Dive! Tutukaka is New Zealand’s premier full-service dive charter operator, servicing the Poor Knights Islands; “the best-sub-tropical-diving in the world”. Our friendly team … More info...
Tutukaka Coast Blog
General updates and information about the spectacular Tutukaka Coast and surrounding areas
Guy Bowden Talks about The Poor Knights Islands – Introduction
The Poor Knights have always featured in my life. In the early sixties my parents bought a farm on the Tutukaka Coast where I grew up with the rest of my family and where my wife … More info...
Poor Knights Islands Geology
The Poor Knights are located 20 kms off-shore midway between the Bay of Islands and Whangarei Harbor. The Islands have been isolated from the mainland NZ for longer than any other … More info...
History of the Poor Knights Islands
According to the descendants a population of some 3 to 4 hundred people inhabited the islands for many generations. The islands were occupied by a sub tribe or hapu of the … More info...
Plants of the Poor Knights
From a distance as you approach the islands from the west they appear to be covered almost entirely with Pohutukawa, Metrosideros excelsa. As you move closer you can see the caves … More info...
Birds of the Poor Knights Islands
The islands are noisy. Bird, reptile and insect life is prolific. Seabirds are the making of the islands. The under story of vegetation is riddled by the burrows of millions of … More info...
Reptiles, Insects and snails of the Poor Knights Islands
The Poor Knights are renowned for their diversity of reptiles, which include the northernmost population of tuatara, also many lizard species two of which are endemic. There is … More info...
Poor Knights Islands Marine Life
Recreational diving is the biggest activity at the Poor Knights today. Jacques Cousteau rated the Islands as one of the top ten dive spots in the world. In hindsight the Poor … More info...
Weeds and Weed Programme on the Poor Knights Islands
In 1990 as Tutukaka Marina Manager I created a garden of Poor Knights plants for visitors and locals, Northland Department of Conservation were impressed by the idea and granted a … More info...
Yukon Dive
If you are serious about your diving come and join us for the ultimate Poor Knights experience! Poor Knights Specialists, Yukon Dive Charters are 100% Kiwi owned and operated out … More info...
Oceanblue Adventures
Scuba Diving with Oceanblue Adventures on a Poor Knights Islands diving liveaboard charter, divers will enjoy the pick of the early morning sites and night diving on the Poor … More info...
A Perfect Day (Eco Cruise)
Experience Northland’s best kept secret. The Perfect Day ocean cruise will take you on a half day journey of marine adventure for the whole family. Above and below water, the … More info...
The HMS Buffalo: Part One
The HMS Buffalo was a ship that sailed to South Australia in 1836. Her connection to Tutukaka, started when she was moored here for a time, and had one of the first European … More info...
The HMS Buffalo: Part Two
HMS BUFFALO VISITS TUTUKAKA 173 YEARS AGO By Wade Doak The first big sailing ship to make a major visit to Tutukaka has left 36 tons of her ballast stones in the basin just … More info...
The HMS Buffalo: Part Three
HMS BUFFALO Visits Tutukaka 173 years ago continued… By Wade Doak I have come to see that the Buffalo visit is a foundation story for our district rather like that of the … More info...
Autumn and Winter Diving
The visibility is outstanding, and the seals are playful! Our winter colony of seals has already returned, and these playful puppies of the water world are certainly … More info...
The Water is Still Warm!
Diving is still a very comfortable 20-21 degrees out at the Poor Knights Islands, and along the Tutukaka Coast, and with visibility of up to 25 plus metres, this summer sure looks … More info...
