Opua Marina
Bay of Islands, New Zealand
Information for Cruisers
Kia Ora - Welcome to Port Opua in the Beautiful Bay of Islands - The Gateway to New Zealand.
Opua Cruisers' Guide
Port Opua is the easiest and primary port of entry into New Zealand. It is good sailing from the entrance of the Bay of Islands right to the Customs and MAF (Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry) quarantine dock.
The "Q" Dock is well marked and is located at the northern end of the outer breakwater of Opua Marina. View route >>>
Opua Marina provides the "Q" dock at no charge and free rubbish disposal to all boats entering the country. However, before arrival dispose of (or eat) all contraband food stuff at least 12 miles off shore - NZ is very strict and will confiscate honey and meats. See the MAF website for a complete list.
Upon clearance, Customs will grant offshore vessels a yellow TIE (temporary import exemption) form. Keep a copy of this form with you - many local businesses will honour the GST (Goods & Services Tax) exemption for boat related purchases.
Opua Marina is located in the beautiful Bay of Islands which offers pristine cruising grounds and numerous safe anchorages. The Marina staff has the pulse of Opua - they are available to answer your enquiries and make sure your stay in Opua is memorable.
Opua Marina has 250 berths, 37 swing moorings, 14 pile moorings and numerous work berths. Upon arrival call the Marina on VHF 12.
Ashby's Boatyard - NEW 50-tonne travel lift and a NEW trailer for hauling Catamarans up to 15 tonnes.
Special rates for longterm storage in Ashby's
Boatyard
If you want long term hardstand, ask about special rates! First 10 boats
to commit to hardstand for 4 months or more could receive additional discount.
Email: enquiries@opuamarina.co.nz.
24 hour Maritime NZ emergency numbers - VHF 16 or SSB 2182, 4125, 6215, 8291 or phone +64 4 577 8030.
Welcome ICA BBQ - Each year the ICA Rally departs from and arrives back to Opua Marina. The Marina and Ashbys Boat Yard staff celebrate the arrival of yachts back to Opua in November with a Kiwi BBQ. This year’s event will be held on Friday 18 November 2011 - sausages, salads, beer and wine - come and join the festivities.
VHF - hail on 16 switch to 06 or 08 to chat - do not use any other channel for boat to boat communications. Opua Marina and Ashby’s Boatyard monitors channel 12.
WI-FI - 3 providers - check to see which provider has the strongest signal for your location. Marina sells "Zenbu" time, all others can be accessed via pay-pal.
Port Opua Marine Park has every service
that a cruiser could dream of. The Opua Marine Park is located adjacent
to the Opua Marina. There are a wide range of companies offering marine
services, including: haulout and hardstand, boatbuilders, riggers, refrigeration,
mechanics, chandleries, laundry, car hire, painters, stainless steel fabrication,
insurance and boat brokers, storage facility, café and hairdresser.
See Opua Marine Park Map
>>> (240KB PDF file)
Opua School welcomes children (years 1 - 8) from off shore yachts – fee for enrolment and uniforms may apply.
Car Hire:
Opua Auto &
Marine
Rent-a-Dent
Nationwide
Cars For Cruisers
Car Purchases - Good cars are cheap.
No matter where you end up, you will want a car. Some city marinas boast
they are close to services so you won't need a car - NZ is a beautiful
country and you will WANT a car to see it.
Cars For Cruisers
Driving Rules - Stay on the left (there's a crazy right turn rule - only in New Zealand)
ATM/Cash Machine - Banks are in Paihia. The Opua Marina can give cash out with a service fee.
Marina Key - available from the Opua Marina - $20.00 deposit which opens the gates, laundry, rubbish and showers:
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Laundry - store away your bucket - washers and dryers galore available 24/7 with key. Located on the ground floor, south end of Marina Office building - change available in Marina Office. $4.00 wash $3.00 dry.
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Rubbish disposal - if anchoring out $5.00/bag - free recycling.
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Showers - Clean - HOT- available 24/7. ($2.00 coin)
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Book swap in marina laundry.
Water - Potable
Pump-out facilities - free on Opua Marina fuel dock. There are also pumpout facilities on each of the Wharf berths for vessels berthed there. A fee applies. Please see the Marina staff.
Diesel - fuel dock at the north end of the Marina - Eftpos, MC/VISA with PIN.
Petrol - (gasoline) by jerry can from
local fuel stations in Paihia (6K)
See Paihia
Map >>>
Oil disposal - On site at the Marina and at Ashby's Boatyard (see Marina map for location).
LPG - Caltex in Paihia (6K) across from Countdown Supermarket.
Local grocery shopping at the Opua General Store (cold beer!).
Tavern & Duty Free Liquor at the Roadrunner Tavern.
Major grocery shopping/provisioning "Countdown" in Paihia and "New World" in Kerikeri.
Storage Units - get all the cruising gear off your boat for the season and enjoy NZ in comfort! Storage units are available from the Marina office.
Phone calls from payphones are expensive - a mobile phone and calling card is your best option - it is possible to find plans as cheap as 4 cents/min for overseas calls. Phones and plans can be purchased at the 100% Store in Paihia and other stores in Kerikeri.
Mail - Yacht in transit - your boat name - Opua Marina - 28A Baffin St - Opua - Bay of Islands - NZ.
Bicycling - helmet required by law. Roads are hilly and narrow.
Banking - If you are going to be here any length of time you may want to open an account with one of the banks in Paihia and get an Eftpos card (cash card). It will minimize the foreign transaction fees on your offshore credit card - some businesses charge a 1.5% fee to use a credit card but no fee for an Eftpos card. You will most likely need an IRD (tax number) to open an account.
Weather Links
Metvuw
Met Service
Tourism in New Zealand
Tourism New
Zealand
Desination Northland
Working in New Zealand
Work
visa application
Work
visa guide
Customs & Immigration - Long term stay - there is no way around the paperwork that it takes to stay longer than the initial 3 month visa Customs approves upon arrival if holding a visa free country passport. You may be better off applying and paying for a 9 month multiple entry visa prior to entering the country - it may save time and money - see the NZ Customs and NZ Immigration websites for details:
Customs
Fact sheet >>>
Yachts
arriving from offshore guide >>>
Visa
instruction guide >>>
Visa
forms >>>
Customs
arrival forms >>>
Advance
arrival form >>>
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Biosecurity (MAF):
Yachts
>>>
Clearance
Fact Sheet >>>
Activities in Opua and surrounding area
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Daily 0800 Cruiser Net channel 77 in season.
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Daily - Shuttle bus to Paihia from 24 Oct 2011, Mon, Wed, Fri. 10am departure (sponsored by the Opua Business Association) - $4 per person each way.
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ICA Rally events 10-19 Nov 2011.
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Opua Cruising Club welcomes all off shore yachties - seasonal membership available $40.00 per person:
Club weekend cruises
Potlucks
Wednesday night racing (cruisers welcome!)
Friday night rum race
Saturday morning - kids sailing school
Sunday afternoon racing -
Opua Coastal Walk - 2 hour walk one way to Paihia - great fun
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Farmers Market Paihia - Thursday PM
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Farmers Market Kerikeri - Sunday AM
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Marina Café - open daily - Friday nights happy hour and live music 5 - 8pm
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BOI Sailing Week (cruisers division) - 24 - 28 Jan 2012
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Waitangi Treaty Grounds - Waitangi (Paihia) (birthplace of New Zealand)
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Russell Museum - Russell
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Flagstaff Hill Historical Reserve - Russell
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Haruru Falls - Haruru Falls/Paihia
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Whangaroa Race - from Bay of Islands, north to Whangaroa Harbour - Cruisers Division. 28 Jan 2012.
Recent Quotes from the Opua Marina Guest book:
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"We have enjoyed staying in Opua with all the lovely people around it feels like leaving home now. Thanks to everyone" SV Happy Monster
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"Thanks Opua Marina - great place! Yeah - you're the best!" SV Bounty Child
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"Life is just a box of fluffy ducks… thank you - you were wonderful - off to Fiji" SV Atlantia
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"Jane, Marilyn, Laura, thanks for all your help during our 2 ½ years in NZ. We have had a great time and hope to be back in the future. Keep up the good work!" SV Sukanuk
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"Many thanks to the wonderful staff in the Marina office - always so helpful and so friendly" SV Lady Kay
Opua Business Links
See Opua Marine Park Map for location of Businesses.
The Marina Café - 09 402-6999
The Marina
Shop
KAHA Hairdresser - 09 402-5050
Cater Marine
- sales@catermarine.co.nz
Seapower - sales@seapower.co.nz
Marine Electrics Opua - brett@marineelectricsopua.co.nz
Northland Spars
& Rigging - sales@sparsandrigging.com
Open Ocean
Watermakers - oceanwatermakers@yahoo.com.au
Opua Engineering - (09) 402 7131 & opuaeng@xtra.co.nz
Opua Auto & Marine - opua.auto.marine@xtra.co.nz
Sign Worx -
chris@signworx.net.nz
Opua Canvas
- opuacanvas@gmail.com
Bay Yacht Services
- steve@yachtservices.co.nz
Lowes Marine - Dave.Lowes@xtra.co.nz
Northfreeze - 09 402-7094 & northfreeze@ihug.co.nz
Wavesails
NZ Stainless - 0272 905 381
Opua Port Supply - 09 402-6913
Legge Boatbuilders - awlegge@xtra.co.nz
Ashby's Boatyard - 09 402-7483
Prior Marine - 09 402-6191
Opua Marine Painters - robert.lyn@xtra.co.nz
Opua Marine Services - opuamarineservices@xtra.co.nz
Moorings
Northland
Burnsco
Opua General Store - 09 402-7575
Opua Cruising Club - 09
402-6923
Gulf Group Marine
Brokers
NZ Customs Service
- free phone 0508-558-855
MAF
Biosecurity
Roadrunner Tavern
