Just like a road trip, cruising the coast of Queensland is a delightful adventure. Knowing where to find safe anchorages and fuel stops are important to keep the journey enjoyable. And sometimes, both you and your vessel may also need some TLC, as the wandering spirit becomes weary from the travels. Here are several recommended marina locations as you cruise north along the Queensland coast.
HORIZON SHORES MARINA
Ideally located between Brisbane and Gold Coast, Horizon Shores Marina is one of the largest wet berth marinas in Australia. The marina caters to vessels up to 80ft in length, including catamarans, houseboats and cruising boats. Visiting boats are welcome, as the marina provides short-term or long-term berthing arrangements to suit your budget. Each berth offers power and water, after-hours security patrols, access-controlled and key-entry gates. The marina offers a variety of services: 500 wet berths, 350 dry stack storage bays, 200 trailer boat storage locations, a 70t travelift, 24/7 dockside assistance to catch your lines and assist you into the berth, on-water fuel facility, fresh water, chandlery, marine refit and repair trades, hardstand, and refit sheds, plus licensed onsite cafe.
Lat/Long: S 27° 45′ E 153° 21′ www.horizonshores.com.au 80 Cabbage Tree Point Rd, Woongoolba 4207 Ph:(07) 5546 2300
EAST COAST MARINA – MANLY
East Coast Marina, Manly Boat Harbour, Brisbane boasts 330 secure water berths for boats up to 18m, and a modern undercover dry storage facility for 240 power boats up to 10m. Electricity and water to all marina berths. 24 hour security, gas refill service and ice available. There is fuel within Manly Harbour and a pump-out facility. A café, amenities to freshen up and laundry on site. They are a full-service working marina include shipwright, marine engineers, marine electrician, marine trimmers, boat sales, and yachting school which is fully accredited with the RYA. Chandlery, sail makers and riggers are close by. Manly Village is a short walk away, offering a grocery store, post office, newsagency, chemist, coffee shops, restaurants and more. Markets are on some Saturdays and every Sunday. Public transport, airport and city all close by. No club joining or membership fees.
Lat/Long: S 27° 27.6′ E 153° 11.2′ www.eastcoastmarina.com.au 570 Royal Esplanade, Manly Boat Harbour 4179 Ph:(07) 3393 3811
SCARBOROUGH MARINA
Centrally located with direct access to Moreton Bay, Scarborough Marina offers a broad range of services and facilities to suit the needs of all boating enthusiasts. The marina comprises over 230 wet berths, a full service boat yard and a valet-serviced rack storage facility for the modern, affordable and convenient alternative to trailer boating. Whether passing through or planning to stay, the full-service marina, backed by great customer service, aims to bring back the real enjoyment to your boating. It has a modern cruiser’s lounge with TV and free WIFI, electronic-gate access, 24-hour CCTV monitoring, and 24-hour fuel service. Casual, overnight and long-term berthing are available, but bookings are essential. This marina is home to a full-service boatyard and on-site services, including chandlery, rigging, mechanics, boat repairs, and more.
Lat/Long: S 27°10.75’ E 153°06.3’ www.scarbmarina.com.au 28 Thurecht Parade, Scarborough 4020 Ph:(07) 3880 0300
MOOLOOLABA MARINA
The Sunshine Coast’s largest and most popular marina, Mooloolaba Marina is also home to the Sunshine Coast Yacht Club (SCYC), and the award-winning Pier 33 Restaurant & Bar. The Marina is conveniently located within walking distance to the township of Mooloolaba, one of Queensland’s leading holiday destinations. This central location includes a world class surf beach across the road and easy access to local fresh caught seafood. With a friendly welcoming atmosphere, ideal for a relaxing holiday or short term stay to unwind from the rigors of ocean cruising. The marina has 265 protected wet berths, with 24-hour access to onshore amenities, berthing assistance, onsite restaurant, gas refilling and BBQ facilities. The marina office is open seven days with access to quality local marine trades and services for maintenance, upgrades, and improvements with fuel and haul-out services located close nearby.
