Haerenga ā-waka moana Boating

For a full list of boat ramps, see Find a boat ramp.

The coastline at Ātiu Creek is difficult to access, very tidal and mainly consists of mudflats and wetlands.

The currents are very strong and dangerous, and you need to take extreme care.

We do not recommend accessing the park by watercraft.

Read more about Ātiu Creek Regional Park.

Peaceful Āwhitu on the southwest shores of the Manukau Harbour offers parkland pastures, wetlands to explore, and safe, sandy beaches.

Read more about Āwhitu Regional Park.

Part of the Waitākere Ranges, Cornwallis is a popular, safe spot for family picnics and swimming.

It is home to the 200m-long restored Cornwallis wharf, the last of Manukau Harbour's 16 ferry wharves.

Read more about Cornwallis Regional Park.

Huia is a quiet settlement by the Manukau Harbour.

It has tidal beaches, picnic spots, campsites, and a huge choice of walks.

Read more about Huia Regional Park.

All beaches here are generally calm and make for a pleasant boating experience.

There is no boat ramp at Long Bay, but you can hand-launch and retrieve boats of up to 3m.

You have to carry boats over the parkland from the car park to avoid damaging the grass.

Read more about Long Bay Regional Park.

All beaches here are good for boating.

The harbour offers shelter from most wind directions, though the tide may influence conditions significantly, especially when the wind opposes the tide.

You can hand-launch and retrieve boats of up to 3m.

You have to carry boats over the parkland from the car park to avoid damaging the grass.

Read more about Mahurangi Regional Park.

Scandretts Bay is generally calm and ideal for boating.

There is no boat ramp but you can hand-launch and retrieve boats of up to 3m.

Scandretts Bay is very tidal so launching and landing can be very difficult at low tide.

Launch from Scandretts Bay or the boat ramp at Martins Bay.

You have to carry boats over the parkland from the car park to avoid damaging the grass.

Read more about Scandrett Regional Park.

Shakespear is a popular spot for many kinds of boating.

You can hand-launch boats of 3m or less from any of Shakespear's beaches as the tide allows.

You can launch larger vessels at the boat ramp at Army Bay.

You have to carry boats over the parkland from the car park to avoid damaging the grass.

Read more about Shakespear Regional Park.

An attractive coastal farm park, Tāpapakanga offers an accessible beach on the western shores of the Firth of Thames.

Read more about Tāpapakanga Regional Park.

Tāwharanui is a popular spot for many kinds of boating.

There are no boat ramps or boat launching facilities at Tāwharanui but you can hand-launch boats of 3m or less from any of Tāwharanui's beaches.

Thre are boat ramps at Point Wells, Omaha and Sandspit. You can also launch from Campbells Beach and Baddeleys Beach, but only at full tide.

You can bring boats on trailers into the campground as long as they are not over 5m in length.

You have to carry boats over the parkland from the car park to avoid damaging the grass.

Read more about Tāwharanui Regional Park.

Located 50km from central Auckland on the south-eastern coast, Waitawa is made up of three small peninsulas and fronts onto four bays.

Read more about Waitawa Regional Park.

Boating is a popular activity at Wenderholm, with a an all-weather access boat ramp available at the north end of the main car park.

The main beach and the Pūhoi Estuary are good for boating but the estuary is very tidal and launching or retrieving boats from here is not recommended for the three hours each side of low tide.

You can hand-launch and retrieve boats of up to 3m.

You have to carry boats over the parkland from the car park to avoid damaging the grass.

Read more about Wenderholm Regional Park.

Whakanewha has access at high tide for small boat access, with anchorage available at nearby Rocky Bay.

Read more about Whakanewha Regional Park.