Karewa Island

Karewa Island sits just 6km off the coast of Matakana Island and hosts a forest of Taupata – small and resilient trees, native to New Zealand. The Tuatara rely on the ecosystem of the surrounding ocean to be able to flourish and co-exist with neighbouring petrels and shearwaters.

The island is commonly home to fur seals, who occupy the beach and outcrops to mate and give birth. Bay Explorer stops here to give you the chance to observe them, and there is often the opportunity to kayak and paddle board too. It’s also a popular spot among divers because of the fish rich waters and the remains of a large boiler from a ships engine which sank in the 1870’s. Although we have spent a lifetime visiting Karewa Island and its waters, its vast natural beauty is still exciting and novel. You must experience it for yourself to understand.