Western Australian Anchorages

Hi everyone,

This is a technical post!  It describes a set of 450+ waypoints extracted from the Western Australian Cruising Guide (WACG).  The image below shows the anchorage locations overall.  The WACG covers WA with lesser coverage of western NT and western SA.  It is the WA cruising 'bible'.

Overall Coverage

The WACG is freely available to download here in either ePub or PDF formats.  It has been published by the Cruising Section of Fremantle Sailing Club since 1997.  I have compiled the waypoints from the v5.5 2025 edition.

This set of waypoints is not intended to be a 100% WACG set but I believe it covers 95% or more.  Some waypoints described as 'desperation' anchorages are deliberately omitted.  Likewise some public moorings.

WACG Front Cover

As for our New Zealand waypoints, three sets of data are present.  First three GPX files of waypoints (NT, WA & SA) created in OpenCPN.  The waypoints include anchorages, moorings and marinas.  Second a single zip file of KAP satcharts for most of the waypoints.  Third a single KMZ file for use in GoogleEarth.

Below are three GoogleEarth screenshots showing the Kimberley, Pilbara and West/South coast waypoints...

Kimberley

Pilbara Region

West & South Coasts

Every waypoint includes the WACG v5.5 PDF page number in its description field.  The ScaleMin parameter is set on most GPX waypoints.  This prevents dense sets of waypoints obscuring the underlying charts.  Zoom in to areas of interest to see all waypoints.  The screenshots above show all waypoints.

The accuracy of these waypoints has NOT been verified.

NOT for use in navigation!

The GPX files may be downloaded here.

The three files are named "ZenAgain_Waypoints_Australia_??.gpx".

Each file should be added to OpenCPN as a 'layer'.

The KAP zip file may be downloaded here.

The file is named "Australasia_Australia.zip".

Unzip the file then place the files in a folder searched by OpenCPN for charts.

The KMZ file may be downloaded here.

The file is named "ZenAgain_Waypoints_WACG.kmz".

Load the file in either the Google Earth Pro app or its online equivalent.

Here is a short video tour of WACG waypoints - from Darwin to Port Lincoln via Broome, Exmouth, Fremantle, Augusta and Esperance...

If you find these waypoints useful consider donating using the button at the top of this page.

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Trust all's well where you are.

Mangonui

Hi everyone,

After a month in Whangaroa we needed to reprovision.  We had two choices - a very expensive taxi ride to the nearby town of Kaeo or a 20nm sail to the town of Mangonui.  We chose the latter.

Mangonui Pub

We had a good sail from Whangaroa to Manganui.  Mostly a broad reach in light-moderate SE winds.

Track

Departing Whangaroa Harbour

Approaching Mangonui

Anchored in the river

We arrived at about 1400.  By 1500 we were dinking ashore.  It took three round trips to take all the provisions back aboard.  After that we had fish & chips with the crew of sv Masterplan.

Main dinghy dock

Supermarket

The following day we explored the town and walked to Coopers Beach to get some exercise.  It's a nice beach and has a bigger supermarket than Mangonui.  We'd found just about everything we needed in Mangonui and it'd be hard work carrying it back from Coopers Beach.

Alternate dinghy dock

Back in Mangonui we had a nice fish'n'chips lunch at the pub and went for a walk S out of town to explore.  Then to the Postmistress bar for a final round of drinks.

The pub's macaw

Nice eateries

Nice beer

That evening a light N wind came in and we didn't sleep well.  The anchorage is well protected apart from N-NW winds.  Very good holding in 6m over mud.  The following morning we sailed back to Whangaroa.  A light airs beat out of the bay followed by a beam reach.

Track

Sailing back to Whangaroa

Back in Whangaroa we anchored for a couple of nights.  With a windy and rainy weather outlook we booked into the marina, this time for a week.  There we can to get ashore for walks, have showers, do our laundry and enjoy the Game Fishing Club.

Still hoping for a weather window to take us 'over the top' and S to South Island.

Trust all's well where you are!

Whangaroa Harbour

Hi everyone,

We've now been in Whangaroa Harbour for three weeks.  How time flies!  We're waiting for a good weather window to sail 'over the top' and south to South Island.  Sadly the weather is remaining spring-like with no sign of a summer pattern emerging.  But the harbour offers many nice anchorages plus a marina.  Adjacent to the marina is the Whangaroa Big Game Fishing Club with great food and drink.

