Cream Garden, New Zealand
About Cream Garden
A reef dive. It goes down to 22 m. You get in from a boat. It suits Advanced divers and up, as a dive guide states it. The coast faces E: swell from the E reaches it, and wind from the W blows out to sea. No dive centre within 10 km, the nearest 45 km away. The sea is about 16°C in August, its coldest month (7 mm wetsuit and hood), and 22°C in February, its warmest (5 mm wetsuit). For Advanced divers the best months are usually January, February, March and October, with about 6 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Tutukaka. Within 5 km we also list 15 dive sites.
- What it is Reef.
- How deep Down to 22 m.
- Getting in From a boat.
- Who it suits Suits Advanced divers and up, as a dive guide states it.
- Dive centres No dive centre within 10 km, the nearest 45 km away.
Facts: verified.
Dive centres nearby
No dive centre mapped within 25 km.
Dive centres: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Credits
Water about 17°C: 7 mm wetsuit and hood. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
Visibility about 10 m. Typical for the time of year, estimated from ten years of NASA satellite water clarity, not a forecast. Clearest in Feb, Mar, Jun and Jul (about 20 m).
This week's visibility, the current and the life no free forecast gives. Ask a dive centre before you book.
Save this trip A link to come back to, or to send to the group.
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From Chicago: about 28 h 05 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Auckland International Airport (AKL), changing at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).
See flights MDW → AKL · Skyscanner from about £740 returnAdGetting there. 3 h 15 from the airport to Cream Garden.
Accommodation.
Stay in TutukakaAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Tutukaka (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Tutukaka 41 min by car · rooms from £85 a night
Places to stay in Tutukaka · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Distances are straight lines unless a drive is given: a site out at sea is reached by boat.
Hire and lessons.
Dives and courses in Tutukaka · GetYourGuideAdDive gear hire in Tutukaka · GetYourGuideAd
Budget 
Mid-range 
Luxury Where it is
Cream Garden on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
Best on Mon 19: Sea 0.9 m. Wind 8 kn gusting 14.
The score for Advanced divers, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoor
| Day | Score | Sea | Wind | Gusts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 80, good | 1.0 m | 7 kn | 14kn |
| Mon 19Oct | 80, good | 0.9 m | 8 kn | 14kn |
| Tue 20Oct | 80, good | 0.7 m | 10 kn | 16kn |
| Wed 21Oct | 80, good | 0.5 m | 10 kn | 15kn |
| Thu 22Oct | 80, good | 0.6 m | 11 kn | 17kn |
| Fri 23Oct | 80, good | 0.6 m | 11 kn | 21kn |
| Sat 24Oct | 80, good | 0.4 m | 8 kn | 14kn |
| Sun 25Oct | 80, good | 0.3 m | 3 kn | 10kn |
| Mon 26Oct | 79, good | 0.4 m | 10 kn | 14kn |
| Tue 27Oct | 44, fair | 1.4 m | 18 kn | 24kn |
| Wed 28Oct | 52, good | 1.3 m | 18 kn | 26kn |
Day scores are the conditions out of 80, from the two best daylight readings: a morning and an afternoon dive. Sea is the open water's waves near the site, in metres. Wind and gusts are in knots (10 kn is about 19 km/h); "boats in" marks gusts that keep dive boats in. This week's visibility, the current and the life no free forecast gives.
The season
Good diving days in a typical week, each month, for Advanced divers, from 2016 on (ERA5 history scored the same way).
- Jan6of 7
- Feb6of 7
- Mar6of 7
- Apr5of 7
- May5of 7
- Jun5of 7
- Jul5of 7
- Aug5of 7
- Sep5of 7
- Oct6of 7
- Nov6of 7
- Dec6of 7
Typical, not a forecast: the sea and the mean wind of each day, with no gusts or rain in the history.
Rough cost
About £1,330–£2,570 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing. A guide from typical prices, not a quote. Dives are not priced yet: we have no sourced price for a guided dive, so they are not in it.
- Flights £740–£1,530
- To the UK airport £35–£65
- Hire car £100–£170
- Stay £225–£375
- Food £230–£430
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Where to stayAd
Places to stay · Booking.com (ad)Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.