If you are planning a Whangamatā visit around the 2026-27 season, you may have heard that DOC and Thames-Coromandel District Council are reviewing access and commercial tour permits for Whenuakura Island, often called Donut Island. The island is one of the most recognisable landmarks on this stretch of the Coromandel coast, but its protected status means the rules for landing and guided trips matter. In holiday periods Whangamatā swells considerably, with New Year’s celebrations filling the town to more than 25,000, so visitor pressure on offshore islands is real. Here is what the public material shows so far, and how to plan a visit that respects the sanctuary.
The island behind the name
Whenuakura sits about a kilometre east of the southern part of Whangamatā beach, also known as Otahu Beach. It has a large collapsed blowhole that has formed a small beach inside the island, which is why many people call it Donut Island. Wikipedia notes that tuatara roamed on Whenuakura until fairly recently. The Coromandel’s official destination guide describes the offshore islands as including the Whenuakura Wildlife Sanctuary, and Discover Whangamatā lists Whenuakura (Donut Island), Hauturu (Clark Island), and Maukaha (Third Island) as visible landmarks from the beach.
What the permit review could change
Public information from DOC and Thames-Coromandel District Council does not yet spell out the updated landing rules or the commercial tour permit conditions for 2026-27. As of late October 2026, no list of licensed kayak operators has been published in the general visitor information for Whangamatā. That means the specific changes to permit numbers, operator requirements, or biosecurity conditions are still to be confirmed by the two agencies. For current rules, contact DOC or Thames-Coromandel District Council directly before you book or paddle.
Until that information is published, the safest assumption for independent visitors is that the island remains a protected sanctuary and landing is not permitted except on a licensed trip. The agencies that would confirm the rules are DOC and Thames-Coromandel District Council.
How to view the island without landing
Independent visitors do not need to land to appreciate Whenuakura. The island can be seen clearly from Whangamatā beach, and the same stretch of coast provides views across to Hauturu and Maukaha. New Zealand’s official travel site notes that Hauturu, the nearby Clark Island, can be reached by kayak or wading at low tide, and that it is popular in summer for rock-pool fossickers and kayakers. Whangamatā’s ocean beach is four kilometres long, giving plenty of shoreline from which to observe the island safely. If you want to get closer to Whenuakura by water, the safest approach is to wait until a current licensed operator list is confirmed or to ask locally at Discover Whangamatā, 616 Port Road.
The words you’ll meet in the permit conditions
When the updated conditions are published, they are likely to include terms such as biosecurity. You can look up a straightforward definition in a word meanings resource before you travel, so the permit language is not a barrier. The public information currently available does not detail the specific biosecurity measures for Whenuakura, but the island’s status as a wildlife sanctuary means that any landing or tour conditions will be designed to protect the habitat.
Where to check before you head out
Because the updated permit details are not yet in the public material, planning ahead is essential. Check the DOC website and Thames-Coromandel District Council notices for the latest access and tour permit conditions. Stop in at Discover Whangamatā, 616 Port Road, which describes itself as a community hub and can point you to current local information. Whangamatā’s resident population is about 4,230, but holiday periods swell considerably, so booking and checking rules early is sensible.
A practical conclusion
Do not assume that landing on Whenuakura is allowed just because the island is visible. Until DOC and the council release the new permit conditions and the 2026-27 licensed kayak operator list, treat the island as a protected wildlife sanctuary and enjoy it from the beach or from the water. Confirming the rules with the agencies directly will give you a legal, low-impact way to experience one of Whangamatā’s most distinctive landmarks.