Ahumoana

Marine and boating

Council manages a number of marine and boating facilities across the city, for the public and the local marine industry to use.

Updates

19 May 2026 update: Pilot Bay boat ramp

The Pilot Bay boat ramp at the base of Mauao will be reopened by early June following closure after the Mauao Landslides. Geotechnical experts have advised that the slip hazard has been reduced to an acceptable level and the public can now use the boat ramp. The whole area continues to be monitored by geotechnical experts. Users of the Pilot Bay boat ramp will need to be aware that the boat ramp and car park area may be closed at short notice during a Level 3 TARP response, such as following a seismic event or adverse weather, or periodically to support operational works associated with Mauao remediation.

Due to the risk of landslip and the associated maritime safety risks around Mauao/Mount Maunganui, a 30-metre exclusion zone put in place by the Bay of Plenty Regional Harbourmaster remains. The exclusion zone applies to all vessels and people and is 30 metres from the base/shore of Mauao.

Sulphur Point boat parking

The Sulphur Point boat parking area has two options available:

7m to 9m boat park spaces - waitlist is closed.
10m boat park spaces - waitlist open

Apply for a 10m space by emailing leasing@tauranga.govt.nz with your name, boat name, boat/trailer length and contact phone number.

More information on Sulphur Point boat park

Boat ramps

We provide seven public boat ramps around the city. There is no charge to launch boats at any of our boat ramps and bookings aren't required.

Sulphur Point - Marine Park four lane ramp - 60 Cross Road - This ramp is suitable for all types of trailer boats and is accessible in all tides. Other facilities: Pontoons; parking. Maximum vessel length 8m and maximum vessel displacement 4tonnes.
Sulphur Point - Marine Park six lane ramp - 58 Cross Road - this ramp is suitable for all types of trailer boats and is accessible in all tides. Other facilities: pontoons, parking; toilets. Maximum vessel length 8m and maximum vessel displacement 4tonnes.
Pilot Bay ramp - The Mall, Pilot Bay, Mount Maunganui - closed until further notice - this ramp is suitable for all types of trailer boats and is accessible in all tides. Other facilities: very limited parking, toilets.
Whareroa ramp/Harbour Bridge boat ramp, Taiaho Place, Mount Maunganui - this ramp is suitable for all types of trailer boats (subject to head room) and is accessible in all tides. Other facilities: pontoons, jetty, parking. Maximum vessel length 8m and maximum vessel displacement 4tonnes. Whareroa boat ramp and carpark is open during the summer from 4am to 9pm, and during the winter from 5am to 7pm.
Kulim Park ramp - Kulim Avenue, Bureta - this ramp is suitable for small trailer boats and is accessible at high tides. Other facilities: parking.
Fergusson Park ramp, Tilby Drive, Matua - this ramp is suitable for small trailer boats and is accessible at high tides (ramp useable approximately three hours either side of high tide). Other facilities: parking, toilets. Maximum vessel length 4m and maximum vessel weight 2tonnes. Maximum vehicle/vessel combined weight 4tonne.
6th Avenue ramp - this ramp is suitable for small trailer boats and is accessible at high tides. Other facilities: limited parking.

Sulphur point boat ramp park

The Sulphur Point boat park is a storage facility with the capacity for 76 boats and provides a great opportunity to store your boat securely in a facility close to the boat ramps.

Facilities include:

Security lighting, fencing, CCTV surveillance, 24 hour access, individual swipe tags
Chip sealed, spaces marked and numbered
Dedicated washbay of 8m x 8m, chemical toilet dump station, recycling bins
Close to boat ramps
Regular maintenance of all facilities

View marine facilities fees

Sulphur point boat park sales plan (481kb pdf)

Terms of Trade document (193kb pdf)

Pilot Bay Dinghy racks

These racks are provided by Tauranga City Council for the storage of dinghies and other small watercraft on a first-come, first-served basis.

Council monitors rack use and may remove any abandoned, unused or unseaworthy watercraft in accordance with clause 7.1 of the Beaches Bylaw, and clause 20.1(b) of the Street Use and Public Places Bylaw.

Council accepts no responsibility for loss, theft or damage to any dinghy/watercraft stored on these racks.

Enquiries relating to vessels or moorings in Pilot Bay are to be referred to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

Wharves and commercial fishing facilities

Council provides a number of facilities across the city to support the fishing and aquaculture industries. These facilities range from public wharves offering short- or long-term berthage, through to areas for offloading of catch and loading of ice.

Facilities for commercial fishing vessels (1.4mb pdf)

Marine facility rules (262kb pdf)

Berthage agreement (215kb pdf)

Tauranga Marine Precinct

The Marine Precinct was established in 2015, which was to help grow the region’s commercial marine sector and create significant economic benefits for the local community. However the precinct never achieved its full potential and ratepayers were funding ongoing operating losses in the order of $1.5 million a year. As a result the Marine Precinct was sold in 2025 after a High Court judgment dismissed an application for an interim injunction to prevent the completion of the sale process. Read the media release: Marine Precinct contract settlement completed.

Marine Precinct LGOIMA responses

Marine Precinct court judgement (912kb pdf)

Marine Precinct court decision on the stay request post court judgement (170kb pdf)