Havelock boat ramp, the gateway to Pelorus Sound, is reviewed...

Havelock is the greenshell mussel capital of the world and the gateway to Pelorus Sound. It’s located at the head of Pelorus Sound, in the Marlborough Sounds, and provides access to many recreational activities. The Pelorus Sound extends approximately 55km from Havelock to the Cook Strait.

Havelock is a tourist destination where people enjoy tours, cruises, boat charters, mussel cruises, fishing trips, walking tracks, hiking, biking, and sea kayaking. There is some great fishing on offer within Pelorus Sound itself, and it is also a great access point to the Cook Strait and the very productive fishing grounds there.

To get to Havelock, it is approximately 60 minutes from Nelson, 30 minutes from Blenheim, or 50 minutes from Picton. The facilities for trailer boats at Havelock are exceptional; there is a two-lane launching ramp with plenty of parking, floating jetties, a great washdown area with plenty of water pressure, as well as a large rubbish and recycling area for all types of waste. There is also a very clean and tidy toilet complex which contains coin-operated laundry and showers.

Very clean and tidy toilet facilities with coin-operated laundry and showers are on-site.

A pay and display system is in place for launching and parking. Launch fees are not cheap, but you shouldn’t mind paying for such good facilities. A single launch-and-retrieve and parking for one day costs $17, and any additional day of parking for the vehicle and trailer is $11 per day. There are 24-hour CCTV and security patrols, so there need not be any concerns if you stay away for multiple days.

The car park is large; however, over summer, there is overflow parking in the park next to the boat ramp available, which significantly increases the parking and eases the pressure on finding a park.

There is a wealth of trailer parking at Havelock Boat Ramp.

Fuel is available on the water located at the Havelock Marina, providing both petrol and diesel, and you can pay via NPD fuel card, EFTPOS, or credit card. The Havelock Marina has 340 berths and caters to vessels from 10 to 30 metres.

When you launch from Havelock, you need to make sure you are aware of the channel that leads you out into the Pelorus Sound. It is a narrow channel with shallow mud banks on either side, but if you follow the channel markers and your chart plotter, as well as maintain the 8-knot speed limit, you will be safe.

There is a great café and bar located right next to the boat ramp – aptly named the ‘Slip Inn’. It is a great place for locals and visitors to watch boats come and go while a meal is enjoyed, and on busy days can provide some great entertainment.

So, if you have not visited Havelock or have not done so for many years, maybe this has sparked some interest, and you can put it on your bucket list for this summer. You will not be disappointed at what is on offer in this beautiful part of our country.

January 2023 - Dan Govier
New Zealand Fishing News Magazine.
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