New Zealand's Hauraki Gulf

Including the Mercury Islands, Mercury Bay and Great Barrier Island

This very comprehensive chart-book and guide is now in its fourth edition and differs from all earlier editions in scope, content and presentation. The book is the new, re-titled edition of the Hauraki Gulf Boating Atlas by the same author.

With overseas cruising visitors in mind, this edition begins with an introduction to New Zealand and the Gulf area in particular, including a brief description of port entry from overseas. The guide divides the Hauraki Gulf and extensions east of the Coromandel Peninsula to Mercury Bay and Whitianga into 5 regions, with each having an introduction for visiting lovers-of-the-sea, be they locals, or cruisers here for the first time.

Each region contains full-colour reproductions of sections of the official, large scale LINZ charts, showing the bays and coasts. In this edition all the available charts for the Waitemata Harbour and Tamaki River are included and double-page layouts for areas such as the Broken Islands Passage at Great Barrier, the Rangitoto Channel, Kawau Bay, and other areas which benefit from a larger scale presentation.

The author provides an excellent and informative narrative from his experiences within each region. Many full colour photographs are provided to assist navigation and the selection of places to cruise, and also to describe some of the history and general interest.

GPS reference points are tabulated with matching chart icons. An introductory section gives the radio VHF channels for stations in the Gulf area and details for obtaining weather information, for which the Gulf is particularly well served in New Zealand. The book is well indexed both by subject and also by GPS references.

In the Gulf area, 'New Zealand's Hauraki Gulf' is unmatched as a functional cruising guide and as a very attractive addition to the personal library.