The Bay of Islands and nearby Poor Knights Islands are two of New Zealand's (and indeed, the world's most amazing diving destinations). Visibility is superb and waters warm year-round.
Matauri Bay, a stunning beach about one hour's drive from Aranga Backpackers, is renowned for world-class diving opportunities, including exploring the wreck of the Greenpeace flagship, the Rainbow Warrior. The ridge about Matauri Bay gives breathtaking views out to the Cavalli Islands and a memorial to the Rainbow Warrior is here. Matauri Bay is just one example of the amazing dive sites that await you in the Bay of Islands.
The Poor Knights islands on the Tutukaka Coast (a very scenic one hour drive from our holiday park) was described by Jacques Cousteau as one of the world's Top 10 dive sites. Prestigious UK Dive Magazine rates the Poor Knights as the best sub-tropical destinations in the world.
These ancient volcanic islands offer a stunning number of drop-offs, caves, walls, arches and tunnels. The marine life here is spectacularly diverse, colourful, abundant and beautiful. The Poor Knights islands are a complete marine reserve. Dive underwater caves, swim with giant stingrays or for real adventure, dive one of two purpose-sunk wrecks. With over 100 separately-named dive sites in the islands, there is something for every diver's desires and experience-level.