Matauri Bay: Beach, Coastal Views and Culture

Matauri Bay is a coastal destination where beaches, water sports and cultural memorials offer different reasons to stay. Crystal-clear water and golden sandy beaches define the bay. When planning your trip, you can decide whether the sea, the scenery or cultural history should be your main focus.

Beach and Water Sports

Swimming and snorkelling are popular in Matauri Bay and suit the bay’s beach-focused character. If you enjoy spending time by the water, these activities can be a highlight of your trip. The rocks around Matauri Bay also offer opportunities for diving and fishing. The activities at sea therefore vary: swimming and snorkelling are popular options in the bay, while diving and fishing are specifically associated with the rocks.

Surfers also appreciate Matauri Bay. The bay can offer good surfing conditions when there is an easterly or south-easterly swell and at high tide. These factors are essential when assessing the surfing conditions; check them before surfing rather than assuming conditions will be good regardless of swell and tides.

Views and Excursions on the Water

The ridge above Matauri Bay offers panoramic views across the headland and out to the Cavalli Islands. The view therefore extends beyond the bay itself, taking in the more distant coastal landscape as well.

Motukawanui Island is near Matauri Bay and can be reached by boat; in good weather, it is also possible to get there by kayak. On the island, the Motukawanui Island Track offers views of Matauri Bay. There are therefore two different vantage points for viewing the bay: the ridge above Matauri Bay and the track on the nearby island. Weather and conditions at departure can vary, as can conditions on the track. Check the current conditions before heading to the island. Matauri Bay offers a safe place to launch boats for trips to the Cavalli Islands. Before setting off, check the current launch conditions and facilities.

Memorial and Māori Culture

The Rainbow Warrior Memorial in Matauri Bay commemorates the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior by French agents in 1985. Sculptor Chris Booth created the memorial between 1988 and 1990. It is a memorial worth visiting, created several years after the event it commemorates.

Another cultural landmark is Mataatua II, a Māori war waka in Matauri Bay. It commemorates the great Pacific migration through which Māori arrived in New Zealand about 700 years ago. The two cultural landmarks represent different time periods: the memorial commemorates a specific event in 1985, while Mataatua II recalls a much earlier migration. If you are interested in cultural history, Matauri Bay thus connects a more recent historical memory with a reference to Māori history reaching far back in time.

Golf, Horse Riding and Camping

Matauri Bay is popular with golfers; Kauri Cliffs golf resort is located there. Horse-riding trails offer another activity. Camping right on the beach is also an option in Matauri Bay. If you are considering this type of stay, check availability and conditions in advance. These activities offer different ways to plan your trip, without any one of them needing to define the stay for every traveller.

Discover more destinations: Kawakawa, Taipa-Mangonui, Broadwood, Kaitaia, Russell, Paihia, Opononi, Opua

For the main travel overview: Far North District.