Poor Knights Islands

New Zealand's offshore Islands

Our offshore islands are a national Taonga (a treasure), vital to the conservation of many of New Zealand's most endangered species. Having evolved in a land without mammalian predators, our native birds and insects were no match for the highly honed killing instinct of the kiore (polynesian rat) and dogs that arrived with the early Maori, pigs arrived with Captain Cook, followed by the onslaught of dozens of species to devastating effect. Cats, stoats, weasels, rats, possums, deer, goats, even caribou and himalayan thar,  all of these animals have a savagely detrimental effect on our fragile eco system.  Many of these islands have been cleared of introduced species, the first thing you'll notice there is how much more prolific the bird life is. As we only have one native land mammal, a tiny bat, New Zealand's wildlife is about birds, insects and marine life and there are very few places in the country where you will  find a more complete exhibition of our finest natural Taonga. People are strictly prohibited from landing on these Islands. Jacque Cousteau was apparently once arrested here for running a shore line to tie up his ship (this is a very common way for rats to get introduced). Today many of New Zealand's most endangered species have been brought back from the brink of disaster thanks solely to these offshore Islands.

Rikoriko Cave

Another famous icon of the islands is the Rikoriko Cave. The sea surface inside is the cave is roughly a hectare. It is 130 metres long, 26 metres deep, 35m above water to the ceiling, 80 m wide and a total area of 7.9 million cubic feet. It's regarded as the biggest sea cave in the world. This giant cave was created around 10 million years ago when a massive gas bubble formed during an eruption. Today the cave provides us with one of the worlds most unique micro-ecosystems. Due to the lack of light in the cave, the flora and fauna have evolved in many unique ways. There is plant life in the cave different from anywhere else on the planet, ferns droop from the ceiling only receiving light for photosynthesis from the sunlight bouncing off the water surface through the entrance and up to the roof. There is underwater cup coral that normally grows at depths of around 200 metres. Here it's in only 10-15 metres, tricked into thinking it is deeper than it is by the lack of light.

There are daily trips to the Poor Knights and Rikoriko Cave from Tutukaka. The ride there is a an adventure in its own right!  Powered by a 750 hp engine on a 40 ft. Naiad inflatable, the trip time for the 23km is around 30 minutes. Keep your eyes peeled for dolphins, whales and other sea life on the way over. At the Islands you slowly cruise, dwarfed by the imposing cliffs, your senses overwhelmed by the rich sea air and a cacophony of native birds welcoming you to the islands. This is an enlightening and informative trip that will help you appreciate and understand the fragility and sensitivity of our unique island ecosystems.

Diving the Poor Knights

'The Best Subtropical diving in the world', that's, what they say about the Poor Knights. Jacque Cousteau, the man that invented Scuba, rated them as one of the top ten dives sites in the world He should know! Being located 23km off shore, away from sedimentary wash, the islands catch the bottom end of a warm tropical current bringing to the islands many species of marine life not common around New Zealand's coastline. Having a more temperate climate, coupled with its status as a marine reserve, many of our indigenous marine species  have been able to grow to phenomenal sizes.  Shoals of pink and blue maomao circle over head, swirling like a twister, threatening to touch down and encompass all below. Packhorse crayfish as big as a small child can be found while giant moray gently wavier in the current patiently waiting for a tasty morsel to pass by. Dotted amongst the rocks is a myriad of sea urchins and nudibranchs guarded over by ever watchful reef fish taking refuge among the swaying straps of the kelp forest. In March you can witness one of the oceans most spectacular rituals. Squadrons of long tailed stingrays numbering hundreds congregate on the sandy ocean floor waving the razor sharp barbs of their tails over their heads. It's truly one of the oceans greatest spectacles.

There are over 50 recorded dive sites at the Poor Knights, everything from shallow kelp dives, underwater caves, nursery dives, deep dives and wreck dives to name but a few.

HMNZS Tui, formerly a US Navy ship, was designed for hydrological survey and submarine hunting spy work. It also protected New Zealand's anti nuclear protest fleet at Mururoa Atoll,  in french Polynesia in the South Pacific, the most famous of these vessels being the Greenpeace ship The Rainbow Warrior. At 62 metres long the Tui now lies in 30 metres of water just 2km north of Tutukaka Heads.

HMNZS Waikato, is a Leander class frigate, complete with guns and helicopter hanger. 113 metres long she now lies in 28 metres of water just 2km south of Tutukaka Heads. The wrecks can be penetrated through purpose cut access and exit point,  where you can explore control rooms, bridges, crew living quarters and the engine rooms via established routes. The Poor knights also offers ample attractions for the non-diver. There are trips that offer snorkelling, kayaking and just chilling out on board. Dive / kayak trips are a great option for people where not everyone in the group can dive. The Poor Knights are one of the most ecologically unique areas in the world, do your self and favour and make time to check them out.

Links

Check out the following links:

• Go for a cave ride with Cave Rider

Rikoriko Cave

Neil Finn performed uncut in this natural auditorium. (Probably NZ's most famous musician, Neil Finn was the lead singer and songwriter for Crowded house). The latest live performance was an electronic band who performed for the Minister of Conservation during Sea week. There were 10 boats inside the cave with over 100 people, in, and under the water.


» Rikoriko Cave