The Whakatane boat ramp is located near the Whakatane River mouth at the Whakatane Harbour. The Whakatane boat ramp offers a trailer park area, toilets, fish waste station and a boat wash. The Whakatane River serves as a gateway to Motuhora Whale Island and Whakaari / White Island. To ensure safe crossing of the Whakatane Bar the Whakatane Coastguard encourages you to check the weather and call the Whakatane Coastguard when leaving.

The fish waste station has steel tops for filleting your fish and square bins dedicated to fish waste. The bins are emptied daily. The round bins next to the fish waste bins are for general rubbish.

This service provides boat owners with a convenient way to clean their boats and trailers, protecting them and our roads from saltwater corrosion.

This boat wash is an approved Biosecurity New Zealand wash station, set up to help stop the spread of the invasive freshwater clam Corbicula.

This means boat users travelling from the Eastern Bay of Plenty have a closer option, saving travel time before heading to Lake Ōkataina or the Te Arawa lakes.

What you need to do

• If your boat or watercraft has been in the Waikato River in the past 30 days, it must be washed at a designated wash station and you must carry proof of cleaning before entering any of the 14 Te Arawa lakes.
• To enter Lake Ōkataina, all craft must be washed at a designated wash station and show proof of cleaning to receive a PIN code for lake access.

Corbicula is a fast-spreading freshwater clam that can easily hitch a ride on boats and water gear. Once established, it is extremely difficult to remove and can cause serious damage to lakes and rivers.

Protecting our waterways takes a team effort. Clean, check, dry – every time before you move between waterways.

For more information please visit Rules to stop the spread of Corbicula | NZ Government

Call Whakatane coastguard on 07 308 7110 or click here to send them an email