Goat Island is New Zealand's first marine reserve, created in 1975 and officially opened in 1977. Extending from Cape Rodney to Okakari Point, the marine reserve includes the waters 800 m from shore including Te Hāwere-a-Maki/Goat Island.

Marine life now flourishes in an area where fish populations were once greatly reduced. Crayfish and snapper are now abundant and the reserve has become an important breeding and nursery area for many species.

It is a marine mecca that offers the best snorkelling opportunity close to Auckland. You can also explore the reserve by kayak, in a 'Clearyak' which is a 100% clear kayak.

The clear waters are home to a variety of fish such as snapper (tāmure), parore, red moki (nanua) and blue maomao. You might even see eagle rays (whai keo) and stringrays (whai). The fish in the reserve are abundant and friendly.

Last summer - this lucky 'yakker was treated to an impressive display from dolphins - wow! 🐬🐬🐬🐬

Beneath the waves you may see seaweed forests, sponge gardens, and all the creatures of the rocky shore.

You may be left wondering what Goat Island has to do with goats??? Goat Island is named after the goats released by early European seafarers, to provide food for those who became marooned. These days, you're much more likely to see dolphins than goats!

After a busy day on the Matakana Market & Wine Tasting Tour, we offer the opportunity to quench your thirst and top the day off by visiting the Sawmill Brewery.

The Sawmill Brewery is an independent, New Zealand owned brewery sat in the heart of the Matakana Region. The Brewery was established in 2004 on the site of what was once a local timber mill dating back to the 1860’s.

Priding themselves of doing things differently; they were the first craft brewery to can beer, have a zero waste goal and started using solar energy 11 years ago... with a remarkable story to tell, a visit will give you no doubt give you a valuable insight into kiwi ingenuity and artisan production in the region.

We'll take the time to give you an opportunity to experience a tour of the brewery and find out about the craftsmanship that goes into every sip. With 15 beers on tap as standard, plus 2 seasonal 'special edition' beers released each month - a tasting is a must! The tour includes a 'tasting tray' of five different beers for you to sample.

If you would like to know more about the brewery, check out: www.sawmillbrewery.co.nz

We hope to take you there very soon.

Māori have strong spiritual bonds to the land and 'Papatuanuku', the Earth Mother. In the Māori world view, people are closely connected to the land and nature. Kaitiakitanga is based on this idea of humans as part of the natural world, and the feeling of guardianship and conservation.

We feel this wholeheartedly at Tour Shop. As a business we want to leave no footprint that will potentially impair our environment for our children & grandchildren and ensure that resources are plentiful for future generations.

We often talk about a 'sustainability lens' on every decision, so that it is ingrained in the culture of how we operate.

As part of this, we have introduced a number of initiatives:

we encourage visitors to have a 'zero waste day' by providing re-usable coffee cups so that you can enjoy your complimentary coffee without generating any waste. When planning our tour routes we make sure that we are efficient and only go as many kilometres as necessary. Our website and social channels try to provide all information that you need to plan a visit, so that we don't produce unnecessary leaflets and paper. All of our team ensure that when we visit a site we leave no trace - particularly when visiting the natural environments like Goat Island Marine Reserve.

When selecting partners to work with, making sure that they have mutual standards is fundamental - we are proud to work as a collective team to ensure that this is the case. For example; paddling in a Clearyak or taking a guided snorkel at Goat Island has the lowest impact on the marine life; there is no noise or sound pollution, the are self-powered so no requirement for gas or oil, they do not use excessive speed which means the life below is un-disturbed and the environmental impact is zero.

New technologies are developing all the time and we are constantly looking for improvements to make our business more sustainable. If you have any other ideas for us - we'd love to hear from you.

On our Matakana Market & Wine Tasting tour, we are delighted to share with you the 'Sculptureum' experience - a world of art, food and wine.

Wondering how to say the name? It is an amalgamation of Sculpture and Museum - 'Sculp-chur-re-um' - perfectly unique, just like them!

The Sculptureum Experience is made up of three sculpture gardens and six art galleries spanning over 1.5km of flat paths. The private collection includes over 700 works of art by local and international artists. From live rabbits to the giant pink snails, and everything in between, you are guaranteed to find inspiration around every corner.

Overlooking the sculpture gardens is an 11 acre award-winning vineyard. As part of our tour we will take time to enjoy a tasting of Sculptureum wines at their Rothko Restaurant.

Our latest tour guests reviewed Sculptureum as a 'must-see' and 'world-class'. We are certain you'll agree and look forward to sharing this experience with you soon.

One of our favourite pieces is this tap installation below - just mind-blowing!!

We are thrilled to announce that one of our acitivities Clearyak has been awarded a Trip

Advisor 'Certificate of Excellence'.

This is amazing that they have been recognized by TripAdvisor, as they are the absolute authority on all things tourism-related.

