Boating Destinations

Welcome to your playground …

Whether you are new to boating or a boating aficionado, we encourage you to explore this beautiful country from coast to coast.

New Zealand is a boaties’ paradise. As many boat owners would testify, the moment you climb aboard, you’ll immediately feel miles away from your everyday hectic life and you are always guaranteed to have the best views in the house. Each part of the country offers a range of different fresh and saltwater boating environments. Local knowledge is the key to getting the best out of any area. Here’s an introduction to some of New Zealand’s favourite boating regions.

We welcome you to explore our featured boating destinations and please feel free to share your favourite boating spots and stories below.

Discover Northland

Northland has some of the most beautiful coastlines in NZ, including the Bay of Islands. Go to http://www.nrc.govt.nz/onthewater to find more relevant local information

Hokianga Harbour

Discover Auckland

The Hauraki Gulf is the ultimate boaties’ paradise. The Gulf is part of the Pacific Ocean, which it joins to the north and east. It is largely protected from the Pacific by Great Barrier Island and Little Barrier to the north, and by the 80-kilometre-long Coromandel Peninsula to the east. The gulf is thus well-protected against all but northern winds.

Hauraki Gulf

The AYBA (Auckland Yacht and Boat Association) incorporates some 50 boating clubs from Omaha in the north to Clark’s Beach at the southern end of the Manukau Harbour. Boaties are encouraged to join a club. There’s a club to cater for most types of boats – centreboard, keelboats, runabouts, launches, and for various activities – learning, racing and cruising. The benefits of club membership include:

Programmes of events and activities
Club facilities
Comradeship
Advantages under various pieces of legislation

Discover Waikato Region

Boating, fishing, and water-skiing are popular activities on Waikato district rivers, lakes, and coastal areas. From Coromandel to the Waikato River and over to Raglan, the Waikato offers a range of water environments. For more information contact Environment Waikato 0800 800 401 or visit their website

Waikato River

Discover Bay of Islands

A favourite fishing and boating playground, Bay of Islands has 144 islands in the ‘winterless’ north of the North Island. The Bay of Islands, renowned for its diverse marine life, is rated one of the world’s best cruising spots and is world famous for its big game fishing.

There is an abundance of white -sand beaches, seafood, snapper, John Dory, mussels and kina (sea eggs). Also, it is the annual spot for the 120-mile Coastal Classic Auckland to Russell (the capital) Yacht Race.

Read a boatie’s personal review of the Bay of Islands by clicking here

Discover Bay of Plenty

The stunning sunny climate and beachy atmosphere of the Bay of Plenty truly makes it a place to have fun. Nestled in the crook of Coromandel Peninsula to the West and East Cape to the East, the Bay of Plenty is one of those rare, unspoiled marine playgrounds that enjoys a warm climate and good shelter. The Bay of Plenty was given its name by Captain Cook after he found it had everything he wanted: plenty of food, good weather and good shelter.

The Bay of Plenty

For further information on Bay of Plenty including ramp locations, visit the B.O.P Regional Council’s website as well as the B.O.P Destination Outdoors website

Discover Hawke’s Bay

Hawke’s Bay provides good coastal waters for boaties of all description – a wide bay for yachting, plenty of good fishing and some great diving locations – along with some great river adventures for jetboaters, jetskiers and water skiers

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council manages a 333km strip of marine coastal zone from north of Mahia to south of Poranghau, as well as the boating on many of the navigable rivers. You can contact the council for the Hawke’s Bay navigation safety bylaws, which include details of speed restrictions, access lanes and special activity zones. There’s also good information on the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s website

Discover Wellington Region

Whether you are interested in sailing, kayaking, fishing, power-boating, diving or even rafting, Wellington has a large array of fun boating activities that you can participate in.

Wellington Harbour

For the full list of activities and further information please visit the Wellington DOC website .

Discover Canterbury

Boating localities are equally diverse, including the tough open-coast environment of Kaikoura; large braided rivers, each with complex river mouths and changeable bars; the two large harbours of Lyttleton and Akaroa; other large bays around Banks Peninsula; an estuary in the heart of Christchurch; plus a whole series of upland and high-country lakes including the major hydroelectric lake system of the Waitaki Basin.

Kaikura Whale Watching

All of the localities have their own characteristics and their own particular attractions depending on what type of boating you want to do. See the Environment Canterbury website

For more information on the kinds of activities you can do out on the water, check out our activities page.