SNORKEL BEYOND THE SHORELINE
GUIDED BOAT SNORKELLING TOUR
Take your snorkelling adventure beyond the beach and explore more of the incredible coastline around Te Hāwere-a-Maki / Goat Island Marine Reserve. Our Guided Boat Snorkelling Tour is made for confident swimmers who want a more adventurous way to experience one of New Zealand’s most iconic marine reserves.
Travel by boat to one of our snorkel sites, then jump in with your guide to discover rocky reefs, kelp forests, colourful fish life and the wild beauty of the Leigh coastline.
ADVENTURE FOR EVERYONE
EXPLORE MORE OF GOAT ISLAND BY BOAT
This is snorkelling with a bigger sense of adventure. Instead of starting from the beach, you’ll head out by boat along the coast to reach snorkel sites chosen for the best conditions on the day.
Depending on weather, tide and visibility, your guide will choose a site that suits the group and gives you the best possible experience. You could be exploring rocky reefs, kelp-covered walls, sheltered coastal spots or marine reserve areas alive with fish.
This tour is ideal for people who have snorkelled before, feel comfortable in the ocean and want to experience Goat Island from a whole new perspective.
Perfect for confident snorkellers and ocean adventurers
This tour is ideal for:
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People who have snorkelled before
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Confident swimmers
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Visitors wanting a more adventurous snorkel experience
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Ocean lovers keen to explore beyond the main beach
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Families with older children who are confident in the water
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Travellers looking for a unique marine adventure near Auckland
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Anyone wanting to experience Goat Island Marine Reserve by boat
This tour is not designed for people who cannot swim or complete beginners. For first-time snorkellers, we recommend the Beginner Guided Snorkel Tour first.
Your boat snorkel adventure includes
Your Guided Boat Snorkelling Tour includes:
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A boat trip along the Leigh coastline
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A guided snorkel at a selected snorkel site
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Experienced local guide
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Safety briefing
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Marine life spotting and local knowledge
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Hot or cold drink after your snorkel
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Options to hire snorkel equipment or bring your own
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A chance to explore a more adventurous side of Goat Island
Equipment hire can be added when booking, so you can choose what you need.
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Coastal reefs, kelp forests and marine reserve life
Goat Island’s boat-access snorkel sites offer a different experience from the main beach. Depending on the day, you may explore:
Rocky reefs
Swim over crevices, reef edges and kelp-covered rock where marine life loves to hide.
Kelp forests
Float above swaying kelp and watch fish move through this underwater habitat.
Marine reserve areas
Experience protected waters where fish life is abundant and every snorkel is different.
Coastal features
Some sites include dramatic rocky coastline, walls and caves, when conditions allow.
Not every site is available every day. Tide, swell, current and visibility all matter, and your guide will choose the safest and best option for the conditions.
What to expect on your boat snorkelling tour
Your adventure begins at Goat Island Dive & Snorkel, where our team will check you in and organise any snorkel equipment you have hired.
You’ll then head to the boat departure point and meet your guide for a safety briefing. From there, you’ll travel along the coast to the snorkel site chosen for the conditions on the day.
Once on site, your guide will help the group get ready, enter the water and explore the area. After the snorkel, you’ll return to the boat, warm up with a hot or cold drink, and enjoy the ride back with salty hair, big smiles and a proper Goat Island adventure ticked off.
Please allow enough time for check-in, gear fitting, boat travel, briefing and time in the water.
Guided, condition-led and ocean-ready
Your safety comes first. Boat snorkelling is always weather and sea-condition dependent, and our team will decide whether conditions are suitable on the day.
We choose snorkel sites based on tide, swell, current, visibility and the confidence level of the group. Some locations are only available when conditions are right, and we’ll always prioritise a safe, enjoyable experience over a fixed destination.
Goat Island Dive & Snorkel is a safety-audited adventure activity operator, and your guide will support the group throughout the tour
Who can join?
You must have snorkelled before
You must be able to swim and feel comfortable in the ocean
Minimum age: 8 years
Independent snorkellers must be over 16 years
Children aged 8–16 must be accompanied by an adult
Maximum of 2 children per adult
This experience is subject to availability and minimum numbers
Best suited to confident swimmers and people ready for a more adventurous snorkel experience
If you are new to snorkelling, unsure in the water or travelling with younger nervous swimmers, choose the Beginner Guided Snorkel Tour first.
Book your Goat Island boat snorkelling adventure
Ready to snorkel beyond the shoreline? Join our Guided Boat Snorkelling Tour and discover a more adventurous side of Goat Island Marine Reserve and the Leigh coastline.
Spaces are limited and trips are condition-dependent, so booking ahead is recommended.
Frequently asked questions
Is this tour suitable for beginners?
This tour is best for people who have snorkelled before and are confident in the ocean. Complete beginners should book the Beginner Guided Snorkel Tour first.
Do I need to be able to swim?
Yes. You need to be able to swim and feel comfortable in the ocean to join the Guided Boat Snorkelling Tour.
Is snorkel gear included?
Snorkel equipment is available to hire or you can bring your own. Equipment hire options can be selected when booking.
Where does the boat snorkelling tour go?
The snorkel site is chosen on the day based on conditions, including tide, swell, current and visibility. Sites may include rocky reefs, kelp forests, coastal features and marine reserve areas.
What marine life might I see?
You may see snapper, red moki, goatfish, triplefins, parore, kahawai, sweep, trevally, crayfish, nudibranchs, octopus, stingrays and eagle rays.
Can children join the Boat Snorkelling Tour?
Yes, children from 8 years old can join if they have snorkelled before and are confident in the water. Children aged 8–16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Is the tour weather dependent?
Yes. Boat snorkelling depends on suitable sea and weather conditions. The team will assess conditions and choose the safest, best snorkel site available.
Where is Goat Island?
Goat Island Marine Reserve is near Leigh, about one hour north of Auckland.