Here's what they say about the award: the Certificate of Excellence honors hospitality businesses that deliver consistently great service across the world. It is presented to approximately 10% of total businesses on TripAdvisor that have consistently achieved great reviews over the past year. Wahoo! So stoked that Clearyak make it into that 10%.

Brook and Sarah McRae, the founders said "We want to say a huge thank you to our amazing crew and all our customers who have passed through our 'yaks over the last two years and make us who we are! Not forgetting all of our collaborative relationships, partners and wider sales team. Thank you for having faith in our vision.

We will keep working hard to give you the best experience on your next visit to our happy place 😎".

"Well done Tour Shop, this is a trip that will always be remembered!"

We couldn't be happier with our latest TripAdvisor feedback from our recent guests to the Matakana region.

Spring has sprung in New Zealand, which means longer days of sunshine and warmer temperatures - leaving you with an urge to escape the city, avoid the crowds and head to the coast.

We have had several tours up to the Matakana region recently and we have loved meeting you all.

It is a jam-packed day so that you can experience authentic NZ life in the region, and includes the following itinerary:

Starting with a visit to the bustling farmer's market in Matakana - it is a perfect opportunity to sample food & drink from local artisan producers, and stock up on souvenirs. We then get up close and personal with local wildlife - feeding the eels! There is an abundance of vineyards in the region, so a perfect excuse to take you for some wine tasting at Ascension Vineyards and Sculptureum. Whilst at Sculptureum - we allow plenty of time to enjoy the incredible sculpture park, gardens and galleries. Finally, we head to the coast and visit Goat Island Marine Reserve, with an opportunity to experience Clearyaking (weather permitting). We will have worked up quite an appetite by then, so top the day off with the freshest fish & chip lunch you can find, and an option for a craft beer at the Saw Mill Brewery or a visit to a Warkworth Honey Centre.

The day's itinerary can certainly be tailored to you, if you have something in mind. But trust us when we say - we really do take you to the very best of the region! Just jump on TripAdvisor to read the reviews and hear about the highlights.

Sarah and Brook McRae are the husband and wife team who founded the business in 2016. With a passion for New Zealand, marine life and sustainable tourism; the concept of Tour Shop was born. Having lived in the local area for a number of years, they wanted to be able to share the beauty of the region with visitors to the area and showcase the best of all that was on offer. Sitting on the doorstep of Auckland, meant that day trips seemed an obvious offering and a way to see an authentic snapshot of New Zealand life without being sat on the road for too long.

Brook has been working in marine industries for most of his adult life as a commercial diver; so his passion was to make sure that their tours offered an opportunity to see NZ marine life with your very own eyes; whether that be up close and personal with a guided snorkel tour, or jumping in a 'Clearyak' to view from the surface. Of most importance, he believed that the tours did not leave a lasting impact on the marine environment; sustainable tourism is at the heart of everything they do.

Sarah has a background in fresh produce marketing and also is mum to their two daughters. Sarah is a real foodie so she makes sure that the tours are well catered for and that our guests take time to enjoy the very best of local artisan food and drink.

Aside from Tour Shop, to Sarah and Brook - family life is at the very heart of everything. Weekends are spent exploring the local beaches, taking the girls on native bush walks or taking the time to do simple pleasures like dinner around the campfire or collecting honey from their beehives.

Guided Snorkel Experience $69 investment

- All equipment provided (wetsuit, fins, snorkel, mask)

- Education on how to snorkel & breathe

- Marine biologist guide who you can ask any questions as you wish!

- Guide provides full safety briefing, knows Goat Island Marine Reserve inside out and has your safety at the heart of the experience

- Small groups (max 8)

- Beachside treat afterwards

Or hire snorkel equipment and DIY.......

It is $40 to hire all your equipment (wetsuit, fins, snorkel, mask)

For an extra $29, we think the guided experience is really good value!

100% clear kayaks, known as a 'Clearyak’, are a brand new way to explore New Zealand marine life up close and one of our favourite activities on our trips up north to the Matakana region.

They offer a pure, peaceful experience and the vision beneath you is amazingly clear and detailed.

Clearyak was launched on New Year's Day 2017 at Goat Island Marine Reserve, the marine mecca that attracts people from all over New Zealand.

You are likely to view fish such as snapper (tāmure), parore, red moki (nanua), blue maomao, eagle ray (whai keo) and stingray (whai).

Clearyaks are highly suited to marine education as you can view marine life up close in the wild without disturbing their natural habitat, and talk and share the experience in your two seater kayak.

Matakana is in the winterless north just a one-hour drive from Auckland City and is a great destination all-year round. Currently the region is famous for its Saturday farmers market and stunning beaches, but there is so much more for you to experience - beautiful countryside surrounded by the ocean, surf, snorkeling and Clearyak, fishing villages, arts/crafts and boutique breweries.