If you're preparing for a coastal passage, planning an offshore crossing, or upgrading your navigation setup, one of the first practical questions is this: where do you get official nautical charts in Australia and how do you know they're current?
It's more layered than it sounds. Charts come from different hydrographic authorities, depending on where you're sailing, in paper and electronic formats, at different scales for different purposes. Buying from the wrong source or using an outdated edition carries real navigational risk.
Here's a clear breakdown of how the system works and where to get what you need.
Who produces official nautical charts for Australian waters?
All official charts for Australian waters are produced by the Australian Hydrographic Office (AHO), the government authority responsible for surveying and charting Australia's coastline, ports, and offshore territories.
These charts are issued under the Aus series and cover everything from major port approaches to the remote Northern Territory coastline and offshore waters, including the Coral Sea and Timor Sea.
The AHO updates charts through Notices to Mariners (NtM) regular bulletins that correct charted information as conditions change. Sandbanks shift. Wrecks are added. Port approaches are modified. A chart accurate two years ago may have uncorrected errors today, which is why currency matters as much as chart choice.
What chart series do you need?
The answer depends entirely on where you're going.
| Chart Series | Coverage | Best For |
| Aus Charts | Australian coastal & offshore waters | All Australian passages |
| British Admiralty | Pacific, Indian Ocean, worldwide | Offshore & international passages |
| LINZ (NZ) | New Zealand, Tonga | Passages to NZ or Tonga |
| Pacific charts | PNG, Solomon Islands, Niue | Pacific island passages |
Where to buy official nautical charts in Australia
Official charts are not sold directly to the public by the AHO. They are distributed through authorised chart agents, specialist marine retailers appointed to supply official chart products.
Boat Books Australia, based in St Leonards, Sydney, is Australia's largest specialist marine bookshop and an official chart agent for Australian, British Admiralty, New Zealand, and Fijian charts. With over 5,500 items across charts, navigation publications, cruising guides, and navigational equipment, it is the most comprehensive single source for marine navigation material in the country.
What's available:
- Full Aus chart coverage: 291+ paper charts from port approaches to offshore passages
- British Admiralty charts: for offshore and international passages
- Pacific chart coverage: New Zealand (LINZ), Tonga, PNG, Solomon Islands, and Niue
- ENCs and Navionics: AHO electronic packs plus consumer digital charts
- Chart correction service: charts professionally corrected to the latest NtM before departure
- Supporting publications: tide tables, sailing directions, pilot books, and AMSA/IMO publications
Charts are organised by region and chart number, making it straightforward to select the right coverage for your voyage.
Do experienced sailors still use paper charts?
Yes and not just as a backup. A chartplotter shows you one section of the route at a given zoom level. A paper chart spread on the table shows you the entire passage at once, where hazards cluster, where anchorages sit and how the weather window aligns with the tide. That spatial overview shapes decision-making in ways a screen doesn't replicate. Paper charts also function independently of power, software, or devices, which matters more offshore than most sailors expect.
Most skippers treat paper and electronic navigation as complementary. The chart on the table and the plotter at the helm serve different functions, and having both is standard practice for any serious passage.
Final thoughts
Getting the right charts means knowing which hydrographic authority covers your waters, understanding which scale suits each leg of the passage, and keeping charts corrected to the latest NtM. It also means having both paper and electronic coverage where conditions demand it.
For Australian sailors, that process starts with an authorised chart agent who stocks the full range not just popular titles, but remote coverage, Pacific Island charts, and the publications that go alongside them.
Explore the full range of official Australian nautical charts, ENC packs, and international chart coverage at Boat Books Australia – your trusted marine navigation specialist. Order online or visit our Sydney store for expert guidance before your next passage.
FAQs
Who issues official nautical charts for Australian waters?
The Australian Hydrographic Office (AHO) produces and maintains all official Aus series charts for Australian coastal and offshore waters.
Do I need different charts for passages to Fiji, New Zealand or Papua New Guinea?
Yes. The Aus charts cover the Australian jurisdiction only. For Pacific destinations, you'll need British Admiralty charts or charts from the relevant national authority – LINZ for New Zealand and Tonga, for example.
What is a chart correction service?
A service where paper charts are professionally corrected to the latest notices to mariners before use. Boat Books Australia offers this for charts that haven't been kept up to date.
Are electronic charts enough on their own?
Most experienced skippers use both. ENCs offer real-time navigation and alarms; paper charts provide a whole-passage overview and work independently of power or software.
Can I buy official Australian charts online?
Yes, through authorised agents such as Boat Books Australia, which ships Australia-wide and stocks the complete Aus series alongside British Admiralty, Pacific, and electronic chart options.
