Useful Links

Weather

• New Zealand's climate and weather patterns
• MetService - here you will find out what its going to be like tomorrow.

Diving & Fishing

• New Zealand Fishing Regulations - Ministry of Fisheries, the official word on what you can and can't catch.
• Diving & Fishing - New Zealand's best dive mag runs a really good up to date website.

Charts & Maps

• Department of Conservation Maps - Check out the National Parks & Island reserves

Regional Cruising Related Websites

• Bay of Islands & Northland
  Take a look at our own cruising guide, and wander through Pic's old chum George Stumf's great directory. The wreck of Greenpeace's flagship, the Rainbow Warrior is a popular dive site some 12 miles north of the Bay. If you are keen on game fishing, the Swordfish Club is the place to sort out those records that need breaking.
• Whangarei
  The Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve is famous for it's crystal clear waters, and a couple of wrecked naval ships, the Tui, and the Waikato are within easy reach too.
• Hauraki Gulf
  Have a look at our own Hauraki Gulf cruising guide (including a handy map). Tourism Auckland run a useful site, while the Department of Conservation have lots of good sites about the Gulf's islands. Starting with the closest island to the city and working outwards, we have: Rangitoto, Motutapu, Motukorea, Motuihe, Tiritiri, Waiheke, Kawau, Great Barrier, Little Barrier, and The Mokohinaus.
• Bay of Plenty
  There is a marine reserve near Whitianga on the Coromandel Peninsula and another marine reserve near Mayor Island. White Island is a smoking steaming, active volcano. Marine life abounds in the Bay.
• The East Coast
  A fairly exposed coast, but some wonderful cruising and fishing to be had in the right weather. The Hawkes Bay Tourism Bureau has a good background on the region, and there are marine reserves here. Lake Waikaremoana is nearby and offers good walking and trout fishing.
• Wellington
  A well sheltered harbour, with a very nasty bit of water - Cook Strait - just outside. Somes Island is bang in the middle of Wellington Harbour, and makes a good day trip destination. Further up the Coast, best accessed from Mana, is Kapiti Island, one of the biggest island reserves in the country. Most Wellington boaties head to the Marlborough Sounds for their fun.
• North Island West Coast
  Not a lot of shelter anywhere along this Coast, but there is some good fishing to be had by nipping out in a fast boat. There are, however, some notable harbours that offer very rewarding pottering and exploring. Historic Kaipara Harbour has hundreds of miles of shoreline, while further north is the Hokianga.
• North Island Lakes and Rivers 
  The biggest and busiest Lake is Taupo. Trout fishing is a big deal here. A couple of hours north of Taupo are the Rotorua Lakes, which are well worth taking a few days to explore. A round up on fishing licenses, fresh water fish varieties etc can be had from NZ Fish and Game.
• Marlborough
  A huge area (check out our map). A nice little walking track runs around the edge of Queen Charlotte Sound (where the inter-island ferries dock), and Long Island, at it's mouth, is a marine reserve. There are three marinas within the sounds - which also happen to be your webmaster's holiday cruising grounds. Martina lives down this way - email her with your questions.

Regional Websites

• Nelson Web Design & Development - Cactus Software - Website Design, Web Hosting, E-Commerce, Software Development & Search Enging Optimisation
• Nelson 360 Panorama Photos - Experience the Nelson & Tasman Region