‘Where the world pierces the sky’
The Poor Knights Islands are one of few places where visitors can spot a fur seal and a green turtle on the same day, as well as pass through the largest marine arch in the Southern Hemisphere, and venture inside the world’s largest sea cave.
Where is it?
The Poor Knights’ two main islands are separated by a cluster of islets. The rocky outcrop 23km off Tutukaka in Northland was named by Captain James Cook, who spied them as he sailed around the region’s east coast. The islands called to mind a knight who lacked the funds to be buried below ground.
Jack Terei, a skipper for the Dive! Tutukaka’s fleet for four years, explains Maori inhabited the islands for generations, before being decimated in a raid by a rival tribe. Today the islands are tapu: humans cannot set foot there.
Why go
Oceanographer Jacques Cousteau rated the islands one of the top 10 dive spots in the world. The warm waters of the East Australian Current draw tropical and sub-tropical species of marine life into a colourful ‘‘mixing pot’’ of underwater curiosities. Schools of trevally, kingfish and kahawai can be seen swirling among coral fish, jellyfish and sting rays.
Unlike the Great Barrier Reef’s delicate corals, the Poor Knights marine reserve boasts hardier kelp and sponges just as vibrantly colourful. Terei encourages the snorkellers among our group to ‘‘have a good rummage around’’ to increase the chances of spying sea slugs, crayfish and moray eels.
Those not keen on underwater breathing can still have a whale of a time on the company’s kayaks or paddle boards, or simply executing some choice bombs off the top of the boat.
The islands are also home the world’s largest sea cave. Riko Riko is