Cathedral Cove Photos
Recommended Reviews - Cathedral Cove
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
Avoid the crowds and go at sunrise! Watching all of the colors of the sunrise over the water was one of the most peaceful and serene experiences of my life. We went to bed around 1am because we are night owls but still managed to wake up at 4:30am so no excuses, you can do it too! Definitely one of the highlights of our 3 week honeymoon. In the summer the parking lot at the trail head is closed for some reason but that's ok because the houses next to the parking lot open up their grass lawns for $10 parking. Then it is about a 30-40 minute walk to the cove (bring your tennis shoes). We stayed at the Horizon Bed and Breakfast which was fantastic because they had breakfast ready for us when we returned from the hike. We saw some advertisements for boat rides to cathedral cove but I'd recommend doing the hike because you will get there before all the boats. There were surprisingly a lot of people that were hiking there in the morning too. If you don't go during the sunrise the best time to go is during low tide because it will be dry inside the cave/rock arch. At high tide you might not be able to walk through it.
Okay going to start off with honesty. This isn't a location a disabled person could reach, unless they were water taxied onto the beach. Everyone has to walk the trail from the parking lot. It takes about 30 minutes to walk steep inclines. Many people have to stop. I suggest you bring water and your inhaler. The beach itself has the most wonderful outhouse I've ever been inside. Be sure to bring your own toilet paper and sanitary wipes, as there is no running water. However, I love this toilet because there is a window where you can look out onto the see as you carry on with your business, and it doesn't smell. Super amazing New Zealand. Now the beach. It is like walking into a dream. One of those places that you see in postcards and you're actually there. It is hard to take it all in, but worth it. I wish that I could be laying on that beach all the time. The waters are so blue. I feel privileged to have experience Cathedral Cove.
This place is fab! Though it's definitely well known by tourists, it's still worth the trip, because it's freaking beautiful. We went on Christmas day, and it was PACKED. Much busier than I'd imagine it to be ON CHRISTMAS. The car park was 1000% full, in fact people were parking on the sidewalk. We turned around and parked in the residential area down the street, which added some time to our walk, but we'd been sitting in the car for hours anyway. The hike from the car park is probably about 30-40 mins, though it's marked as 45. It's very hilly. I'm a pretty avid hiker, I didn't have too much trouble, but we passed a few people who were definitely huffing and puffing. The scenery along the path is gorg though, so stopping for a break isn't the worst thing to do. When we got to the cove, it was super crowded. Lots of people were on the beach. We walked through the cove to the other side of the beach, which was significantly less crowded. You'd just have to walk up to your crotch area in the sea to get to the other side :) or if it's low tide, just up to your knees. We found a secluded-ish area on the end of that beach and threw down our towel for a few hours of sun time. The water is cold but not terrible, there were quite a few people swimming. I saw a few people with snorkel gear as well, though I don't know what is down there. The water is super clear and super blue and beautiful. I'd totally recommend coming here, just be aware that it will be busy, and bring your sunscreen, water and food!
live broadcast from the set of Jeopardy! category: movie value: $200. answer: cathedral cove question: where was "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" filmed? correct! if you believe that the ends must justify the means then the beauty of nature that awaits you, will justify the 1.5hrs hike down and back up again! unfortunately, nothing in life is for free. so you have to work it, to enjoy it. having said that, the journey down is filled with scenic views, lots of free fresh air and sunshine. on your way to cathedral cove you may also choose to make small detours to check out gemstone bay and stingray bay but i'm not too sure if it is worth burning those extra calories for. the trail up and down can be undulating, so it might be challenging for those physically less mobile. definitely not good for prams. the other ways to get to the cove would be via kayaks and boats. as you take that relaxed, casual stroll down, you will notice sweating and panting tourists coming up in the opposite direction. that's when you gasp and ask them if it is worth it? the answers, thus far, were always Y(pant)E(pant)S(pant)!!! as the trail gets sandier and the smell of the sea strengthens, you know you are almost there. finally landing on the soft white sand will ease your aches somewhat and the gentle lapping waves will wash your worries away, for now. i'm not sure what the pevensie children felt but entering the cove felt like a very pleasant home coming indeed! this is how nature is. you feel it's grandeur and power yet at the same time you feel the sheltered security that the cove also provides. take your time to take in the unspoilt beauty of this marine reserve before your arduous journey back up! last but not least, if you so happen not to be a camel then do remember to bring along some drinking water.
