Boating facilities

Marinas

Evans Bay
Custodian: Tessa Sievers T 021 864 196

Clyde Quay Boat Harbour
Custodian: Tessa Sievers T 021 864 196

Chaffers Marina
Manager: Saiful Ismail T 04 382 9300

Seaview
Manager: Tim Lidgard  T 04 568 3736

Mana Marina Trust
Manager: Glynne Cook T 04 233 0091, 027 332 0306

Pole moorings

Porirua/Onepoto
John McKenzie T 027 753 4532

As of 1 July 2019, GWRC introduced a swing mooring licence system to replace the previous Resource Consent process.

The licences are valid for ten years and there is a “once off application fee” for new moorings of $250.00 and an annual admin fee of $180, which are both payable in advance. 

Existing mooring holders will not be required to pay the application fee. 

Current Resource Consents will be honoured until their expiry date. 

This new initiative is being implemented to create efficiencies.

• No upfront resource consent fee of $724.50 as well as the current annual licence fee of $80
• Instead one annual fee of $180
• Easier to understand/less paper work
• Only pay for the duration of stay (less than 10 years)

Please free to email us at harbours@gw.govt.nz if you have any other queries.

Subject to conditions which are found in the  application form (PDF 1.5 MB) .

If you wish to purchase an existing mooring, view the listings in the boating section of Trade Me.

You may also find moorings advertised on the local boating clubs noticeboards.

Swing mooring licence transfer process

If you intend to transfer the ownership of an existing swing mooring licence or resource consent, the owner needs to complete an  application for a swing mooring licence (PDF 1.3 MB)  and the old owner needs to complete a surrender form (PDF 108 KB) , once the application is completed, submitted and approved by the Harbourmaster for the vessel type and intended use, the new owner will be sent their new swing mooring licence and the surrender form from the original owner be processed.

There is no cost to transfer existing swing mooring licencess. There are no guidelines on the sale of swing moorings, the price is something agreed upon by both the seller and buyer. No transfer of money should take place until the new swing mooring licence and holder has been approved by the Harbourmaster.

If you wish to place a new mooring, you will need to go through the Swing Mooring Licence process. To apply for a licence, please complete the application form (PDF 1.3 MB)  and contact GW Harbours on 04 830 4160 during office hours.

Swing mooring construction

Read our recommendations for mooring construction (PDF 928 KB) , or contact us for more information. You either need to lay this equipment yourself or contract someone to do it for you.

To apply for a licence, please complete the Swing Mooring application forms and deposit the appropriate fees found on the application form.

Swing mooring inspections

The swing mooring’s resource consent requires that the swing mooring equipment (mooring chain, buoy and joining shackles etc) is to be maintained in a safe and efficient condition and be inspected at least every two years. Most swing moorings that fail have not been maintained adequately.

Since 1 July 2006, mooring inspections need to be carried out by a Council approved mooring inspector.

Since 21 July 2021 all moorings must have their top rope, top chain and secondary chain brought to the surface for inspection, unless approved by the Harbourmaster in writing.

Council approved mooring inspector list

To assist with this we have created an  inspection sheet (PDF 67 KB)  for moorings. This will ensure all our contact details are up to date as well as a record that all parts of the mooring have been inspected.

Swing moorings may only be sub-leased subject to Greater Wellington Regional Council approval. Please contact GW Harbours first to confirm that the new boat intended to go on the swing mooring is not too big for the site or the existing swing mooring equipment.

If you have a boat on your swing mooring that is not the vessel shown on your swing mooring account, please advise the new details so that we can update our records.

Also, your mooring needs to clearly show the allocated mooring buoy, which is numbered.

If your contact details change, please contact GW Harbours on 04 830 4160 during office hours or email us.

Sometimes we need to contact swing mooring owners urgently, particularly when a boat breaks free and has gone ashore. Valuable time and money (often yours) can be lost if we do not have your correct contact details.

If you no longer want your mooring there are two options. Find someone who would like the mooring either by advertising or contact us as we may have someone interested or surrender the mooring. To surrender the mooring you need to remove the mooring from the water and complete the surrender of permit form (PDF 108 KB) .

Paraparaumu Beach

Paraparaumu Beach is a sandy-beach launching area. Difficult at any state of the tide and exposed to the prevailing winds. There is some parking available. The Kapiti Boating club operates a tractor for launching and retrieving, contact the Club T 04 298 5622 for more information.

