WHANGAMATĀ SUNRISE: WHENUAKURA ISLAND KAYAK TOUR
Sunrise kayak tour exploring Whangamatā's volcanic coastline, obsidian, and Donut Island (Whenuakura). Visit a wildlife sanctuary, learn Māori culture, and enjoy kawakawa tea on a private 3-hour eco tour (max 8 guests).
READY TO PADDLE AT SUNRISE?JUMP ONBOARD?
At first light, the coastline of Whangamatā feels untouched—calm seas, golden skies, and the quiet rhythm of a land shaped by fire. This intimate sunrise tour, limited to just eight guests, offers a slower, more personal journey along an ancient volcanic coastline, where stories are revealed in the details.
As you travel, your guide shares the origins of the land, pointing out fragments of obsidian—a powerful link between geology and Māori culture. In the soft morning light, you'll reach Whenuakura Island, its hidden lagoon glowing with stillness and reflection.
The island is part of a protected sanctuary once home to the ancient Tuatara. Here, nature feels undisturbed, offering a rare sense of connection to New Zealand's ecological past.
Onshore, pause beneath native bush to share a warm cup of Kawakawa tea—an earthy, traditional Māori remedy that grounds the experience in culture and wellbeing.
Over 180 minutes, this private, small-group tour blends landscape, history, and culture into a sunrise experience that feels both timeless and deeply personal.
This Whangamatā boat tour blends storytelling, geology, and coastal discovery into a compact expedition designed for travellers searching for Donut Island tours, Coromandel boat experiences, and the hidden volcanic history of New Zealand’s eastern coastline—where the ocean still guards the memory of the lost volcano of Whangamatā.
TOUR INFO
HIGHLIGHTS
- Sunrise small-group tour (max 8 guests) in Whangamatā
- Visit Whenuakura Island and explore an ancient volcanic coastline
- Discover obsidian and Māori cultural connections to the land
- Explore Rawenga Iti Island and learn about native wildlife including the Tuatara
- Enjoy traditional kawakawa tea in a peaceful natural setting
- Taste traditional kawakawa tea
- Immerse yourself in Whangamatā’s coastal wildlife and scenery
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
Kayak & paddle set up on the beach
Local guide
Life jacket
Dry bag
Wetsuit
Kawakawa tea
TIMES
7:30am, 9 and 11am & 1pm
Times Winter
11am and 1pm
DURATION
3 hours (Beginner level, subject to weather)
PRICES
Adults NZD $139
Kids NZD $70
Family of 4 (2 adults + 2 kids) NZD $419
Group of 4 and over NZD $120 per person
PAYMENT
Payment and disclaimer can be completed on-site before the tour.
WHERE TO MEET
Please meet at the beach reserve on Island View Road, by Beach Access 14, 10 minutes before the tour.
WHAT TO BRING
Sun block
Hat
Bottle of water
Swimming clothes (a lycra shirt is ideal)
Launching from the beach on Island View Road, your experienced guide will lead you along one of the Coromandel's most iconic and hidden coastal landmarks. Paddle to Whenuakura (Donut) Island, explore its volcanic coastline and hidden lagoon, then continue to the remote Rawengaiti Island, part of a protected sanctuary once home to the ancient Tuatara.
Enjoy Māori storytelling, wildlife sightings, and breathtaking coastal views on a relaxed and informative sunrise paddle.
This experience is limited to just 8 guests, making it a very personal and intimate way to explore Whangamatā at first light.
If you are looking to spend the night in Whangamata, check out accommodation options here.
Upcoming availability
