5 Goat Island Snorkeling Tours from Auckland Worth the Money

1.Clearyak hire at Goat Island Marine Reserve

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 80 reviews · from $174Our pick

Hire a clear-bottom Clearyak at Goat Island Marine Reserve near Leigh, Auckland, for 30 or 60 minutes. You’ll paddle over underwater habitat and may spot snapper or stingrays through the kayak floor. Equipment is provided, and staff can help beginners. The hire is private to your group, with morning and afternoon times available.

“We booked for 2 adults but when we arrived were offered 2 seperate double kayaks. I guess we should have read the detail more carefully and just booked 1 as each kayak seats two people! You have the use of the kayak for 1 hour. Experience was a lot of fun, althouRead more”

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2.Goat Island: Glass Bottom Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 46 reviews · 1 hour · from $23Best value

Take a narrated 45-minute circuit of Goat Island Marine Reserve aboard a 49-seat Aquador glass-bottom boat. Look for reef fish, coastal birds and the reserve’s underwater terrain without getting wet. Dolphins, orcas, whales and sharks sometimes pass through, but sightings are not guaranteed. The tour costs $23 per person and runs for about an hour.

“Everything is fine and the glass boat is great. Your team is excellent.”

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3.Guided Snorkel Experience, Advanced

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 40 reviews · from $48

Meet your guide at the Goat Island snorkel center, get fitted with a wetsuit and gear, then drive 3km to the marine reserve. After a safety briefing and practice in breath control, duck-under technique, ear equalizing and snorkel clearing, explore the water with a guide who points out marine life. Guides have included Connor, Sara, Winnie and Tiff.

“My friend and I had a very nice snorkel at Goat Island in mid-May. We saw a good variety of fish, and a couple of rays. Naturally we were hoping to encounter dolphins, fur seals, etc. but they weren’t available to visit with us that afternoon. ORead more”

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4.Guided Snorkeling and Island Exploration in Auckland

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $93

Meet your guide at Tiritiri Matangi Wharf for a four-hour outing that pairs guided snorkeling with a walk through a protected wildlife sanctuary. Snorkel gear and a warm wetsuit are supplied; ferry tickets are not. The group is limited to 12, and you’ll need to arrange your ferry before tour day.

“Our experience was wonderful and we had an awesome guide. He was super friendly and informative, and he dragged all of our gear around. The water was chilly, but we got wetsuits, which was nice. After the snorkeling, we got a little hike/tour around the island and he pointed out multiple different plant and bird species. All in all it was a great experience.”

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5.Guided Snorkeling and Island Exploration Tours

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 3 reviews · from $88

Meet your English-speaking guide by the wharf on Tiritiri Matangi for a four-hour snorkeling and island-walk outing. Your guide provides a wetsuit, mask, snorkel and fins, then leads you through the island’s marine life and bird habitats. A guide named Legend has led the tour. Ferry tickets, food and drinks are separate.

“Was really fun & our guide Legend was very informative. Wouldn’t recommend for those who easily get motion sickness, besides that it was a great experience! Got to see a sea lion, sting rays, large sea snails & heaps of colourful fish. Afterwards we walked to the lighthouse & had an amazing view of the island, it was breathtaking!”

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