Explore Whenuakura Island

There's a photo on the wall of the NZ Surf N Stay living room that has only just been hung. Until very recently, the location of the photo, this crystal-clear, turquoise-water hideaway, was a well-guarded secret, a tidbit of local knowledge that was carefully protected. But word got out and so the picture of Whenuakura Island went up on the wall. It's a spiritual place. Sacred to local iwi and revered with a church-like status by in-the-know locals, Whenuakura Island, or Donut Island, is one of the Coromandel's most photogenic taonga. Formed when a blowhole collapsed, paddlers can enter through an opening in the rocky cliffside and float into an open cavern in the middle of the island. “It's a hidden paradise”, says Katrina, “all you can hear is the sound of lapping water and the echo and rumbles of the swell. It's like a scene from a Disney film or Jurassic Park when you enter into the turquoise lagoon. I always get the same feeling when I lean back and look up through the tree canopy – it's a special experience.” The islands off Whangamata are privately owned by local iwi, the kaitiaki/guardians of the islands. Three are wildlife sanctuaries, including Whenuakura, and therefore off limits to the public. Whenuakura Island, located 1km off the mainland, was home to tuatara until the 1980s and the goal of the kaitiaki is to see the dinosaurs back on the land, which is only possible if the islands are kept predator-free. The rise of Whenuakura Island as an internationally renowned tourist destination has threatened the sanctuary and iwi and locals are working together to make sure it remains protected and predator-free. While the public is allowed to enter the cavern and explore the island from the water, landing is banned and it is recommended to consider going with a guided tour, such as NZ Surf N Stay and Surfsup. The role of the guides is not only to navigate paddlers through the entry, which can be dangerous in the wrong weather or tide, but to protect the island and make sure visitors are being respectful. (07) 865 8323, surfnstaynewzealand.com