The Maritime Hub of the Tutukākā Coast
Tutukākā township sits at the head of a deep natural harbour on the Tutukākā Coast, 28 km northeast of Whangārei in Northland. With a permanent population of around 800, it swells considerably in summer when the marina fills, and the charter boats run daily to the Poor Knights Islands.
The Māori name Tutukākā refers to the tūtū tree, used for snaring kākā parrots, a reminder of the forests that once lined these hills. Today, the marina, its colourful multi-story main building, with the Oceans Resort Hotel, stores, restaurants and cafes, and a large waterfront reserve make Tutukākā the most visited township on this part of the Northland coast.
The Marina
Reclamation of the marina basin began in 1970. Today it has berths for pleasure craft, 24-hour fuel and fresh water, and is a well-known stopover for coastal cruisers travelling between Auckland and the Bay of Islands. It is also the closest marina to the Poor Knights Islands, making it the principal base for dive and snorkelling charters. Dive Tutukākā operates daily trips, and several operators run fishing and sightseeing charters. The Whangarei Deep Sea Anglers Club, founded in 1944 and based at Tutukākā since 1953, is one of the founding clubs of the New Zealand Big Game Fishing Council and has long made Tutukākā a centre for marlin, mahi-mahi, and other game fishing.
Waterfront Reserve and Sculptures
The grass reserve between the marina building and the water is a good picnic spot, with a ship's screw and anchor on display. The bronze sculpture Moment of Release, unveiled in 2023, depicts conservationist Robert Webb releasing a Southern Royal Albatross from the bow of a boat offshore at Tutukākā. Created by Susan Dinkelacker and Dell Pryor, it honours Robert and Robyn Webb's lifetime of volunteer work in bird conservation.
A memorial to Kelly Tarlton is also located here. Tarlton was born near Dargaville and moved to the Tutukākā Coast in the early 1960s to dive the Poor Knights. He pioneered New Zealand underwater exploration and shipwreck salvage, and founded Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World in Auckland in 1985, dying just seven weeks after it opened.
The Poor Knights Garden, planted near the marina with species native to the Poor Knights Islands, grows plants no longer found on the mainland. It is associated with the nearby Tawhiti Nui Marae.
Sunken Frigates
Two former New Zealand naval vessels lie offshore and are accessible to certified divers through Dive Tutukākā. HMNZS Tui, a former US Navy oceanographic vessel that joined the New Zealand protest fleet at French nuclear tests at Mururoa Atoll, was sunk on 20 February 1999 and now lies in about 30 metres of water roughly two km north of Tutukākā Heads. HMNZS Waikato, a 113-metre Leander-class frigate and the first of its class built for the Royal New Zealand Navy, was sunk on 18 December 2000 in Ngunguru Bay in a world-record two minutes and 40 seconds. It now lies in two sections at around 28 to 30 metres depth.
How to Get There
From Whangārei, follow the Twin Coast Discovery Highway northeast through Tikipunga, past Whangarei Falls, and continue to Ngunguru; Tutukākā is a further five kilometres. Allow 30 to 35 minutes from Whangārei. The marina and waterfront reserve have ample parking for cars and boat trailers, as well as a boat ramp. There is accommodation at the township, but book well ahead for December and January.
Nearby places to visit include the Tutukākā Track, the harbour bays along Tutukākā Block Road of Church Bay and Kowharewa Bay, Whangaumu Bay, the Whangaumu Bay Track and Kauakarangi.