Lat/Long: S 26°, E 153° www.mooloolabamarina.com.au 33-45 Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba QLD 4557 Ph: (07) 5444 5653
GREAT SANDY STRAITS MARINA
Located in the Urangan Boat Harbour at Hervey Bay, the Great Sandy Straits Marina offers 176 berths, which cater for the 8m-30m vessels. The marina is situated at the doorstep of the whale-watch capital, and is a perfect place to explore the sheltered waters of Hervey Bay, the Great Sandy Marine Park, and world heritage-listed Fraser Island. The secure facilities include toilets, showers, laundry and hire car services. A restaurant and cafe, hotels, souvenir shop, chandlery/food store, and local craft shop are located in the marina. There a is 24hr fuel wharf, a slipway with a 300-tonne and a 30-tonne lift, and a range of marine tradespeople available to assist. The Hervey Bay Boat Club, which welcomes visitors, is a five-minute walk from the marina.
Lat/Long: S 25-17.613, E 152-54.641 www.greatsandystraitsmarina.com.au 17 Buccaneer Dr, Urangan 4655 Ph:(07) 4125 3822
KEPPEL BAY MARINA
Located in Rosslyn Bay, the gateway to the stunning Keppel group of islands, the award-winning facility includes long- and short-term berth rental, boatyard and chandlery, fuel, water, 40-tonne travelift, onsite marine services, charter boats, sailing cruises, fishing charters, residential villas for sale, and the best local cuisine. With over 500 marina berths for vessels up to 30m, Keppel Bay Marina is the largest marina north of Brisbane, with wide channels for easy navigation and colour-coded pile cape to assist vessel berth location. The Keppel group of islands on the Capricorn Coast are a destination in their own right, which includes Great Keppel Island offering 17 beaches, and North Keppel Island, with uncrowded safe anchorages in all weather conditions. Be mindful of “No Anchoring Areas” around the islands.
Lat/Long: S 23° 10′ , E 150° 48′ www.keppelbaymarina.com.au Rosslyn Bay, Waterline Way, Yeppoon 4703 Ph:(07) 4933 6244
PORT OF AIRLIE MARINA
Welcome to Port of Airlie, in the heart of Airlie Beach! Situated on the same latitude as Rio De Janeiro and Tahiti, Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays enjoy a year round tropical climate. Take a leisurely stroll through the Main Street to Port of Airlie, pick up some supplies for the day, refuel, and then head off to any of the 74 beautiful islands of the Whitsundays, or the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef. Port of Airlie Marina is a boutique location for mariners worldwide with our unprecedented 90+ year berth lease term available with short term stays depending on availability. Port of Airlie Marina offers a protected location, making it the Whitsundays ideal secure and exclusive boating home base. Port of Airlie Marina offers berth sizes ranging from 10 meters through to 50 meters in both monohull and multihull format.
Lat/Long: S 20° 27′, E 148° 72′ www.portofairlie.com.au F7, The Boathouse, Airlie Beach 4802 Ph: 1800 676 526
CRYSTALBROOK SUPERYACHT MARINA – PORT DOUGLAS
Queensland’s northernmost marina – and the gateway to The Great Barrier Reef. With 135 berths that accommodate monohull and multihull vessels, all serviced with power and water, and 20 superyacht berths available for 25-50m vessels. The marina offers a designated 24-hour fuel berth, with high-flow diesel pumps up to 200 litres per minute. The secure facilities include new shower and laundry amenities, concierge services providing high quality advice and service, dock master assistance, boat management services, chandlery, mechanical services, CCTV, electronic gate access and nightly security patrols, ATM and courtesy trolleys. The marine services for repairs and maintenance are available and can service vessels up to 50 tonnes and 9m beam. An onsite mall offers retail shopping and popular dining and drinking venues. The marina is 31 nautical miles northwest of Cairns Harbour and 62 nautical miles south of Cooktown.
Lat/Long: S16 29’06′, E 145 27’33′ www.crystalbrookmarina.com 44 Wharf St, Port Douglas 4877 Ph:(07) 4099 5775
