Summer boating in the Bay of Islands comes with a familiar logistical challenge, and from Monday 29 December a floating solution is back on the water. The mobile rubbish barge returns to the Bay for the peak holiday season, giving crews an on-water disposal option without the need to stockpile rubbish aboard or run unnecessary trips ashore.
The service is a joint effort between Northland Regional Council, Far North District Council and the Department of Conservation, with day-to-day operations handled by Northland Waste. The goal is straightforward: offer boaties a dependable, responsible way to manage waste while helping protect one of New Zealand's most popular and heavily used coastal environments.
Running from late December through to Friday 30 January 2026, the barge will generally be on the water on Mondays and Fridays, subject to weather conditions. On those days, it will visit Urupukapuka Island campsites from 9am to 10am before moving on to Moturua Island, where it will moor near the south-eastern end from 10.30am to 1pm. Towards the end of January, hours may be reduced if demand eases or the barge reaches capacity.
Rubbish disposal is charged at a flat rate of $10 per bag, whether pre-paid or standard bags are used. Recycling is also accepted at a price that typically falls between $3 and $5, depending on volume and how clean the material is. Oversized bags or contaminated recycling may attract additional fees. Anyone coming aboard must follow staff instructions, wear footwear, and note that no more than four people are permitted on the barge at any one time.
Boaties who prefer to come ashore can make use of several shore-based facilities running alongside the barge service. At Ōpua, a rubbish facility near the fuel jetty at the Far North Holdings car park will be open daily from 8am to 5pm between 26 December and 29 January. At Rāwhiti, the Kaingahoa campground site operates a longer season, running daily from 8am to 4pm between 20 December and 28 February. Both locations will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
A pop-up rubbish and recycling centre will also operate at the end of Russell Wharf from 26 December through to 11 January. It opens in two sessions each day, from 8am to 11am and again from 2pm to 5pm. Rubbish disposal there costs $8 per bag, while recycling is accepted free of charge.
These services cover the Bay's busiest anchorages and access points across the height of summer. For crews spending time in the Bay of Islands, factoring rubbish disposal into the plan is part of good seamanship and helps keep anchorages, islands and harbours in good shape for everyone.
