The Poor Knights Islands are a group of islands located 22 km off the east coast of the Northland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. They are the remnants of an ancient string of volcanoes. Beneath the waves these volcanoes have been hollowed and shaped by the ocean into a web of caves, tunnels and cliffs.
The chain consists of two large islands (Tawhiti Rahi and Aorangi ) with a group of smaller islets between the two.
The islands' name is said to derive from their resemblance to Poor Knight's Pudding, a bread-based dish popular at the time of discovery by Europeans.
Uninhabited since the 1820s, the islands are and protected as a nature reserve since 1981 and a permit is required to land or tie boats up. Permits are usually granted only for scientific research
The islands have been identified as an Important Bird Area, by BirdLife International because they are home to a breeding population of about 200,000 pairs of Buller's Shearwaters.
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| Buller's Shearwater |
At the Poor Knights Islands, you can cruise, dive, or snorkel at the world famous dive spots in a safe, fun, and friendly atmosphere.
The Poor Knights are now the most popular dive destination in New Zealand. Divers from all parts of the world visit this remote island group each year where sub-tropical fish species establishing themselves among the New Zealand fish life and adapting new colours and feeding habits in NZ waters. There is a colourful array of sponges, anemones, sea urchins, nudibranchs, kelp and seaweed as well as pelagic and reef fish (more than 100 species), great for photography.
Diving conditions at the Poor Knights are rewarding at all times of the year but conditions do vary considerably. From May to early September where visibility is superb.
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| Poor Knights Map |
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