Riverside Drive Marina – Whangarei's Working Marina Haulout and Hardstand

Riverside Drive Marina Haulout and Hardstand

Riverside Drive Marina is a hardstand, haul out, complete working marina nestled in the sheltered waters of the Hātea River just minutes from downtown Whangārei. Riverside Drive Marina has been operating the since 1976. Blending know how and experience together, the team offer a comfortable, affordable home base for your stay in New Zealand. Reservations are accepted for those wanting to plan ahead.

Convenient on site marine services, floating berths, numerous marina amenities, and a short walk to town make the decision to stay at RDM an easy choice. For many yachties, it becomes a place to make boat repairs and re-energize before continuing their journey.

A word of caution though, some have found the peaceful lifestyle at Riverside Drive Marina and the stunning beauty of New Zealand a hard place to leave.

Open Bascule Bridge

To reach us you will need to pass under the opening bridge – Te Matau ā Pohe. Translated as ‘The fishhook of Pohe’ after the Maori chief who welcomed the first English settlers to Whangārei.

While many vessels will be able to pass under the bridge without requiring the bascule to be raised, vessels over 6.5 meters in height will need to phone or radio a request to bridge control to see if the bridge needs to be lifted.

Vessels waiting can tie up to Pontoons either side of the bridge.

Use VHF channel 018 or phone bridge control to request the bridge to be raised.

Phone: 09 438 7261 or 021 401 752

The bridge will not be raised:

during peak road traffic periods from Monday to Friday between
- 7:00am to 9:00am
- 4:00pm to 6:00pm
when wind speeds exceed 34 knots (gale force wind conditions).

The bridge has two operating schedules, one for summer and one for winter. The summer schedule begins when daylight saving begins in September and finishes when daylight saving ends in April. The winter schedule begins when daylight saving ends in April and finishes when daylight saving starts in September.

Summer operating hours

Monday – Friday: 9:00am to 4:00pm and 6:00pm to 7:00pm
Saturday – Sunday: 7:00am to 7:00pm

Winter operating hours

Monday – Friday: 9:00am to 4:00pm
Saturday – Sunday: 8:00am to 5:00pm

Response time

During normal operating hours the target response time is 5 minutes for the bridge to be raised from the time a request is received by bridge control. Outside of normal operating hours, the service is on-call with a target response time of 30 minutes from the time a request is received. If you need the bridge to be raised outside of normal operating hours it is encouraged to call ahead to book a time. For bookings the target response time is within 5 minutes of the agreed time (subject to the boat arriving on time).

One way passage only

Preference to incoming / outgoing vessels varies daily and preference will be indicated by Bridge Control.

Wait for permission from Bridge Control before proceeding and watch for GO instruction on the signage.

Channel width between wooden marker piles: 16.0m

Channel depth between wooden marker piles: 1.0m below Chart Datum

Vertical clearance above MHWS level when bridge is closed: 7.5m to underside of bridge

Out and About in Whangārei

Your sailing adventures have taken you and your crew to gorgeous places with spectacular scenery and unforgettable sunsets. Yet all the while the to-do list has grown longer and longer.

Boat maintenance and repairs top the list, but there’s the land business that has been accumulating as well – dental and doctor appointments, travel arrangements, computer repairs, and on and on.

Once your boat is tucked safely in at RDM, you’ll be free to explore Whangārei on foot or by car.

Some cruisers purchase cars, others do not, preferring to get around on foot or by bicycle. Staying at RDM makes getting around without a car an easy and convenient option since it is located so close to the centre of town.

Before starting out with your to-do list in hand, pick up a copy of the Whangārei Marine Services and Facilities Guide from the marina office. The booklet has business listings and a town map. An easy 10-15 minute walk takes you to the heart of Whangārei, Northland’s largest town.

Some of the businesses you may find helpful are:

Grocery stores – three in the area
Doctors, dentists, pharmacies
Post office
Banks with ATM machines
Hardware stores
Cinemas
Second-hand book stores
Restaurants
Clothing stores
Yoga classes
Library
Fresh fruit and vegetable markets
Aquatic Centre – exercise equipment, pool, spa, sauna, water aerobics

Ready for some hiking or land travel? Talk to the experts at The Hub Information Centre at the Town Basin. They are eager to answer questions and have maps and travel brochures for the North and South Islands. Further out of town is the Whangārei i-SITE Visitors Centre.

Find everything you need to plan a short weekend getaway or longer excursions around the islands. Be sure and pick up the Whangārei District Council brochure that describes the hikes within easy reach of the city.

Another brochure published by the Department of Conservation describes hikes in the coastal forests, hill country, and the beach shorelines of the surrounding area.

Facilities

If you’re looking for somewhere to call home during your visit to New Zealand or just cruising by exploring the coastal waters, Riverside Drive Marina is the place to stay. You’ll find this true for many reasons, the first being size. RDM is large enough to understand the needs of international yachts, and yet small enough to receive personal attention and a daily greeting from Karl Roberts and staff. The marina has 30 floating berths each with water and electricity.

Another reason, yachties choose RDM is location. The marina is fourteen miles up the Hātea River where it is quiet, comfortable, and well protected. Since it is only a short walk to the centre of Whangārei you won’t need a car. It is just minutes to the shopping district where you’ll find a warm welcome from the marine industry and the community at large.

RDM has become a gathering spot for international boaters. Take the opportunity to catch up with friends you have met along the way and connect with new ones for the adventures that lay ahead. The marina has a covered patio and barbeque area for impromptu gatherings, planned dinners, and holiday celebrations. Other amenities include:

Laundry room with washers and dryer
Showers and toilets
Book share
Photocopies
Mail service – use marina address to receive mail
Phone messages – marina office will take messages
Off-street car park
24 Hour Recorded Digital Surveillance for your security
240v electricity with 110v transformers for rent
Rubbish removal and recycling
Pump out station
Watermans World are suppliers of paddleboards and accessories
Onsite fair trade cafe KAFE

Let’s hope you like the colour green and all its varied hues because New Zealand is known for its remarkable landscapes. The area surrounding Riverside Drive Marina is no exception. Parks border the marina on either side. One has swings and picnic tables, and the other park is a good spot for walking or jogging. Across the street is a tree-lined residential area and the Parihaka Scenic Reserve, which has river walks and hiking trails that wind through kauri trees and native forests.

There are reasonably priced accommodation options within walking distance of the marina if you prefer to stay ashore while your boat is getting repairs and Whangārei airport is just a fifteen minute drive from the marina

Hardstand Working Yard

Marina Rates

Marina Rules