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Sentinel Rock

Northland · New Zealand

What have people found?

Red-mouthed whelk, new zealand scallop and morning star shell turn up here more than at our other rock pools. New zealand common cushion star, purple rock crab and tuatua are the usual finds. ~125 distinct species have been recorded here.

What is the best time to visit today?

Download the app to see the 7-day schedule.

See low tide times at Sentinel Rock for the next three days
  1. Mon 16 Novin the dark~6:30in the dark~19:00
  2. Tue 17 Novin the dark~7:30in the dark~20:00
  3. Wed 18 Novin the dark~8:00in the dark~21:00

Every low tide each day, in local time at the shore.

Plan the week in Intertidal
  • A tide chart for every day, with the best window marked
  • Identify what you find from a photo
  • An alert when a good daylight low is coming

When do people visit?

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Most observations come from January and October.

What should you know before visiting?

Parking is about 250 meters away.
Arrive 45 minutes to an hour before low tide and leave as it turns. The water comes back faster than it left.
Grippy shoes beat sandals. Wet rock and algae are more slippery than they look. Rock pool safety
A rock pool is a fragile place. Look and photograph, take nothing. The rockpooling code

What lives at Sentinel Rock?

Species records from iNaturalist

New Zealand Common Cushion StarPatiriella regularis
Purple Rock CrabLeptograpsus variegatus
TuatuaPaphies subtriangulata
Little Black MusselXenostrobus neozelanicus
Waratah AnemoneActinia tenebrosa
Radiate LimpetCellana radians
New Zealand ScallopPecten novaezelandiae
Cart-rut ShellDicathais orbita
KinaEvechinus chloroticus
New Zealand CockleAustrovenus stutchburyi
White-striped AnemoneAnthothoe albocincta
Red-mouthed WhelkCominella virgata
Grey Side-gilled Sea SlugPleurobranchaea maculata
Morning star shellTawera spissa
Ostrich Foot SnailStruthiolaria papulosa
Scan this rock pool on your next visit.

Every organism named, every visit logged to your journal.