Cape Rodney to Okakari Point Marine Reserve (more commonly known as Leigh or Goat Island) was established over 30 years ago and was New Zealand's first marine reserve. Previously charachterised by barren rock flats grazed bare by kina (sea urchins), since gaining protection predators such as snapper and rock lobster (crayfish) populations have recovered keeping kina in check and allowing a rich and diverse ecosystem to thrive.
The reserve contains a mixture of low relief rocky reefs and sand flats and remains quite shallow around the island and in the channel between the island and mainland. Further out the site extends down to deeper reefs and cliffs. The site contains plenty of overhangs, crevices and canyons for creatures to shelter in and lush mixed seaweed forest, predominantly Ecklonia radiata kelp.
The best time to dive here is in late summer and autumn when visibility can reach up to 15 metres and water temperatures get up to 22°C.
Aquatic Life:
Species commonly seen here include snapper, blue maomao, sweep, parore, goatfish (red mullet), kahawai, red moki, leather jackets, spotties and the beautiful john dory. Moray eels are common in the deeper parts of the reserve with conger eels less common. Eagle rays are frequently seen and short-tailed stingrays are fairly common also.
Typical inverterbrates include kina, rock lobster, sea cucumbers, sea stars, nudibranchs and a range of anenomes and sponges.
Warnings:
Some of the marine reserve's many inhabitants have become a bit bolshy over the years due to past feeding of the fish by visitors (now illegal) and fish can become quite aggressive if they think you might have food for them. Watch your fingers around the larger snapper!
Directions:
Take State Highway 1 to Warkworth (approximately one hour north of Auckland) then veer right at the lights onto Sandspit Road after about 9km turn left onto Matakana Rd. This eventually takes you all the way to Leigh township (last stop for dive tank fills) then follow the signposts and follow Goat Island Road to the end. All up just over half an hour from Warkworth.
There are a number of dive sites here. Just to the west of the island is quite nice. Can do both shore dives or boat dives.