The Navigation Centre

The Navigation Centre is a Townsville-based nautical shop established in 1970 and operating from 61 Perkins Street, South Townsville. It runs an online store alongside its physical counter and displays a mix of practical navigation supplies and nautical giftware. The website and store listing make a point of chart sales (paper charts and AusENC electronic charts), AMSA publications and a wide selection of books and cruising guides.

What Sailors Will Find Here

• Paper navigation charts for Australian waters and nearby regions (New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands) alongside electronic AusENC chart products.
• Navigation-focused books and guides: tide tables, cruising guides, chart-work textbooks, fish ID cards and manuals useful for passage planning and local cruising.
• Practical navigation instruments and accessories such as compasses, compass adjusters, dividers, parallel rulers and logbooks, plus flags, code flags and flagpole bits.
• A selection of small chandlery and gift items — brass compasses, clocks, nautical decor, tie-in clothing and novelty goods aimed at sailors and coastal visitors.

Brands and Publications Worth Knowing

The store explicitly lists AMSA publications and AusENCs for electronic charts. Hema products and a range of cruising guides and specialist nautical titles appear in the catalogue, making the shop a useful source for official navigation publications and recognised mapping brands.

Services and Practical Details

• The website notes shop hours (Monday to Thursday 9am–5pm) and a phone contact; Saturdays are available by appointment for marine radio exams. Contact and ordering can be done through the online shop or by phone/email.
• Radio-licence materials and VHF operator study resources are listed; the site mentions support for radio exams and supplying VHF operator handbooks.
• Several items (for example large or speciality wall maps) are flagged as collection-only on the product pages; the site also states some stock may not yet be uploaded online and invites enquiries for items not shown.

A Good Place to Look When...

• You need official charts or AMSA publications for passage planning or exam study and prefer to buy from a marine-specialist rather than a general bookstore.
• You’re preparing for radio exams or need VHF operator study materials and local help with licensing paperwork and exam arrangements.
• You want a small selection of navigation instruments, compass servicing/adjuster items, code flags or nautical giftware not always found in larger outlets.