Photo: Black Reef Beach Hawkes Bay New Zealand

From the beach near Black Reef in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand you can see the high rock cliffs of Cape Kidnappers where the Gannet colony resides.

At low tide on the beach near Black Reef in Hawkes Bay on the North Island of New Zealand, there is plenty of sand that encompasses the rocky coastline. The waves lap up along the beach but there are still tidal pools atop the rocks where many sea creatures reside.Looking out over the horizon you can see blue colored water for miles and to the right sits the high rocky cliffs of Cape Kidnappers. These sheer cliffs are a favorite nesting and breeding grounds for the Australasian Gannets of New Zealand.The Black Reef colony is the world's largest and tourists from a magnitude of destinations come to Hawkes Bay on the North Island of New Zealand to watch these massive birds in their natural environment. From the beach in Hawkes Bay you can watch gannets soar above you amongst the white billowy clouds that adorn the blue sky.Not only are the gannets amazing at Black Reef but the coastline along Hawkes Bay is some of the most picturesque scenery around the North Island of New Zealand. ... continue below the picture...

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... There are many different tours that will take you to Cape Kidnappers or venture by yourself in a kayak, on a hiking expedition or in a 4WD to watch the excitement atop Black Reef.Cape Kidnappers seen from the beach near Black Reef, Hawkes Bay, East Coast, North Island, New Zealand.