I saw this place in a movie once, and thought,"where is that place?" Chronicles of Narnia shot this place in the beginning scenes of the movie and I assumed the place was not real. Though when I heard it was real through the social media vine, I did more research and chose this place a must visit when my gf and I planned our NZ trip. Idk why, but there's something about natural wonders of the world and I considered the place to be a natural wonder because the Cove in itself is magnificent. The Beach u can't swim in cuz of the many jelly fishes, so yeah I don't want to get stung on vacation. But a good tip is to witness the sunrise, summertime in NZ is usually in December to Feb quite the opposite from Hawaii. It's such a nice crisp walk in the mornings, with headlights on, it's a good way to avoid the crowds in the daytime. This is the place where I proposed to my Girlfriend, it was near a waterfall at the far end of the Cove. It is indeed a magical place because it motivated me to plan something that I've been thinking about for so long. It is a natural wonder because of the way the Cove was formed, and the sunrise it itself is a framer. I love it
From the parking lot to the cove, it's more than just a walk in the park. Prepare to walk on some inclined paths and also a long set of stairs. You definitely won't get bored on your journey to Narnia. Though the distance is not too far, you get to see the scenery change a couple of times. You'll pass by sea cliffs, then pastures with sheep, and then finally the sandy beach. Before you know it, you'll be walking through that cove.
Cathedral Cove was an amazing experience. To be walking in farmland amongst a bunch of sheep one minute and then be in a tropical jungle next to a beach the next is amazing. The scenery was like something out of a movie. This is a must see on any New Zealand trip. read more
35 years ago this place was da bomb. Now, it's over-crowded beyond belief. In the late 1980s and early 1990s it was a pristine place where you could have this gorgeous beach all to yourself that only locals knew how to get. Now there's a water taxi, a 1-way 5 minute boat ride from Hahei Beach to Cathedral Cove for $80NZ, there's kayak tours and other signs of commercialization that make this beautiful place swarming with people. It's about an hour walk, up and down hills that are steep, yet paved, with a few steep stairways as well. The amount of tourists overwhelms the beauty, in my humble opinion. Super beautiful spot, but waaaaay too crowded to enjoy the true beauty. read more
Avoid the crowds and go at sunrise! Watching all of the colors of the sunrise over the water was one of the most peaceful and serene experiences of my life. We went to bed around 1am because we are night owls but still managed to wake up at 4:30am so no excuses, you can do it too! Definitely one of the highlights of our 3 week honeymoon. In the summer the parking lot at the trail head is closed for some reason but that's ok because the houses next to the parking lot open up their grass lawns for $10 parking. Then it is about a 30-40 minute walk to the cove (bring your tennis shoes). We stayed at the Horizon Bed and Breakfast which was fantastic because they had breakfast ready for us when we returned from the hike. We saw some advertisements for boat rides to cathedral cove but I'd recommend doing the hike because you will get there before all the boats. There were surprisingly a lot of people that were hiking there in the morning too. If you don't go during the sunrise the best time to go is during low tide because it will be dry inside the cave/rock arch. At high tide you might not be able to walk through it. read more
10 years ago
Okay going to start off with honesty. This isn't a location a disabled person could reach, unless they were water taxied onto the beach. Everyone has to walk the trail from the parking lot. It takes about 30 minutes to walk steep inclines. Many people have to stop. I suggest you bring water and your inhaler. The beach itself has the most wonderful outhouse I've ever been inside. Be sure to bring your own toilet paper and sanitary wipes, as there is no running water. However, I love this toilet because there is a window where you can look out onto the see as you carry on with your business, and it doesn't smell. Super amazing New Zealand. Now the beach. It is like walking into a dream. One of those places that you see in postcards and you're actually there. It is hard to take it all in, but worth it. I wish that I could be laying on that beach all the time. The waters are so blue. I feel privileged to have experience Cathedral Cove. read more
