Hauraki Gulf

Tīkapa Moana, Te Moana Nui A Toi

The Hauraki Gulf is a coastal body of water in the North Island, home to an array of marine life and significant habitats, including islands, reefs, and sandy beaches. It is a critical area for New Zealand’s marine biodiversity.

Where is the Hauraki Gulf?

The Hauraki Gulf stretches over 1.2 million hectares, over 50 islands and 6 marine reserves. It reaches from the Coromandel in the South, across Auckland and Aotea Great Barrier Island and past to the Mokohīnau Islands in the North.

What is the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park?

The Hauraki Gulf Marine Park is New Zealand’s first marine park, established in 2000.

It’s one of the most abundant and diverse marine parks in the world – Over 25% of the Southern Hemisphere’s marine mammals have been seen in the Marine Park and it has been visited by over 20% of the world’s seabird species!

It’s also home to the Critically Endangered Bryde’s whale – one of only a handful of coastal populations of this species in the world.