Your Base for Matauri Bay & the Far North Coast

Matauri Bay is one of Northland's most stunning and unspoilt beaches — a wide, sheltered arc of golden sand with turquoise water, set in a quietly beautiful bay on the Northland East Coast. Whether you're heading there for a day at the beach, a dive on the Rainbow Warrior wreck, or to explore the Cavalli Islands, Kerigold Chalets in Kerikeri makes the perfect base.

Kerikeri is approximately 70km south of Matauri Bay — around 1 hour's drive north on SH10 through Kaeo. You'll enjoy all the comfort and facilities of a well-serviced Northland town, with our luxury private chalets and studios waiting for you at the end of the day.

Getting to Matauri Bay from Kerigold Chalets:

  • Distance: approximately 70km north of Kerikeri
  • Drive time: around 1 hour via SH10 north through Kaeo
  • Route: Kerikeri → Waipapa → Kaeo → Matauri Bay Road
  • The road is sealed all the way — a relaxed, scenic Northland drive
  • Matauri Bay village and beach are at the end of Matauri Bay Road

Why Matauri Bay?

Matauri Bay is famous for two things: its extraordinary beach and the Rainbow Warrior. The beach itself is uncrowded, clean, and sheltered — perfect for swimming, snorkelling, and long walks along the sand. It's one of those Northland beaches that feels like a secret, even in summer.

The Rainbow Warrior — the Greenpeace flagship sunk by French agents in Auckland Harbour in 1985 — was towed to the Cavalli Islands and scuttled as an artificial reef in 1987. Today it's one of New Zealand's most celebrated dive sites, sitting in around 28 metres of water just off Matauri Bay. A memorial to the ship stands on the headland overlooking the bay. Read more about Matauri Bay and the Rainbow Warrior on our Kerikeri blog.

What to Do at Matauri Bay:

  • Swim, surf, and snorkel at one of Northland's best beaches
  • Dive the Rainbow Warrior wreck in the Cavalli Islands — 25–28m depth
  • Visit the Rainbow Warrior memorial on the headland above the bay
  • Kayak or snorkel around the Cavalli Islands Marine Reserve
  • Walk the headland tracks for panoramic bay views
  • Fish from the beach or hire a charter for offshore fishing
  • Explore nearby Kaeo village and the beautiful Whangaroa Harbour

Staying in Kerikeri vs Matauri Bay

Accommodation at Matauri Bay itself is limited to a holiday park and a small number of private rentals. Many visitors choose to stay in Kerikeri, where there's a wider range of accommodation, restaurants, cafés, supermarkets, and attractions — then make the easy 1-hour drive to Matauri Bay for a day trip. Kerikeri also puts you within easy reach of Paihia, Waitangi, the Bay of Islands, and the wider Far North.