This place is fab! Though it's definitely well known by tourists, it's still worth the trip, because it's freaking beautiful. We went on Christmas day, and it was PACKED. Much busier than I'd imagine it to be ON CHRISTMAS. The car park was 1000% full, in fact people were parking on the sidewalk. We turned around and parked in the residential area down the street, which added some time to our walk, but we'd been sitting in the car for hours anyway. The hike from the car park is probably about 30-40 mins, though it's marked as 45. It's very hilly. I'm a pretty avid hiker, I didn't have too much trouble, but we passed a few people who were definitely huffing and puffing. The scenery along the path is gorg though, so stopping for a break isn't the worst thing to do. When we got to the cove, it was super crowded. Lots of people were on the beach. We walked through the cove to the other side of the beach, which was significantly less crowded. You'd just have to walk up to your crotch area in the sea to get to the other side :) or if it's low tide, just up to your knees. We found a secluded-ish area on the end of that beach and threw down our towel for a few hours of sun time. The water is cold but not terrible, there were quite a few people swimming. I saw a few people with snorkel gear as well, though I don't know what is down there. The water is super clear and super blue and beautiful. I'd totally recommend coming here, just be aware that it will be busy, and bring your sunscreen, water and food! read more
live broadcast from the set of Jeopardy! category: movie value: $200. answer: cathedral cove question: where was "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" filmed? correct! if you believe that the ends must justify the means then the beauty of nature that awaits you, will justify the 1.5hrs hike down and back up again! unfortunately, nothing in life is for free. so you have to work it, to enjoy it. having said that, the journey down is filled with scenic views, lots of free fresh air and sunshine. on your way to cathedral cove you may also choose to make small detours to check out gemstone bay and stingray bay but i'm not too sure if it is worth burning those extra calories for. the trail up and down can be undulating, so it might be challenging for those physically less mobile. definitely not good for prams. the other ways to get to the cove would be via kayaks and boats. as you take that relaxed, casual stroll down, you will notice sweating and panting tourists coming up in the opposite direction. that's when you gasp and ask them if it is worth it? the answers, thus far, were always Y(pant)E(pant)S(pant)!!! as the trail gets sandier and the smell of the sea strengthens, you know you are almost there. finally landing on the soft white sand will ease your aches somewhat and the gentle lapping waves will wash your worries away, for now. i'm not sure what the pevensie children felt but entering the cove felt like a very pleasant home coming indeed! this is how nature is. you feel it's grandeur and power yet at the same time you feel the sheltered security that the cove also provides. take your time to take in the unspoilt beauty of this marine reserve before your arduous journey back up! last but not least, if you so happen not to be a camel then do remember to bring along some drinking water. read more
I saw this place in a movie once, and thought,"where is that place?" Chronicles of Narnia shot this place in the beginning scenes of the movie and I assumed the place was not real. Though when I heard it was real through the social media vine, I did more research and chose this place a must visit when my gf and I planned our NZ trip. Idk why, but there's something about natural wonders of the world and I considered the place to be a natural wonder because the Cove in itself is magnificent. The Beach u can't swim in cuz of the many jelly fishes, so yeah I don't want to get stung on vacation. But a good tip is to witness the sunrise, summertime in NZ is usually in December to Feb quite the opposite from Hawaii. It's such a nice crisp walk in the mornings, with headlights on, it's a good way to avoid the crowds in the daytime. This is the place where I proposed to my Girlfriend, it was near a waterfall at the far end of the Cove. It is indeed a magical place because it motivated me to plan something that I've been thinking about for so long. It is a natural wonder because of the way the Cove was formed, and the sunrise it itself is a framer. I love it read more
9 years ago
10 years ago
From the parking lot to the cove, it's more than just a walk in the park. Prepare to walk on some inclined paths and also a long set of stairs. You definitely won't get bored on your journey to Narnia. Though the distance is not too far, you get to see the scenery change a couple of times. You'll pass by sea cliffs, then pastures with sheep, and then finally the sandy beach. Before you know it, you'll be walking through that cove. read more
Astounding view, especially early in the morning. You have the option of hiking there along the seaside trail and seeing several other coves on your way, or you can kayak in. We tried both and you get amazing views either way. As summer approaches the crowds grow, but we went in early spring November and it wasn't too busy. I recommend looking at the tide schedule before you go, if you go during high tide you might not be able to make your way through the signature arch. read more
8 years ago
More info about Cathedral Cove
Hahei, Waikato
New Zealand
Directions
Hours
Outdoor Amenities
