SeaChart
Start with the shape of the coast, then look at the detail. SeaChart's online map lets you explore New Zealand waters with depth shading, contours and seamarks before choosing an area to download in the app.
Explore four different coastal settings
These links open the same world map at the selected harbour or coast. They are starting points for inspecting the available layers, not suggested passages.
Auckland / Hauraki Gulf
Start in Waitematā Harbour, then pan out towards the islands of the Hauraki Gulf. Compare the harbour-scale seamarks with the broader depth shading; a feature visible in one view may be absent in another.
Explore Auckland and the gulf →Bay of Islands
Use the coastline layer to get a sense of the bays and islands, then zoom into the area you actually plan to visit. Do not interpret an unmarked inlet or an empty patch of the map as confirmation of clear water.
Explore the Bay of Islands →Tauranga Harbour
Switch depth and seamark layers separately to see what each contributes to the harbour view. The web map does not confirm present channel conditions, dredging changes or local access restrictions.
Explore Tauranga Harbour →Marlborough Sounds
Pan along the sounds rather than stopping at the first map centre. Narrow bays and adjoining channels deserve a closer view; check the whole area you intend to download, including possible alternatives.
Explore Marlborough Sounds →What the layers tell you
- Coastline and place names
- Orient yourself in the region. The basemap is separate from the marine depth and seamark layers.
- Depth shading and contours
- Compare the shape of the seabed where data is available. Displayed depths do not establish your vessel's safe clearance, account for the tide, or guarantee survey accuracy.
- Seamarks
- Explore community-maintained nautical features. The absence of a buoy, light or obstruction on this layer does not show that it is absent in the water.
SeaChart combines open mapping and marine datasets; it is not a copy of the LINZ official chart catalogue. See the data sources and licences. Coverage, survey detail and updates vary by location and layer.
Keep official information beside the preview
Use LINZ Charts for the official New Zealand chart catalogue and New Zealand Notices to Mariners for chart corrections and notices. SeaChart's map is not a substitute for those updates.
Once you have checked the area, follow the offline preparation guide to verify the downloads on your phone before leaving reception.
Fishing forecasts for supported locations
Open the New Zealand forecast locations to see tide predictions, estimated fish activity and fishing scores alongside the map. These harbour reference points are not verified fishing spots; follow the linked local rules and restrictions.
