Last updated October 2026
The Boulder Bank is the 13 km spit of boulders that shelters Nelson Haven from Tasman Bay, ending at The Cut, the shipping entrance to Port Nelson.
Boulder reefs run down its outer face to sand in about 12 to 13 metres of water, and that edge holds snapper, kahawai, gurnard and the odd blue cod, with kingfish in the warmer months.
Most of the fishing is done from small boats and kayaks launched at Port Nelson. Shore anglers can walk out along the bank, but it is a long, rough boulder route that DOC grades for experts, and from August to February it passes through large colonies of nesting seabirds.
At a Glance
- Location
- Between Nelson Haven and Tasman Bay, from Boulder Bank Drive (off Atawhai Drive, SH6) to The Cut and the old lighthouse
- Water
- Tasman Bay and the Nelson Haven entrance (sea)
- Main species
- Snapper, kahawai, gurnard and blue cod; kingfish in the warmer months
- Best time
- Snapper from mid-October to April; kingfish early morning and late evening
- Access
- Mostly by boat or kayak from Port Nelson; on foot, 8 km and 2 to 3 hours each way to The Cut
- Suits
- Boat and kayak anglers; fit, experienced walkers on foot. Not for small children
- Dogs
- Banned for 4 km from The Cut, 15 August to the end of February; never on Haulashore Island
- Tide port
- Nelson (LINZ standard port)
- Rules
- MPI Challenger; no set nets; no licence needed for sea fishing
- Cost
- Free
- Low 3:58 am 0.6 m
- High 10:17 am 4.1 m
- Low 4:20 pm 0.7 m
- High 10:34 pm 4.3 m
Best times today: around 3:58 am, 10:17 am, 4:20 pm and 10:34 pm (2 hours either side of each tide change), and around 1:01 am and 12:38 pm (moon overhead and underfoot).
Moving water around the tide changes usually fishes best. Full 7-day Nelson tides ›
Tide predictions: LINZ (CC BY 3.0 NZ). Predictions only; actual tides vary with weather.
More About Boulder Bank
The bank is made of granodiorite boulders that slid off Mackay Bluffs near Glenduan and were carried south by the sea over about 10,000 years. It follows the shore for about 4 km, then leaves the mainland near Boulder Bank Drive and runs on as a free-standing spit for about 8 km.
DOC says it is 55 metres wide at high tide and 240 metres wide at low tide, which shows how much of the edge the tide covers.
The Cut was made through the end of the bank in 1906 so ships could reach the port, and it now separates the bank from Haulashore Island (Motu Manuka). A beacon stood here from 1848, and the cast-iron lighthouse was put up in 1862. It was New Zealand’s second permanent lighthouse and was lit until 1982.
The bank is a scenic reserve managed by DOC and a wāhi tapu listed with Heritage New Zealand, under the names Te Taero a Kereopa and Te Tahuna a Tama-i-ea.
Seven iwi of Te Tau Ihu are associated with it. Māori camped and fished here and used the boulders to rough out stone tools. The shelter it gives was one of the main reasons Nelson was sited where it is.
Today it is one of Nelson’s largest seabird nesting sites. Kororā (little blue penguins) and pohowera (banded dotterels) nest on the bank, and it holds the city’s biggest colonies of tara (white-fronted terns) and tarāpunga (red-billed gulls). All of them nest on the ground, so anyone walking out to The Cut in spring and summer needs to watch their step.
How to Fish the Boulder Bank
Where and when
The fish hold along the outer (Tasman Bay) face, where the boulder reef meets the sand at about 12 to 13 metres. Boat and kayak anglers work up and down the bank at different depths, using the sounder to find bait.
Tasman Bay is known for fishing better while the tide is running than at slack water, and the run of tide through The Cut is strong, so plan around it. Snapper usually arrive in Tasman Bay from about mid-October and stay until April.
What to catch and what to use
- Kingfish: the bank is a known kingfish haunt. Local anglers troll a diving minnow such as a blue or green mackerel Rapala X-Rap along the bank at about 6 to 7 knots, early in the morning and late in the evening.
