Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve

New Zealand

A marine reserve off the North Island of New Zealand surrounding the Poor Knights Islands, regarded as one of the world's ten most popular scuba diving destinations.

The reserve protects the waters around the Poor Knights Islands and adjacent rock stacks, reached by dive boats from the town of Tutukaka. Known for rich marine fauna and distinctive underwater landforms such as arches and caves. Established in 1981, it became a full no-take marine reserve in 1998, after which studies recorded a sharp increase in snapper numbers.

Facts

Region type
Marine Park
Coordinates
-35.5000, 174.7500

Map