Matakana Island

Matakana Island is a long, flat island mostly covered with pine forest, is one of New Zealand's best beach breaks for surfing. Matakana Island is 20 kilometres in length but rarely more than three kilometres wide. The island protects the entrance to Tauranga harbour and stretches from Athenree to Mount Maunganui.

It's possible to visit the inner harbour side of Matakana Island on a guided tour, which involves a ferry trip and a journey across tidal sand flats on a restored 1914 wagon drawn by Clydesdale horses. The trip includes historic sites and a barbecue lunch.

Surfers can either catch a water taxi from Mount Maunganui or paddle to the island across the mouth of Tauranga Harbour (check with the locals before doing this it can be risky). A powerful northeasterly swell on a high tide produces great sand barrels. Matakana's surf side is a nesting site for a large number of sea birds, including the endangered New Zealand dotterel.