Yes. Although the walking track to Cathedral Cove is currently closed (due to cyclone damage) we are still able to access Cathedral Cove from the water. The Department of Conservation have given advice on how to safely enjoy Cathedral Cove detailing where to and where not to go. Our team will be sure to make this information very clear.

No sorry, we operate on an exposed stretch of coastline that isn’t suitable for freedom kayak hire most of the time.

If booking for 7 participants or less: You can amend or cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your trip is scheduled to begin. Cancellations within 48 hours are non-refundable.

Groups with 8 participants or more: You can amend or cancel your reservation up until 7 days before your trip is scheduled to begin. Cancellations within 7 days are non-refundable.

Our booking platform (Rezdy) charges a 1.75% booking fee. This is non-refundable if the trip is cancelled for any reason.

If we cancel your Kayak Tour due to poor weather conditions you will receive a full refund (or your are welcome to reschedule if you wish).

Yes! The great thing about kayaking is that it is easy. After a quick introduction and safety briefing you are out there doing it.. sea kayaking the Pacific Ocean! The guide is with your group the whole time and is there to make your trip safe and enjoyable.

Yes. We have dry bags for your camera and there are storage compartments in the kayaks for other items.

No. We meet beside the kayaks on Hahei Beach in front of the main car park. It just keeps things simple for you.

If the trip is cancelled due to weather conditions there is no charge whatsoever. If you have prepaid for your tour then you will be refunded in full. If you booked via a travel agent then they will provide a full refund (you will need to contact them to arrange).

You will have priority to rebook if you are staying in the area another day and wish to try again.

If you are staying in Whitianga and you do not have a car then this service is for you (or if you do have a car but don’t feel like driving!). Whitianga is a 35 minute drive from our starting point on Hahei Beach. If you have a car you just need to drive to Hahei Beach and meet us on the beach at the scheduled meeting time.

If you don’t have a car then you need to use our pick up service. You take the Whitianga Ferry accross to Ferry Landing. It is a 5 minute crossing and costs $8 return. The Ferry departs approximately every ten minutes. We will arrange a time to meet you at Ferry Landing when you call us to check the weather forecast the day before your trip.

We also offer a pick up service from Hot Water Beach holiday park. Call us the day before your trip and we can confirm the pick up location and time.

The shuttle service is $20pp return.

Our guides carry waterproof digital cameras and will be snapping a few shots throughout the trip. We post the photos that come out clearly on a dated album on our Facebook page (search Cathedral Cove Kayaks on Facebook). We can’t guarantee that we will get photos of everyone so we always encourage you to bring your camera too, we have drybags to keep them safe.

You are welcome to ask your guide if you want them to take more or less photos of you on the day.. they will do their best to accomodate your needs.

No, Hot Water Beach is a very exposed beach that often has big waves and rough sea, not suitable for kayaking.
However, it is a very popular attraction that sees people from all over the world sharing the same natural spa pool in the sand. The hot springs are only accessible at low tide so we suggest doing some reseach to plan your day.. aim to visit 1.5 hours either side of low tide. Spades are available for rent from the local cafes.

Click the link below to check tide times. You’ll be able to work out the best way to join the kayak trip AND visit Hot Water Beach on the same day.
Select location as ‘Whitianga Entrance’ and enter the date(s) that you will be in the area. The tide heights with a minus sign are the low tides that day.
https://www.niwa.co.nz/services/online-services/tide-forecaster

N.B. The tide does not affect the kayak tours.

Yes you will need to fill in our Individual Risk Disclosure before beginning your trip, once checked in on the beach a guide will give you an iPad to complete the form on.. A copy of our current form is below-

Individual Risk Disclosure/ Medical and Waiver of Liability Form

CATHEDRAL COVE KAYAK TOURS

RISK DISCLOSURE AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY FORM

Please fill your name: *

Email: *

Phone number:

Emergency Contact Details ( someone that is not on the trip with you )*

Are you a capable swimmer? (for example can you swim 25metres unaided)*

Yes

No – Please advise your guide at the start of your trip

Do you have any injuries that will affect your ability to participate in this physical activity?*

No

Yes – I will give my guide full details before I start my trip

Are you Asthmatic, Epileptic, Diabetic or do you suffer from any Severe allergic reactions?*

No

Yes – I will give my guide full details before I start my trip

Do you have any other medical condition or sight/hearing impediment that may require attention during the activity?*

No

Yes – I will give my guide full details before I start my trip

Cathedral Cove Kayak Tours take you into a completely natural coastal environment. The RISKS associated with our activity are REAL as with any adventure activity. Your guides are trained to explain these to you and to manage these risks. Please follow their instructions at all times during the activity. If you are concerned about anything please tell your guides.

By accepting this waiver, I hereby acknowledge that taking part in a kayak trip with Cathedral Cove Kayaks Ltd, there are inherent dangers and risks. While the staff and management of Cathedral Cove Kayaks Ltd will take all practicable steps to identify and minimize potential dangers, it will not accept liability for loss, injury or damage sustained by a participant or his/her dependents in circumstances where such an event could not have been avoided by the exercise of reasonable care. I acknowledge that I must follow the instructions of the guide and use safety equipment when instructed at all times. If I am responsible for a person under the age of 16, I must ensure that the underage person follows the Guides’ instructions at all times. I release and indemnify Cathedral Cove Kayaks Ltd and staff against any liability they incur to anyone else, resulting from my failure to follow Cathedral Cove Kayaks Ltd instructions or the failure of any underage person accompanying me to follow the Guides’ instructions.

Cathedral Cove Kayaks Ltd reserves the right to withdraw any person who in their opinion is likely to endanger themselves or others. This exclusion includes the overuse of alcohol and/or recreational drugs. I also recognize that Cathedral Cove Kayaks Ltd reserves the right to cancel, modify, or curtail any trip, if my safety or that of any other person becomes a concern.

I am aware that Sea Kayaking and participation in a “Sea Kayak Tour” may have inherent dangers and risk including but not limited to physical excursion, exposure to natural elements, boat capsize, sea-sickness, encounters with natural wild life, and possibility of emotional stress. I willingly accept all the risks of Sea Kayaking including without limitation the risks described above and the possibility of personal injury, death, property damage or loss resulting there from for any reason. I accept that all Cathedral Cove Kayaks Ltd liability for loss of or damage to my property, disruption to travel plans, or mental injury is excluded. This exclusion is subject to any rights or remedies a customer has under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, or any other New Zealand law.

I certify that all the information on this waiver is correct*

We are only able to process refunds back onto the card that it was originally booked with. If your card has expired and you have been issued a new one that has the same card number but updated expiry date that is fine.

If the card has been replaced for any other reason the card number is likely to be different so we cannot edit that through our payment system.

In that circumstance we will need to process the refund through a bank transfer. If it is a New Zealand account there are no extra charges but if it is an international account the bank charges will be taken from the refund.

Children need to be at least 5yrs old to join the trip.

In that situation we would usually have one of our staff paddling with the third child.

That said, we know that all families are different, please email us if you have questions about how things might work for your family.