Bar awareness

Bar Awareness Roadshow (August-December 2024)

Sand bars are common at the entrance of many of our harbours and rivers. If you go boating and want to get out into open seas, you usually have to navigate them. Sandbars can be extremely dangerous, even for experienced boaties.

Join us on our Bar Awareness Roadshow as we conduct over 20 free seminars from the far north to the deep south of Aotearoa New Zealand. Our mission is to equip boaties with the essential knowledge and skills they need before they cross a bar.

We are tapping into the expertise of local legends, experienced Coastguard volunteers, and supportive community groups. Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain essential knowledge and ensure your safety on the water.

Check out our schedule and find a free seminar near you!

What You’ll Learn:

Understanding local bar features and hazards.
Interpreting weather and sea conditions for bar crossings.
Preparing and handling your boat for bar crossings.
How to make a bar crossing report.
Essential emergency procedures.

Bar Crossing Awareness: Must-Know Safety Tips

This video explains what a bar is and provides detailed advice that will help you decide whether or not to cross. We've translated this video into the following languages to support our diverse communities:

We also have two videos focusing on some of our most challenging bars to cross. Our goal is to expand this collection in the future to offer more detailed information on bars across Aotearoa.

Bar-specific videos:

Learn more about crossing bars through our dedicated resources here.