Parking: Situated off Baffin Street, Opua (a five-minute drive south of Paihia near where the Russell ferry departs), the ramp has plenty of immediate trailer parking, as well as more off-street spaces during the busier periods.

Facilities: It is right in the heart of the marine precinct with all the related services and chandlery outlets – ATM, showers, toilets, the Marina Café and the Opua Cruising Club, and a general store (next to the ferry ramp).

The ramp does give access to open water via the marina itself where a strict ‘no-wake’ protocol is in place and enforced.

The only issue with using this ramp is there is limited space, especially at high tide, to tie your vessel off when going to get or park your vehicle. There is more space to the southern side, but this is often crowded by dinghies from visiting vessels and others out on the swing moorings. At times the oyster barge will load/unload at the ramp, and the locals tell me that this can take up its whole width for a period.

Fuel: There is only diesel available at the marina’s fuel jetty. The nearest on-water petrol option is the Russell wharf.

For those towing larger trailerboats, the Caltex service station in Paihia provides the most accessible petrol bowsers in the area.

VHF/Weather services: There are several radio/weather options in the Bay of Islands – including a private radio station, Maritime NZ and Coastguard.

The emergency channel is VHF16 with the Coastguard operating on Ch 4. 

Russell Radio ZMH310 offers coverage from Tutukaka in the south up to Doubtless Bay in the north and 50nm seaward.

Weather updates are available via Metphone Weather 0900 999 98 with VHF weather via Maritime NZ broadcast on Ch. 16 first, repeated on the local working channel. The Coastguard Nowcasting is on Ch. 19 for the Bay of Islands region.

Fishing: Recognised as a world class fishing destination, the resilience of the Bay of Island’s marine habitat continues to provide both local and international fishers with memorable fishing experiences. 

Famous angler and author Zane Grey put the region on the map internationally in the 1920’s with his gamefishing exploits recorded in best sellers such as Tales of an Anglers Eldorado – NZ, the first of three texts written ‘down under’. His former base at Otehi Bay, Urupukakpuka Island, is a popular spot for visitors today.

The bay is sheltered from most weather by the extensive Cape Brett peninsular and countless islands. The result is a winter playground for boaties with options a-plenty in all but the most severe of northerly gales.

A world renowned striped marlin fishery takes up residence off-shore in late summer through to autumn. At the same time, a tuna fishery, especially albacore and skipjack tuna, can be accessed even by small boats and kayaks.

A year-round inshore snapper fishery peaks during spring and early summer, kicking back in from early autumn through the winter months.

Hapuku and tarakihi can be targeted from mid-winter until high summer. Kingfish and kahawai fishing is on and off for much of the year but peaks in late summer and autumn.

Apart from a seasonal restriction on scallops, both oysters and mussels are available all year round, and are at their very best during late spring.

The prevailing wind direction for the region is south-westerly. However, during high summer, prolonged periods of east-nor-east may also occur. This latter cycle is most often associated with inclement weather. Open sea conditions may be unsafe, if not unfishable.

Wind out of the northerly quarter is most often NW and generally short-lived. The Kerikeri inlet right out to the Ninepin and including the Mangonui (aka the Te Puna inlet) are the safest bets. Even the Black Rocks and the lee side of the main islands are worth a look, but especially Moturoa Island which should not be left out.

Weather from the easterly quarter most often settles in as nor-east. Because there are few opportunities to find cover when it blows from the east, an easterly is often regarded as a good indication to stay home. 

Any time the wind blows off-shore is good for fishing. A sou-west is the dominant wind of the region and during high summer east coasters generally fail to recognise that it is in fact a sea breeze arising from the Tasman. This is why a summer sou-westerly always collapses at the end of the day, which is great for dusk and evening fishing. 

Diving: The Bay of Islands is the access point for two great wreck dives – the Rainbow Warrior’s final resting place at the Cavalli Islands, north of the BoI, and the former HMNZS Canterbury at Deep Water Cove just inside Cape Brett.

Crayfish, mussels and scallops can be found throughout the bay.