Tutukaka, Whangārei: Village Guide to Harbour Life and the Poor Knights

Last updated October 2026

Tutukaka (Māori: Tūtūkākā) is a small coastal village on a sheltered harbour on the east coast of the Whangārei District, in the area known as the Tūtūkākā Coast. Houses fringe the hills around Tutukaka Harbour, which has a history as a local fishing port and now holds Tūtūkākā Marina, the main boat launch for the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve.

The village is reached by road from Whangārei through Tikipunga and Ngunguru, and it draws divers, boaties and holiday visitors as well as a permanent community.

Short council walks link the hills to sandy bays, pōhutukawa and cliff-top lookouts. In summer the public boat ramp is a busy working part of the village, so allow extra time if you are launching.

Official Locality Facts

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About Tutukaka

Tutukaka sits on the hills around a narrow harbour rather than around a large town centre. Daily life turns on the water: launching a boat, walking down to a bay, or joining a charter for a day offshore.

Whangarei District Council treats it as one of the coastal villages of this coast, alongside the marina precinct, and the streets run out along Tūtūkākā Block Road toward the outer bays.

The Māori name Tūtūkākā is generally understood to come from tūtū kākā, a snaring tree (tūtū) used for the native parrot, the kākā. This eastern coastline, and the offshore islands, lie in the rohe of Ngātiwai.

The Department of Conservation records Ngātiwai as kaitiaki of the Poor Knights. A tapu was placed on those islands in 1822 by the chief Te Tātua after a massacre of his people while he and his warriors were away. The islands are not a place to land.

The harbour’s role as a local fishing port sits behind its present use. Tūtūkākā Marina is the main launch point for the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve, about 22 kilometres off the east coast. The reserve was established in 1981, has been fully protected since 1998, and covers 2,410 hectares out to 800 metres around the islands.

The islands are the remains of ancient volcanoes. Below the surface, the rock has been cut into caves, arches and cliffs that Jacques Cousteau rated among the top ten dives in the world.

Above water they are the only nesting place of the Buller’s shearwater, which shares burrows with tuatara. Around 2.5 million Buller’s shearwaters nest on the main islands each year.

On shore, the council describes short walks near the village and the marina: sandy beaches backed by native bush and pōhutukawa, and views from cliff-top lookouts.

Whangaumu, also known as Wellington’s Bay, is one of the sandy bays reached from Tūtūkākā Block Road. A walking track also leads from the village to a small lighthouse at Tutukaka Head, on the South Gable.

The public boat ramp remains a working part of the harbour. After the old northern side was removed and summer launching became congested, a new northern pontoon was built with council funding and local marine contractors, so both sides of the ramp can be used again.

Getting Around

Most people arrive by car. From Whangārei, take the Tūtūkākā turnoff near the city and follow the signs, and Ngunguru Road, through Tikipunga. The road continues past Ngunguru and over the hill into the harbour. Allow about 30 minutes. Free parking is available at the marina for people joining boat trips.

Shuttle and bus options run between Whangārei and the coast if you are coming from further away, but the lookouts and beach accesses sit on separate side roads, so a car is the straightforward way to move around once you are here.

There is no large commercial centre in the village itself. Eating and trip bookings cluster at the marina. For a primary school, families on this part of the coast use Ngunguru School, a state primary for Years 0 to 8 that serves the wider Tūtūkākā Coast. It is not in Tutukaka.

Getting Outdoors

Tutukaka is a base for the water more than a single beach town. The harbour and marina are the centre of boating, and charter boats leave here for snorkelling and diving at the Poor Knights.

On shore, council walks are short, generally unsurfaced, and can be slippery when wet. The coast is exposed and the weather can change quickly, so wear decent footwear and check conditions before you set out.

Two easy places to start are the William Parata lookout and Whangaumu. The lookout is a 200 metre climb off Tūtūkākā Block Road near Dolphin Place, about 15 minutes one way and graded 3 by the council.

Whangaumu lookout, above Wellington’s Bay, is a 125 metre walk of about 10 minutes, graded 2, with parking at Whangaumu Street near the lookout. These tracks are not formed as wheelchair paths. The council also notes hazards on some reserves, including caves, so stay on the marked routes.

History and Heritage

Tutukaka’s present character grew out of the harbour. It has a history as a local fishing port, and the marina is now the main base for day trips to the Poor Knights.

The two main islands, Tawhiti Rahi and Aorangi, and the waters around them, became a marine reserve in 1981. Full no-take protection, out to 800 metres from shore, followed in 1998.

Reserve rules are strict. There is no fishing of any kind, from a boat or from shore, and no taking or disturbing of marine life, including shellfish and seaweed. Rocks and shells must be left, and fish must not be fed. Waste, ballast and sewage must not be discharged in the reserve.

Landing on any part of the islands or rocks is prohibited, and boats must not be tied to the shoreline. Those rules protect the islands from fire and from pests such as rats, cats and weeds. They also sit alongside the Ngātiwai tapu.

Vessels over 45 metres long are banned from a wider area around the islands, extending 9 kilometres (5 nautical miles) from land between Bream Head and Cape Brett.

Where to Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to Tutukaka from Whangārei?
Take the Tūtūkākā turnoff and follow Ngunguru Road through Tikipunga, past Ngunguru, and over the hill to the harbour. Allow about 30 minutes. Shuttle and bus options also link Whangārei with the coast.

What does the name Tūtūkākā mean?
It is generally understood to come from tūtū kākā, a tree used to snare the kākā, the native parrot.

Can I visit the Poor Knights Islands from Tutukaka?
Yes, by boat. Tutukaka Marina is the main launch point for the marine reserve, about 22 kilometres offshore. You cannot land on the islands or tie a boat to the shoreline.

Is fishing allowed at the Poor Knights?
No. The waters out to 800 metres around the islands are a fully protected marine reserve. Fishing, and taking or disturbing any marine life, is prohibited.

Is there a public boat ramp in Tutukaka?
Yes. The harbour has a public boat ramp with pontoons on both sides. The northern pontoon was rebuilt after the old structure was removed, following summer congestion when only one side could be used.

Are there walks and beaches in Tutukaka?
Yes. Council walks include the William Parata lookout and accesses to bays such as Whangaumu (Wellington’s Bay). Tracks are mostly unsurfaced and can be slippery when wet. A track also leads to the small lighthouse at Tutukaka Head.

Where do local children go to school?
There is no school in Tutukaka itself. Ngunguru School, a state primary for Years 0 to 8, serves the wider Tūtūkākā Coast.

Is parking available at the marina?
Yes. Free parking is available at Tutukaka Marina for people joining boat trips. In summer the ramp and marina are busy, so allow extra time.

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Explore Whangārei only lists suburbs officially recognised by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), and Tutukaka is one of them. Suburb boundary: LINZ, CC BY 4.0.