The Otago Harbour entrance lies between Heyward Point and Taiaroa Head. The harbour channel extends 5 nautical miles to Port Chalmers, then a further 7 nautical miles to the city of Dunedin.
From Taiaroa Head to the container terminal at Port Chalmers, the harbour is dredged to accommodate vessels with a maximum draught of 13.5 metres, thus enabling large container ships to make Port Chalmers their final port of call in New Zealand. From Port Chalmers to Dunedin, the channel is dredged to handle vessels with a draught of 7.5 metres.
See also: Coasts and Harbours information on the Otago Regional Council website