We control and service several boat ramps on the Coromandel. Some of these facilities are free and some require permits to use.
Our facilities
Some of our boat ramps in Mercury Bay as well as all of the Tairua and Pauanui areas do not require a permit and are free for the public to use.
However, facilities at Te Kouma, Coromandel, Mercury Bay (Whitianga Wharf pontoon and Cooks Beach Purangi Estuary pontoon) and Whangamata, require a permit for trialer boat parking.
Also, over the next few years, fees will be introduced at additional facilities in Kuaotunu and other parts of Whitianga once upgrades are completed.
The full list of our boat ramps and details of the permit scheme can be read below.
We also have a page on boat ramp information from Thames Coast to Colville here
Council's Free Boat Ramps
- Coromandel
Long Bay and Oamaru Bay
- Mercury Bay
Quarry Point (Kuaotunu), Opera Point (Whangapoua), Robinson Rd, Dundas St, Brophy's Beach. Beach Access: Flaxmill Bay, Cooks Beach Central, Matarangi Bluff Rd, Kuaotunu (Blackjack Boat Ramp), Opito (Skippers and Moore Cresent), Hahei (Wigmore Stream)
- Pauanui
Tangitarori Lane, Royal Billy Reserve and Pleasant Point Reserve
- Tairua
Wharf Road and The Esplanade
- Thames
Kopu Quay (Kopu), Ngarimu Bay - small boats only (Thames Coast) , Ruamahanga Bay (Thames Coast) and Waiomu (Thames Coast)
- Whangamata
Opoutere
Council's Permitted Boat Ramps
- Coromandel
Sugar Loaf (Te Kouma)
- Mercury Bay The Esplanade,
- Purangi Road (Cooks Beach - Purangi Reserve) from 1 July 2018
- Matarangi from 1 July 2018
- Whangamata
Beach Road launching area.
Click here for more information on the changes from 1 July 2018.
Permits
- A 12 month permit is available for frequent users.
- Annual permits must be fixed near the trailer winch area on the draw bar of the trailer and be clearly visible.
- An annual or daily permit that has been altered will be considered to be invalid.
- Casual users or holiday makers can purchase a day permit that can only be used for the date stated on the permit.
- An honesty system operates at the Coromandel, Whitianga Wharf and Whangamata facilities, so day trippers who go early in the morning, before outlets open (or after they close ) can pay.
A permit also entitles the current permit-holder to park in designated boat-trailer parking areas when the permits are displayed on the boat trailer (for annual permits) or in the front window of the vehicle (for daily permits).
Outlets That Sell Permits
Permits can be obtained from District Council offices at Coromandel, Whitianga and Whangamata during normal working hours or from the following outlets:
| Agency Trading Name |
Address of Premises |
| Z Whangamata |
524 Port Road, Whangamata |
| Bubba's Fishing & Outdoors |
321 Casement Road, Whangamata |
| Whangamata Marine |
401A Martyn Road, Whangamata |
| Coromandel Garage |
226 Wharf Road, Coromandel |
| Coromandel Service Station |
46 Tiki Road, Coromandel |
| Whitianga Z Service Station |
Albert St, Whitianga |
| Gull Whitianga |
Monk St, Whitianga |
| Stunned Mullet |
71A Cook Dr, Whitianga |
| Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club |
The Esplanade, Whitianga |
| Longshore Marine |
16/1 Blacksmith Lane, Whitianga |
| Cooks Beach Resort |
874 Purangi Road, Cooks Beach |
| Matarangi General Store |
195 Matarangi Drive, Matarangi |
Types of Permits
There are two types of permits available that can be used at any of the designated boat ramps (Whangamata, Whitianga and Coromandel).
Annual Permit
- Annual permits will be in three colours depending from which area you purchase them, but this is only for monitoring purposes and all coloured versions can be used in all areas.
- $90 per annum for the Coromandel Sugar Loaf Wharf (Te Kouma) permit
- $80 per annum for Whitianga Wharf, Purangi and Matarangi boat launch/trailer parking permit
- $80 per annum for the Whangamata wharf use permit
- A twelve month permit is available for frequent users.
- Display of permits: Annual permits must be fixed near the trailer winch area on the draw bar of the trailer and be clearly visible.
- An annual or daily permit that has been altered will be considered to be invalid.
Day Permit
- $10 per day for all designated boat launch/trailer parking permits (Coromandel Sugar Loaf Wharf (Te Kouma), Whitianga Wharf, Purangi, Matarangi, Whangamata)
- Casual users or holiday makers can purchase a day permit that can only be used for the date stated on the permit.
- Day permits must be prominently displayed and be clearly visible at all times through the vehicle front windscreen.
Community Facilities
There are also many other boat ramps provided by various clubs and community groups including: