Not so long ago, heading out on the water meant relying on local knowledge, experience, nautical charts and printed tide tables, backed up by whatever updates you could gather over the VHF. These remain essential skills for any boatie—nothing replaces good seamanship. But today’s digital tools add an extra layer of confidence, convenience, and safety, giving you real‑time information at your fingertips.

Here are four of the most useful New Zealand–specific apps helping boaties plan smarter trips, stay safer, and protect our marine environment.

Cruise Guide

The Cruise Guide provides one of the most complete digital references to the Marlborough Sounds.

Key features:

• Information on bays, anchorages, beaches, marinas, moorings, and facilities
• Offline maps, nautical charts, and satellite imagery
• Over 60 tide prediction locations
• Navigation warnings, hazards, boat ramps and water‑ski lanes
• Community feedback moderated by local experts

Available free on Apple and Android, it’s a valuable on‑the‑water guide—but not a substitute for official navigation charts.

Android link – Cruise Guide for Marlborough – Apps on Google Play

Apple link –  ‎Cruise Guide for Marlborough App – App Store

BoatiesNZ

Built by McLaren Brown Publishing, BoatiesNZ is designed specifically for Kiwi boaties.

What it includes:

• Latest tide information
• Fishing facts and nationwide marine directory
• Weather and VHF channels
• Marina and marine service listings
• Interactive maps
• Marine events and updates

It’s a handy, all‑in‑one pocket reference for everyday boating.

Android link – boatiesnz – Apps on Google Play

Apple link – ‎boatiesnz App – App Store

NZ Fishing Rules

Published by MPI, the NZ Fishing Rules app helps recreational fishers stay compliant.

Features include:

• Fish species identification by image
• Minimum legal sizes, daily limits, and regional bag limits
• Short videos on correct fish release and crayfish measurement
• Temporary closures and notifications
• Works offline once downloaded
• A must‑have for anyone gathering kaimoana.

Android link –NZ Fishing Rules – Apps on Google Play

Apple link – ‎NZ Fishing Rules App – App Store

Coastguard App (Boaties Best Mate)

The Coastguard app—often called Boaties Best Mate—is one of the most important safety tools on board.

It provides:

• Trip reporting
• Marine weather conditions
• Tide times
• VHF channels
• Ability to save favourite fishing spots

As the official NZ Coastguard app, it’s designed to keep you safe and connected wherever you’re heading.

Android link – boatiesnz – Apps on Google Play

Apple link – ‎Coastguard Tautiaki Moana App – App Store