Goat Island

About

Named after the goats released by European seafarers to provide food for those who became stranded, Goat Island sits just off the shore of Leigh, north of Auckland on the eastern coast of New Zealand. It’s the country’s first and most popular marine reserve housing many diverse habitats beneath the water. The islands Discovery Centre is an educational hub where you learn about the marine environment through videos and interactive elements aimed at teaching visitors the importance of marine conservation. To see the sea as one giant aquarium, pre-book a glass bottom boat tour for a fully-commentated excursion into the marine reserve. You’ll get to see an array of marine life including many species of fish, seaweed forests and rock pool creatures in and around the reefs. Above board, there’s a chance you’ll observe dolphins, whales, seals.. and even sharks, if you’re lucky! There are no goats to be seen, though, so don’t let the name mislead you.