealand beaches, Cathedral Cove is still a spectacular spot to while away a summer’s afternoon.
Whether you’ve taken the short bush walk to the beach or arrived via kayak, you’ll undoubtedly be impressed by its sugar-white sand, clear waters and the soaring arch of its namesake cave.
The waters around Cathedral Cove are protected by the Cathedral Cove Te Whanganui-A-Hei marine reserve, which covers nine square kilometres offshore, making snorkelling and diving equally popular pastimes to lying on the soft sand.
It's an undeniably popular spot in peak summer, so catch the park-and-ride option from the nearby Hahei visitor carpark.