Waikanae Beach

Waikanae Beach is a sandy-beach launching area. Difficult at any state of the tide and in northerly winds. There is some parking available. The Waikanae Boating club operates a tractor for launching and retrieving, contact the Club T 04 293 6885 for more information .

Plimmerton Boating Club

Plimmerton Boating Club ramp is a concrete ramp. There are two ramps, one for northerlies and one for southerlies. There is some parking is available.

These ramps are provided by the Plimmerton Boating Club for their members' use. You can contact the manager on 04 233 1592.

Mana Marina

Mana Marina ramp is a concrete ramp. Suitable in all tides and wind, with some parking available.

This ramp is provided by Mana Cruising Club for their members' use. You can contact the manager Glynne Cook on 04 233 0091 or 027 332 0306.

Paremata Bridge

Paremata Bridge is a sandy-beach launching area. Difficult at low tide, with limited parking available.

This is a public facility maintained by the Porirua City Council.

Grays Road water ski lane

This is a beach launching area. Difficult at low tide and in southerly winds with limited parking available.

Browns Bay

Browns Bay is a sandy-beach launching area. Difficult at low tide and in northerly winds with very little parking available.

Onepoto Ramp

Onepoto Ramp is a concrete ramp. Difficult at low tide but unaffected by wind and with some parking available.

Onepoto Beach

Onepoto Beach is a beach launching area adjacent to the Wellington Powerboat Club. Difficult at low tide but unaffected by wind and with limited parking available.

Titahi Bay (north and south)

Titahi Bay is a sandy-beach launching area. Difficult at low tide but unaffected by wind and with some parking available. Be careful of getting your wheels stuck with an incoming tide.

Avoid the central part of the beach as it is illegal to drive or park on the fossil forest buried under the sand.

Pukerua Bay

Pukerua Bay is a small steep concrete ramp best suited for smaller boats. Affected by northerly winds and with limited parking.

Castlepoint

Castlepoint is a sandy-spit sheltered in most conditions. Difficult at any state of the tide. There is some parking available. Be aware of the state of the tide and of getting your vehicle stuck in the sand.

Riversdale

Riversdale Beach is a sandy-beach launching area. Difficult at any state of the tide and in northerly winds. There is some parking available.

Ngawi

Ngawai is a stone beach launching into a small exposed bay, best suited to 4wd or tractor. There is some parking available.

Owhiro Bay

Owihiro Bay ramp is a concrete ramp. Difficult in northerly winds and at low tide. Beware of shallow areas near the ramp. Some parking is available. This is a Wellington City Council facility.

Tarakena Bay

Tarakena Bay ramp is a concrete ramp. Difficult in southerly winds and at low tide. Some parking is available and it is important to park clear of the ramp because it is used by the Wellington Airport Crash Boat in emergencies and for training.

Dorrie Leslie Park 

Dorrie Leslie ramp, in Lyall Bay opposite Hungerford Road in Lyall Bay is a small conrete ramp.  There is limited parking and it has exposed in strong southerliy conditions.

Evans Bay

Evans Bay ramp is a concrete ramp. Difficult at low tide, but generally unaffected by wind and with ample parking available. A Wellington City Council facility.

Seatoun Beach

Next to a small carpark and concrete ramp better suited to smaller boats, reasonably sheltered in most conditions.

Seaview Marina

Seaview Marina ramp is a wide concrete ramp. Suitable in all tides and winds and has ample parking available. There is a charge to use this ramp. Contact Seaview Marina for details.

Lowry Bay

Lowry Bay ramp is a narrow and steep concrete ramp. Better suited to small boats. Difficult in northerly winds, but suitable in all tides with ample parking available.

Sladden Park

 Sladden Park ramp is a sheltered concrete ramp.  The park is accessed of Braken Street in Petone.  Once in the water you have to travel sdown the Hutt river to get to the harbour, so keep your speed under 5 knots and be aware of debris in the river.  Not suitable for trailer sailers as you have to get under the Waione Street bridge.

Makara Beach

A concrete ramp at the north end of the beach that launches into the river, ramp is sometimes covered with gravel. Ramp is sheltered but river mouth may not be, best for smaller craft.