Port Motueka

Regular users are encouraged to join a local club for ramp access.

Financial members of the Motueka Power Boat Club are supplied with an access card. For non-members, casual access to the Motueka Power Boat Club marina ramp is available by swiping your credit card at the barrier arm. A charge of $15 will be debited from your credit card per visit. 

Visit the Motueka Power Boat Club website.

• 3 knot speed limit applies in the immediate area of the marina and main boat ramp
• 5 knot speed limit otherwise applies until 200 metres from shore

The approach to Port Motueka involves a sandbar that is subject to frequent change. It is recommended that recent local knowledge be sought before crossing the bar. Use a depth sounder in this area and travel at a safe speed at all times.

Typical least depth is about or shallower than chart datum.

The chart (NZ614) inset for Port Motueka should not be relied upon.

General Tips

• In general the bar should be attempted near the top of a rising tide if you are not familiar with the best route.
• Observe the bar conditions for a reasonable period from offshore.
• In general, the most dangerous conditions occur in the last four hours of a falling tide if the wind is onshore.
• If it looks unsafe or beyond your skills and experience it is safer to wait offshore for conditions to improve or divert to another landing place.
• Lifejackets must be worn by all persons on all pleasure craft, by law, when crossing the bar.

Local Knowledge

It is recommended that recent local knowledge is gained before attempting to enter or exit the Port.

A series of temporary buoys have been put in place by local people to assist with channel guidance. Due to the mobile nature of the sandbank no liability is assumed for the accuracy of this guidance.

• Motueka Channel Local Knowledge (pdf 2.1 MB) 

Guidance

The Motueka Port Users Group has installed a black mussel float with a radar reflector, and several yellow buoys with black diagonal stripes.

These should not be relied upon for navigation as shoaling areas are subject to change, but they provide a useful guide to the outer channel. They should be held on your starboard (right hand) side when entering from the sea, and off your port (left hand) side when leaving the harbour. Allow plenty of room from the buoys, and watch your depth.

The Tasman District Council maintains three lateral beacons alongside the relatively stable section of channel between the main wharf and the sandspit. These are shown on chart NZ614.

Seaward of the sandspit, there are also three fairway buoys in the area placed to help vessels avoid the extensive shoals at the Motueka River delta, and to locate the general location of the Motueka bar. These buoys serve as a safe water mark for small vessels travelling in the conventional direction of buoyage (i.e clockwise around the south island). They are placed to provide guidance to vessels transiting between Motueka and either Kaiteriteri or Astrolabe Roadstead.