Port Tarakohe Ramp Review

A review of the boat ramp at Port Tarakohe - Golden Bay's Gateway

Port Tarakohe is the gateway to Golden Bay. Located on the western entrance of Cook Strait, on the northwest corner of the South Island, it is a top-rated destination for anglers, boaties, and other recreational users.

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A two-lane boat ramp, accessible in all weather and tides, provides access to Golden Bay, Abel Tasman, and the west coast. A floating pontoon helps you get on and off your boat safely, and although the ramp is not concrete, the hard-packed gravel is an excellent surface for launching and retrieving.

Over summer, this boat ramp gets well used, and a large area at the top of the ramp provides plenty of parking for all but the busiest of days.

The Golden Bay Cement Company developed Port Tarakohe over 100 years ago to ship bulk cement from its adjacent quarry, but the Tasman District Council now owns the facilities. There have been several proposals to upgrade the port area to assist with expansion and economic growth, but this will come at a high cost, and the project has yet to receive funding.

The port is used for various applications, including aquaculture, commercial fishing, freight, tourism, and recreational boating. Although some of the wharves are now quite old, there are some excellent facilities. Two rock breakwaters with a relatively narrow entrance afford some protection from large waves entering the port. There are marina berths on floating pontoons in the harbour used for commercial and recreational vessels.

Boat launch fees are $10 per launch, and the ramp is accessed via a barrier arm. Until March 2022, you had to have the exact change in either coins or notes, but a new access system has recently been installed, which is cashless and operates by Tap-n-Go. Alternatively, you can purchase an annual pass for $150 (plus $10 per access card).

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There is a two-bay washdown area for boats outside the barrier arm. It costs $2 per use but is worth every cent. It is a high-pressure, high-volume fire hose, great for cleaning the boat up at the end of a trip. A small garden hose is also provided for flushing out motors, so all the bases are covered.

There are no rubbish bins, so you need to take that home with you at the end of the day.

Diesel is available at the commercial wharf, but the nearest fuel is available in Takaka for those boaties that require petrol. The township has everything you need, including bait and ice, so if you plan a multi-day adventure, you will not run short of supplies.

The Pohara Beach Top 10 Holiday Park is a beautiful place to stay if you plan a few days of exploring or fishing in Golden Bay, and is located five minutes from the boat ramp. They have exceptional facilities for the keen fisho, including plenty of boat parking, filleting benches, and freezers for bait, and the accommodation is also excellent.

And for those of you who do not want to fish every day, there are many places to explore across the Golden Bay region. If you have not visited this part of the country, it is a must-do!


July 2022
New Zealand Fishing News Magazine.
Copyright: NZ Fishing Media Ltd.
Re-publishing elsewhere is prohibited

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