Sunset in Touwai Bay

Here are our tracks within the harbour so far...

Tracks

Initially, with SE winds, we anchored in Owhatanga Bay in the Eastern Arm.  5m over mud.  On arrival we dinked over to the water buoy on the N side of the bay to fill our water jerries.  The buoy is run by the Whangaroa Coastguard.  It is fed from a stream ashore.  Very handy.

In Owhatanga Bay

On 13th we motored over to the Western Arm and into Rere Bay.  We anchored in 5m over mud.  The next day we dinked ashore in Lane Cove and walked up to the Duke's Nose.  The 750m path ascends over 200m with two stages clambering up near vertical rock faces with steel rods attached to the rock.

In the Western Arm

Passing the Duke's Nose

Anchored in Rere Bay

Ascending

Zen Again from halfway up

Final climb

Zen Again and Rere Bay from the Duke's Nose

Sunrise in Rere Bay

We spent five nights in Rere Bay, including two with strong NE winds.  The bay is open to the NE-E and we had 0.5m seas and gusty winds.  We re-anchored a little further into the bay in 4m since the anchor chain was rattling over a rocky patch.  The holding was good in mud.

On the 18th we motored to Ratcliffe Bay, 0.5nm N of the marina, via the water buoy.  We were unsure of the water situation in the marina and the water buoy provides nice filtered stream water.  We anchored in 7m over mud, just outside the moorings.  The following day we moved into the marina for a three night stay.

Rewatering

In Whangaroa Marina

The marina has good showers and laundry.  Day one was laundry and shower day followed by dinner at the Whangaroa Big Game Fishing Club.  Great food and beer.  Visitors need to each buy a temporary (2 week) membership for $5.  Draft beers are $7 for a pint so the membership fee is good value.  We watched part of the third Ashes test in Adelaide on their big screen.

Whangaroa Big Game Fishing Club

On day 2 we taxied to Kerikeri to the 70th birthday party of a friend.  I worked with Ian in Perth and contracted for him in the US.  He recently returned to his home country and has a very nice property outside the town of Kerikeri.

On day 3 we walked up to St Paul's Rock which overlooks the marina.  Not as strenuous as Duke's Nose but wonderful views from the top.

Start of footpath to St Paul's Rock

Last stage assisted by chain

View W from St Paul's Rock

View N from St Paul's Rock

Atop St Paul's Rock

On the 22nd we motored the short distance W from the marina to Okura Bay.  We anchored in 6m over mud outside the moorings.  One day we dinked ashore to the wharf which has a dinghy dock.  There are public toilets nearby and nice walks around the two bays.

Okura Bay

Okura Bay wharf and dinghy dock

On Christmas Day we motored back to Rere Bay to join friends on SVs Lady Annabelle and Masterplan.  The Lady Annabelles are from Perth and we discovered we have several mutual friends.  The Masterplans are originally from Zimbabwe and now living in New Zealand.  Having spent several years in Zambia we also had plenty to talk about!

Heading back into Rere Bay

We spent a nice Christmas Day aboard Zen Again.  Our only outing was to deliver mince pies to our pals nearby.  It was a cloudy day but we had a great day.

Mince pie deliveries around the anchorage on Christmas Day

Christmas duck dinner

Flaming the Christmas Pud

On Boxing Day we all met up on sv Masterplan for coffee and Christmas treats.  Christmas cakes, mince pies and more.

Boxing Day get-together aboard sv Masterplan with sv Lady Annabelle

On the 27th everyone visited Zen Again for morning coffee and more treats.  That afternoon we all motored to Whangaroa, anchoring off the marina.  We all dinked ashore to the public dinghy dock for dinner at the WBGFC.  We watched the end of the fourth Ashes test.

Yesterday we motored N and into the Eastern Arm, anchoring in Touwai Bay.  This bay offered good protection from the approaching SE backing N winds overnight and for the next day or two.  We got together on Lady Annabelle for a sundowner.  The sunset was spectacular.

Zen Again in Touwai Bay

Spending so long here waiting for summer to arrive has given us a nice holiday.  We've caught up on a lot of low-priority boat jobs.  Nic has been working on our YouTube videos and I created a set of videos showing our tracks in GoogleEarth over nearly 15 years.

Trust all's well where you are!