Goat Island Marine Reserve – Hauraki Gulf & Coromandel

Site Overview

Goat Island Marine Reserve at Leigh is New Zealand's oldest and most famous marine reserve, established in 1975 to protect the rich temperate reef ecosystems of the Hauraki Gulf. The reserve has created a sanctuary where marine life thrives in extraordinary abundance, with huge snapper weighing up to 15 kilograms swimming fearlessly alongside divers, their curiosity a direct result of decades of protection from fishing. Dense ecklonia kelp forests create a cathedral-like environment with shafts of sunlight filtering through the canopy to illuminate the rocky reef below. Blue maomao school in the mid-water column, creating walls of iridescent blue that shimmer with every movement. Moray eels occupy the rocky crevices throughout the reef, while stingrays glide over the sandy patches between the kelp forest and the deeper reef edge. Crayfish patrol the rocky bottom, their impressive sizes a testament to the protection offered by the marine reserve status. The reserve is accessed primarily from shore, with a short walk from the car park leading to several easy entry points along the rocky coastline. The gentle slope from shallow kelp forest to deeper reef makes this an ideal training site and an accessible introduction to New Zealand's temperate marine environment. The marine reserve is also home to the University of Auckland's Leigh Marine Laboratory, which conducts world-class research on the protected ecosystems. The combination of easy shore access, abundant and fearless marine life, and excellent diving conditions makes Goat Island the most visited dive site in New Zealand.