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 allow for visa and mastercard. 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.

Note, from 1 September 2025, in addition to the membership fee, a joining fee of $25 will apply to new members (and existing members who have let their membership expire).

For more information and to join, click here: https://www.waikawauboatramp.co.nz/join-the-society/

Click for Current Tide Times

Community Notice Board

25th February 2026

Dredging has been completed and the ramp is back to all tide access again. We continue to recommend caution around the low tides, and larger vessels should considering allowing an hour either side of low tide for launching and retrieving.

We have installed security cameras at the reserve for additional security for users. If you have damage occur to your vehicle, ensure you let us know so we can examine the footage and we will supply footage to the Police where appropriate. You will need to provide date and time, registered vehicle and location parked (if damage occurred when parked). Just remember that we are volunteers, so review of footage may be delayed until we have time to review. We retain up to 4 weeks footage, so please don’t ask us about footage over 4 weeks old. We are in the process of installing suitable signage at the reserve.

We are still working on the live stream camera (pointing up the channel) being accessible from our website. This will enable you to check how busy the ramp / channel is, as well as weather conditions. As soon as this is in place and available, we will let you know.

Just a reminder that the licence plate recognition 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.

MEMBERS – PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE REGISTERED THE TOW VEHICLE YOU ARE USING, BEFORE YOU LAUNCH TO AVOID A $65 BREACH NOTICE.

Changing registered plate number

A number of members have been notifying us that they need to change their registered tow vehicle. Members can change their registered plate up to three times per year. You do not need to notify us, you can make this change easily in the system. To make this change, log into the system (https://vpermit.com.au/wbr/) and enter your email address and password. Then click on “Manage Vehicles” for your active permit. You can then “Edit Vehicle” and enter the new plate number and click on “Save”. This change is effective from the day you make the change. If you are having trouble, send us an email wbrs2000@gmail.com and we will assist.

Information on joining or renewing your membership is on our “Join the Society” page.

RAMP ROUTE

Please ensure you use the correct route (continue heading towards the sea when you have turned off SH 25) and travel around the formed road (yellow route below). This is a one way, two laned road – please use both lanes on 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 roads. 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 to use the correct route.