Waikawau Boat Ramp

Welcome to the Waikawau Boat Ramp Society

The Waikawau Boat ramp is located 30 minutes north of Thames on the Thames to Coromandel Coast road.

Access to the Firth of Thames via a double concrete ramp. The river is dredged on a regular basis to allow access for boats up to 5 metres at, or close to, low tide. Larger boats should allow an hour on either side of the tide.

The ramp is a short distance up the river providing safe protected launching and retrieving from the prevailing westerly wind.

The Waikawau mussel farms are around 7 minutes from the mouth of the river providing excellent fishing a short distance from land.

The ramp is used by up to 350 boats a day over the summer holidays so be prepared to be patient and considerate of others on busy days. The ramp is operated by an incorporated society and is self funding via membership fees and launching fees.

Launch Fee

Waikawau boat ramp offers two payment options for launching and retrieving at Waikawau, an annual membership or a boat ramp day pass (casual user). One of these options must be in place prior to launching or retrieving at Waikawau to avoid a $65 breach notice.

Daily charges

Non-Members: $15.00 a day

Click here to purchase a boat ramp day pass https://parkeasyqr.com/?mid=WBR_VRTLWB01-NZ

Note the day pass is only valid on the day of purchase, it cannot be pre-purchased for a later date.

Day passes can also be purchased at the ramp by scanning the QR code on the signs and making payment, but you will need data on your phone for this to work. Payment options currently only allow for visa and mastercard, but we are hoping to add a direct credit option shortly. Cash is no longer accepted at Waikawau Boat Ramp.

Members: Annual members do not pay a daily launch fee

Membership Fee: $50.00 per year, membership based on tow vehicle registration

To join, click here: https://www.waikawauboatramp.co.nz/join-the-society/

Click for Current Tide Times

Community Notice Board

12 May 2025

DREDGING UNDER WAY. PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHEN USING THE CHANNEL WHEN THE DIGGERS ARE TIDYING UP THE CHANNEL. PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH THE DIGGERS AND ENSURE THEY KNOW WHERE YOU ARE!!!

1 May 2025

CAUTION

The weather gods have not been kind and the heavy rain over the past few days has brought a lot of material down the river and dumped it in the channel entrance. Basically there is a sand bar across the channel just before the light marker. As such, we are advising people to allow 3 hours either side of low tide for launching and retrieving and to exercise caution. Diggers are booked to come and clear it from the 12th May, so if using the ramp before then, please take care.

Just a reminder that the new system is live and breach notices are being issued to vehicles launching and retrieving without having an active membership or paying for a day pass PRIOR TO LAUNCHING OR RETRIEVING.

All membership renewal emails were sent out in December. If you were a member last year and you haven’t seen your renewal email, please check your spam / junk folder. If you still don’t have it, please email us wbrs2000@gmail.com to receive your renewal notification. We have posted out some renewal notices to members who haven’t provided email addresses. If you get one of these and you have an email address, please send us an email before proceeding with your membership.

NEW MEMBERS

New members are now able to join by going to our “join the society” web page.

NEW RAMP ROUTE

Those who have been up to the ramp may have noticed the change to the route to the ramp. Please ensure you use the new access (continue heading towards the sea when you have turned off SH 25) and travel around the newly formed road (yellow route below). This is a one way, two laned road to allow for busy days. The exit from the ramp is the same as it always has been (red route below). Please take care when parking your vehicles that you don’t encroach on the new road. Parking is still available alongside the river, but not beside or in front of the container. If you see people using the old route, please encourage them (nicely) to use the new route.