We cater for trailer boats at all three marinas with a number of high-quality boat ramps, long and short-term parking, multiple boat wash-down areas, rubbish and recycling provisions, and tidy ablution blocks.
Read on for further information for Summer and for marina-specific information below
Summer is a lively time in our marinas – especially over the school holidays and festive period. The days leading up to Christmas and also New Years’ Eve can be particularly busy, so it’s a good idea to plan your trip to the marina ahead of time to ensure you can get out on the water as efficiently as possible!
Please assist our marina teams in making your time spent in the marina as smooth and enjoyable as possible by checking the guidelines for launching and parking below. Please remember that summer holidays are a peak time and our staff are busy and doing their best, please follow their advice while in the marinas.
Our facilities are only available for car, or car and boat trailer parking, however if you are a permanent berth holder and require parking for a campervan, please enquire at the marina office, where our friendly team will make best endeavours to find you a suitable park.
Paying for your launching & parking
For a daily fee you can launch and park in Waikawa, Picton or Havelock marinas, and enjoy the associated facilities. You can use the “Pay by Plate” machines at each marina, or use the “pay my park” app (further information below) or purchase an annual launching pass at the marina offices. These entitle you to the use of the launching ramp to launch and retrieve as well as use the associated facilities for trailer boats.
| Launching and Parking Fees | |
| Launch/Retrieve/1 Day Parking | $21.00 |
| Launch/Retrieve Only | $14.00 |
| Vehicle Parking – Daily Rate | $7.00 |
| Vehicle & Trailer Parking – Daily Rate | $14.00 |
Launching Ramp Etiquette
We have a page here which goes through etiquette for the launching ramp in full, however the main points to remember are:
- Please keep children off the launching ramp. Vehicles reversing cannot see children on the ramp.
- Ensure your boating passengers wait on the jetty or on the walkway – not on the ramp.
- Take extra caution walking on the ramps as they can be slippery
- Boats being retrieved have right of way over boats being launched
Tying up at the launching ramp
A friendly reminder that tying up at the launching ramps is only permitted for while you are parking or retrieving your vehicle. Please don’t leave your vessel for longer periods at the ramp. To respect the needs of everyone on the ramp, please keep things flowing and don’t hold others up by tying up your vessel for long periods and therefore interrupting the flow.
Please also take the time to load your vessel prior to arriving at the ramp, so that when you’re in, you’re ready to go and not holding up the queue!
Short stays of berthage in the marina
Should you require a tie-up for a longer period, in Picton you can use the Visitors jetty or Breastworks area under the coathanger, please note these short stays require an additional fee. Payment needs to be made at Beachcomber Offices or Marina customer Service Centre, across the coathanger bridge.
In Waikawa you can call the marina office and request a casual berth, and in Havelock you can use the Visitors Jetty at end of C pier in Havelock Marina or call the Havelock Marina Manager to book a berth.
Motor Vehicle Register
At times, we may need to look up a registration plate on the NZTA / Waka Kotahi vehicle registration database. If you’re registered on this, we may need to obtain your name and address to let you know of any security or operational issue that may affect your vehicle while it is in the marina. Any person can notify the Registrar that they do not wish to have their name(s) and address(es) made available under an authorisation.
Trailer Boats at Picton Marina
Picton marina has modern facilities with a 4-bay launching ramp, and parking for 1-day, 3-day, or up to 3-week stays.
If you wish to park your vehicle and trailer longer than 3-weeks, there may be availability at the Waikawa Marina long-term overflow parking, and this is subject to availability.
Memorial Park which is adjacent to Picton Marina, is available for parking this summer following consultation with the Picton community and by agreement with Marlborough District Council. Please respect this community space which is provided for marina users over peak times by the Picton community.
Parking Notes for Picton Marina – Summer
- Half of Memorial Park will be line marked and available for car & trailer parking only from 22nd December to 23st January (and the subsequent week-ends to Waitangi if required)
- At the peak time there will be an additional portion of memorial park available
- Do not unhook your trailer and leave in Memorial park or any overflow areas without the express authorisation of a marina manager. If for any reason you need to unhook your trailer, please ensure the sticker is affixed to the trailer, or the trailer registration number is entered into the paymypark system to avoid clamping.
Regular monitoring will happen over summer, so please ensure your parking stickers / pay by plate information is current at all times. Parking zones are highlighted in the areas below:
Waikawa Marina Trailer Boats and Parking
At Waikawa, there is a three-lane launching ramp with ample parking, and multiple wash down facilities including coin operated showers.
There is also a large overflow parking area which is used for car & trailer parking longer than 3-days. Please do not unhook your trailer and leave in the overflow areas without the express authorisation of a marina manager. If for any reason you need to unhook your trailer, please ensure the sticker is affixed to the trailer, or the trailer registration number is entered into the paymypark system to avoid clamping.
This season, we will also make an area of the Hardstand (where our travel lift operates in the Waikawa Marine Centre) available from 24 December to 3 January for day stays only.
If you have a very large trailer, or one with a double axel, please park at the Waikawa overflow park.
Boatshed & Compound tenants
- Return your trailers to your shed or compound space when you have launched.
- If possible, please leave your vehicle there too.
- If your vehicle won’t fit or you have mobility issues, you are very welcome to use any non-berth holder car parking space in the marina
Waikawa Shuttle
In Waikawa, we provide a courtesy shuttle service at peak times to allow you to quickly park your trailer and get back to your boat and out on the water. This is to help the flow of traffic at the ramp. The shuttle services the overflow parking area, boatsheds and compounds D and C at Waikawa.
Between 24th December to the 8th of January, the shuttle will operate 7-days a week from 9am to 5pm, and then “as and when required” from the 9th January – a notice board will be on display at the launching ramp to let you know when it’s running.
Parking Map
Havelock Marina Trailer Boats and Parking
Havelock Memorial Park will be available as an overflow area for parking up to the 12th February. Please don’t unhook your trailer and leave it in the overflow without the express authorisation of marina manager.
Boatshed & Compound tenants
- Return your trailers to your shed or compound space when you have launched.
- If possible, please leave your vehicle there too.
- If your vehicle won’t fit or you have mobility issues, you are very welcome to use any non-berth holder car parking space in the marina
Parking Map
Pay my Park App
We still have the “pay by plate” machines in the marinas, however now there is also another option.
To take (most of!) the stress out of parking this season at our marinas, we now have the “Pay my Park” app available. You can pay for your launching and parking at the marinas, when installed, just select “Marlborough Sounds Marinas” from the location at the top.
Please note that paying online through this app does not guarantee a reservation. It can’t guarantee you the best spot or reverse your trailer for you at the ramp, but if you download the app and enter your licence plate, you have the ability to pay online, and also to extend your stay remotely if you end up staying out on your boat longer than intended!