Cathedral Cove Car Parking

All day free parking is available at the Hahei Visitor Car Park located on Hahei Beach Road, click here for Google Maps. This large car park is on the right as you enter Hahei, you can’t miss it, it’s well sign posted.

The Park & Ride bus departs from the Visitor Car Park and will take you up the big steep hill to the lookout and to the start of the Cathedral Cove walk.

The cove is only accessible by foot or by water.

The bus runs continuously from 9am to 6pm, and only costs:

Adults: $7 return

Children (aged 14 and under): $4 return

Family (2 adults 2 children): $14 return

Tickets can be purchased by clicking on the link above, or buying from the ticket machine in the car park. The driver will also take cash payments.

The top car park on Grange Rd is a pick up and drop off zone for the Park & Ride bus only. Parking is prohibited on Grange Rd from 1st October to 30th April.

It is recommended that all visitors to Hahei Beach and Cathedral Cove use the Hahei Visitor Car Park.

Please protect the beauty of our region by taking out with you what you brought in. We thank you for leaving no rubbish behind.

Take only photos and leave only footprints.

WHAT TO SEE ON THE WALK TO Cathedral Cove

The Cathedral Cove Park & Ride buses bring you up the big hill to the top lookout. Check out the panoramic views of Mercury Bay and Te Whanganui A Hei Marine Reserve, then head down the well maintained track to Cathedral Cove.

It’s a 45 minute walk each way, with the track mostly following the coastline; crossing scrub land, native scrubs and a pine forest. Along the way there are photo opportunities with dramatic views of spectacular coastal scenery.

The first side track you come to is to Gemstone Bay, just a few minutes walk to a boulder bay where you can snorkel or swim following the snorkel trail.

After that there is another side track which brings you to Stingray Bay, with it’s white sand beach, majestic cliffs and large boulders for rock hopping. Look out for stingray feeding. The cliffs are impressive, but please be wary of falling rocks..

A side loop track after Stingray Bay takes you through a grove of native puriri tree before rejoining the main trail.

At the Cove itself you can swim in either of the two sandy beaches, accessed via a majestic natural rock arch, the Cathedral itself. Do not forget your camera! These beaches are fun for swimming and jumping off the rock island is very popular. Seen the Chronicles of Narnia movie, Prince of Caspian? You should recognise the beach then!

Ngati Hei / History of Cathedral Cove

Te Whanganui-A-Hei is part of a special area first claimed by Hei, a Tauira (teacher/skilled person) from the waka Te Arawa, some time around 1350 AD.

On a northbound voyage from the Bay of Plenty to Hauraki, Hei chose the area around Mercury Bay to settle with his people. He proclaimed ownership by referring to Motueka Island as “Te kuraetangao-taku-Ihu” (the outward curve of my nose). It is said that he made this claim near the present day site of Hahei.

Hei’s descendants still retain a strong ancestral and spiritual attachment to the area and continue their role of kaitiaki (guardians) of the bountiful resources within it.

THE TIAKI PROMISE

The Tiaki Promise is a commitment to care for New Zealand, for now and for future generations. By following the Tiaki Promise, you are making a commitment to New Zealand.

Park & Ride and Go Kiwi Shuttles embrace the Tiaki promise to:

·         Care for land, sea and nature. Treading lightly and leaving no trace

·         Travel safely, showing care and consideration to all

·         Respect culture, traveling with an open heart and mind