- Snapper: anchor off the bank with a current running and fish a pilchard on a strayline alongside a flasher rig baited with squid. Big snapper have been taken here in about 20 metres of water.
- Kahawai, gurnard and blue cod: all reported off the bank by NZ Fishing News. Gurnard and blue cod are bottom fish, so fish baits on the sand edge and the reef.
Fishing from the shore
Shore fishing means walking out towards The Cut, where some anglers try for snapper in the channel. Reports from the shore are few and old, so treat it as an adventure rather than a sure thing. Take heavy gear for the boulders, and be aware that ships use The Cut.
Getting There and Facilities
- By boat: Port Nelson has the best ramp for reaching the bank. Keep clear of shipping in the channel and of wharves (see Rules and Safety).
- On foot: start from Boulder Bank Drive, off Atawhai Drive (SH6). It is 8 km and 2 to 3 hours one way to The Cut on an unformed route over large boulders. DOC grades it Expert. Wear strong footwear.
- Ferry: DOC says a ferry service runs from Nelson. Ask locally about drop-offs before relying on one.
- Water and shelter: the bank is dry and very exposed, and the weather can change quickly. Take water, sun protection and a warm layer.
- Fires and camping: neither is allowed on the bank.
- Dogs: banned from 15 August to the last day of February for 4 km from The Cut towards Boulder Bank Drive, to protect nesting birds, and banned on Haulashore Island all year.
Rules and Safety
- Sea fishing here follows MPI’s Challenger area rules. No licence is needed. Set netting is banned along this coast, and Tasman Bay has been closed to scallops since July 2018. Check the current limits on MPI’s site or the NZ Fishing Rules app.
- Horoirangi Marine Reserve starts at Glenduan, at the far northern end of the bank, and runs north to Ataata Point (Cable Bay). No fishing is allowed inside it. Yellow triangles mark the boundaries on shore. It is well clear of The Cut and Boulder Bank Drive.
- When a large ship passes, the area around The Cut becomes a total exclusion zone under Nelson’s Navigation Safety Bylaw, and boats must keep well clear of ships under way. Boats must also stay 50 metres from wharf faces, and fishing gear must not obstruct navigation.
- The harbour entrance has a tidal range of about 4 metres and a narrow, curved channel. Check the tide and sea conditions before heading out in a small boat or kayak.
- On foot, the boulders are large and can move. Allow plenty of time to get back before dark, and watch for nests on the ground from August to February.
Tackle and Bait Nearby
- Hunting & Fishing Nelson, 99 Cadillac Way, Annesbrook: rods, lures, terminal tackle and bait. Open seven days.
- Burnsco Nelson, 5 Vickerman Street, Port Nelson: marine and fishing gear, with frozen bait in store.
Where to Learn More
DOC: Boulder Bank: access, the walking route, history and the seasonal dog rule.
MPI Challenger fishing rules: current size limits, daily limits and closures for Tasman Bay.
Nelson City Council: protecting nesting birds on the Boulder Bank: the birds that nest here and why dogs are kept off.
Common Questions
Can you fish the Boulder Bank from the shore?
Yes, but it is a long walk. The Cut is 8 km and 2 to 3 hours from Boulder Bank Drive over large boulders, and most of the reported fishing is from boats and kayaks.
What can you catch at the Boulder Bank?
Snapper, kahawai, gurnard and blue cod, with kingfish in the warmer months.
When do snapper arrive?
Usually from about mid-October, staying in Tasman Bay until around April.
Where do I launch a boat?
Port Nelson has the best ramp for reaching the bank and The Cut.
Can I take my dog?
Not from 15 August to the end of February on the 4 km nearest The Cut, and never on Haulashore Island, because of nesting birds.
Is there a marine reserve nearby?
Yes. Horoirangi Marine Reserve starts at Glenduan, at the northern end of the bank. No fishing is allowed inside it.
Do I need a fishing licence?
No. Sea fishing needs no licence, but MPI’s Challenger rules apply.
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