Centro de Descubrimiento Marino de Goat Island

Experiencia fantástica: Incredibly interesting, we had pre-booked as a group and were presented with a very informative slide show, with 2 amazing guides.

Experiencia positiva: Great small center with well done education infos for all ages. 10$ adults.

Experiencia fantástica: Stunning part of the world.

Experiencia fantástica: So informative with great interactive activities for all ages. Special thanks to Nikita who is a great ambassador for the centre with her enthusiastic advice and ready to answer any questions.

Experiencia fantástica: Only open on weekends during winter

Experiencia positiva: It’s cool but I’d like a small tour of the research facility or more creatures? My child loved the microscopes. As someone with ADHD it was a bit of a reading overload and a lot of crossover audio. I loved the amount of seating availability (so much that once my overstimulated brain made me fall asleep on the couch!) the person working was super passionate and friendly (a fellow American, go banana slugs!) the parking is a bit inconvenient as my mobility isn’t the best but it’s still a cool spot to check out and learn. I particularly loved the little snippets from PHD candidates and their projects, and the focus on women in science! Hope to see this place develop more (I’d love guided dives or to be involved in citizen science projects!)

Experiencia fantástica: Nice Wonderful experience The lady was highly welcoming too Thanks for a pleasant experience

Experiencia negativa: confining an octopus to a tiny glass box is horrendous, they are highly intelligent creatures, they have the same intelligence as a dog or a three year old child, they are not a slug. they are shy solitary creatures, and should not be on display in glaring light with nowhere to hide from the unwanted constant attention. we have emailed the discovery centre about this and they never even bothered to reply. there is growing international recognition of the cruelty of confining octopus, NZ lagging behind as usual.

Experiencia fantástica: Interesting and interactive exhibition for all ages. Worth the trip!

Experiencia positiva: There had been a cyclone in the region when I visited 4 years ago so the waters were too choppy and swirling with particulates to see anything while snorkeling.

Experiencia positiva: Beautiful location with stunning rock formations

Experiencia fantástica: Perfect place for snorkeling in clear water and having big snapper swim along side you.

Experiencia positiva: After visiting 20 years ago, it's not the same. I was unable to as many fish used to be

Experiencia fantástica: Beautiful beach! Perfect for a day trip. Bring a snorkeling kit or hire a kit/transparent canoe. Really good marine life that you are able to get close up to.

Experiencia fantástica: Fab, watched a pod of dolphins just off the coast.

Experiencia fantástica: Smaller than expected but really well designed and staffed. It was a stink weather day and this was 2-3 hours of massive enjoyment and interaction for a four and a forty year old!

Experiencia fantástica: What an interesting place. I learned things there today. Very cool.

Experiencia fantástica: Wonderful place.......passive learning kids and equally joyful for parents. It's a must see

Experiencia fantástica: Lots of fun for a family with an 8-year old. The staff were amazing, taking time to show us the microscope and develop our knowledge of the various sea life. Touch pool was fun also. Reasonably priced and worth spending an hour if your near Leigh. Very limited parking - we parked at the Goat Island reserve site and walked 3 mins to the centre.

Experiencia fantástica: Our 2 year old loved it.

Experiencia fantástica: Amazing place to learn about NZ marine life.

Experiencia fantástica: Interesting educational centre very informative

Experiencia positiva: Nice place n funny

Experiencia fantástica: I enjoyed seeing some of the marine creatures.

Experiencia fantástica: We love visiting this spot. Awesome place for snorkeling n scuba diving

Experiencia fantástica: Amazing place. Very popular got to go early to get a park.

Experiencia positiva: A great mini museum. A must visit to enhance your visit to Leigh. A great complement to your glass-bottomed trip. The museum have a sound corridor to experience underwater life, and also an opportunity to be up and close to the marine animals; some of which you can touch.

Experiencia fantástica: Very interesting. Friendly staff

Experiencia fantástica: Awesome learning experience for kids and adults.

Experiencia fantástica: Quite a small place but very interactive. The staff are amazing, very kind and helpful with the kids. They gave the kids activity worksheets to get their brains working over this Christmas period.

Experiencia fantástica: Just awesome, some would say double awesome, lots of interactive displays to engage with, super friendly and talkative staff and a touch tank filled with marine critters you can interact with, although I don't recommend touching the bitey bitey crabs... Also they have a super playful octopus. If your looking for a nice day trip I thoroughly recommend this one.

Experiencia fantástica: The discovery centre is really cool. They have interactive exhibits and a tank where you can get to see marine life up close! The building sits right off the ocean as well, so the scenery is beautiful. Makes for a very fun and educational afternoon.

Experiencia fantástica: What a fantastic experience. Inexpensive and a hands on experience for the kids where you can touch starfish and play with the sea creatures. Staff were friendly and seemed genuinely interested in the experience. Parking onsite despite the signs saying there is no parking. $20 for a family pass.

Experiencia fantástica: Thoroughly recommend this little museum. My kids (4 and 6) loved it and the staff made a real effort to make it a fun and educational experience. They loved picking up starfish, sea cucumbers and touching sea urchins. The microscope was great fun for them too!

Experiencia fantástica: We spent a good hour at the discovery centre and enjoyed ourselves tremendously. The staff were very knowledgeable and good with the kids. The highlights were the microscope where we got to see live sea creatures magnified on a big screen, we got to touch creatures in their touch and feel pool, and my daughter got to feed an octopus. I would recommend this if you have kids, it was great fun...(and reasonably priced).

Experiencia positiva: very fascinating

Experiencia positiva: Great marine reserve. Definitely take the time and go snorkeling. Can get super packed on the weekends.

Experiencia fantástica: What a great day out! Catch low tide, a wander along the rock and then (well either side of it really) drop into the Discovery Centre ($10). It has informative story boards, curious photos, specimen jars, a "sound corridor" so you can hear what goes on at the marine world and best of all a touch pool, filled with all sorts of creatures. Two PhD students unobtrusively checked in with us every now and then to greatly enhanced our experience. Five stars.