Rara has returned to Sydney Harbour, almost 10 months after we left and sailed north. Our trip took us to the Whitsundays and back, a story we will talk about in more detail later (which is available on our blog too).
As we sailed up and down the coast of NSW and QLD we stayed at various marinas and this is a short note on my thoughts and experiences. It might come in handy for other travellers though the circumstances of the marina management will most likely change over time and everyone has a different perspective, these thoughts are mine.
We stayed in marinas when the weather forecast was looking rough or when we needed to fill up water, food and do some laundry. Mostly we stayed on anchor or on a mooring.
At some of these marinas we have stayed longer and multiple times.
Some marinas we chose because it was easy to fly to and from, as we returned to Sydney a few weekends to visit family. We also planned for a long term stay for Rara when we went to Europe for three months.
The Anchorage marina, Collette Point, Port Stephens, NSW
This marina tops the list for me, the staff are super friendly, the amenities are great, clean and well kept with a feel of luxury. There is also a courtesy car to borrow for 2 hours, which makes it easy to go shopping. Shops are 2 km away but a flat walk if you want the exercise. There is an easy access fuel dock in the marina and the marina is well sheltered from winds.
Coral Sea marina, Airlie beach, Whitsundays, QLD
A favourite of ours, we stayed here multiple times during our 6 weeks in the Whitsundays. It is a busy, large marina but safe from winds (it is rated cyclone safe). The staff are very friendly and the facilities are clean and well kept. This is the hub for many charter boats as well as super yachts and gets busy. There are marina guest facilities at both ends of the marina (only accessible if you have a marina key) and they are very good. The ones at the Ocean Club have individual changing rooms, with shower and toilet in one room. Here there is also a deck and workspace where you can chill. Laundry facilities are good at this Club end. Though there are laundry facilities both ends of the marina.
Shops and restaurants available at the marina, and Airlie beach town is within walking distance.
A short walk from the marina, Coral sea resort has a swimming pool which marina quests have access to. Courtesy cars are available to book for a few hours at a time.
East coast marina, Manly, Brisbane, Moreton bay, QLD
In the Manly boat harbour, next to RQYS. This harbour has 3 marinas and 1500 boats fit.
East coast marina have simple but clean facilities, toilet and shower in one room. The laundry machines were a little under par.
A restaurant at the marina but it is an easy walk to Manly town where there is an IGA, a chandlery with soo many things in, and restaurants. There is also a public pool here. Walk along the breakwater and there is a lovely restaurant/pub/fish and chip place.
Port Macquarie marina, Port Macquarie, NSW
A smaller marina but well placed with a shopping centre, and petrol station, within a short walking distance.
Amenities open to the public, and quite small and very basic.
Laundry is clean and works well.
You can walk into Port Macquarie, along the waterfront and out to the breakwaters and the beach.
Sandy straights marina, Hervey Bay, QLD
This is where we chose to park Rara when we went to Europe, the airport is located 5 kms from the marina and has direct flights to Sydney.
The facilities are clean and for marina guests only. They use an app to open the gates, no need for a key.
Restaurants around the marina basin, shops are a few kms away. It is a flat walk and easy to get a taxi for transport.
Keppel bay marina, Rosslyn bay, QLD
Very shallow channel to get into the marina, enter at high tides.
Friendly staff, there is a bus stop just outside that takes you to town. Hard to find Taxis so probably do online shopping to the marina.
Gladstone marina, Gladstone, QLD
The marina is behind the main shipping harbour and once you are in, it is hard to spot the ships.
Friendly staff, clean facilities and the marina is well kept. It is council owned so the cheapest marina of all the ones we stayed at.
It is abit of a walk to the shops and restaurants, there is a courtesy bus once a day to take you to town and back. Again, finding taxis was not that easy.
Mackay marina, Mackay, QLD
The gateway to the Whitsundays. From here there are shorter hops to get to the islands.
A large marina, also cyclone safe. You enter through a shipping harbour, so need to watch out for big ships docking/leaving.
The marina staff are friendly, there are some restaurants by the marina and the facilities are being upgraded this year. There are two amenity blocks, one was newly refurbished when we were there – the showers are great.
The laundry facilities are bit out of the way at the back of the offices, and unlocked. Fellow cruisers have had things taken out of washing machines and stolen – I would not leave the washing here. Waiting inside the laundry is at least an air-conditioned space.
You can rent a car ‘rent-a-wreck’ for 4 hours – at a cost (the most expensive cars we found). The best way (we found) was to rent the car in the afternoon – and you will be able to return it in the morning when the office opens again. This way you can explore further. And the car needs to be fuelled up before you return it.
Coffs Harbour, Coffs, NSW
This marina is safe from winds now, there are extra breakwaters in place. Coffs Harbour is easy to enter, though can be rolly inside, whereas going into the marina is a smoother option. When we were there they were replacing the docks and extending the marina. The facilities are only for marina guests, were slightly dated, but clean. Staff are friendly.
There are some restaurants nearby and shops within walking distance. The bigger food shops and Bunnings etc are a drive away. Laundry facilities are good.
Southport Yacht Club, Gold Coast, QLD
This is one of the more expensive marinas we have stayed at. The club restaurant was great and the chandlery is well stocked. A short walk to shops and restaurants.
The marina caters for Super yachts too so there are big boats around. The fuel dock is open 24-hours, the water is very tidal though around the fuel dock.
Bundaberg Port marina, Burnett Heads, QLD
This is one of the gateways to Sydney for yachts travelling from abroad.
The marina feels a little outdated, though there is a chandlery and a restaurant at the marina as well as facilities which are OK. The laundry is good.
There is a hardstand area which is very popular with travelling yachts, there are many trades here and you are allowed to live on the boat on the hard.
You can also store your boat here on the hard for longer periods.
Each Friday the marina hosts a BBQ in the gardens, you provide a share plate and drinks and the marina provides the protein.
Hamilton Island Marina, Hamilton Island, Whitsundays, QLD
The most expensive marina in QLD we stayed at. It portrayed luxury, and it is a big marina, with concierges that assist you into your berth – and it has shops, restaurants and bars around it, plus a free bus service to take you to the resort with pools and a beach you can use and the fact that it is walking distance to the airport, with direct flights from Sydney, we will not be in a hurry to get back here. The marina arms are open and the amenities are open to all, and probably the shabbiest we have seen. Laundry facilities are open to the public too, I would want to watch over my laundry and as it is located at the back of the shops, not a nice place to wait.
Sanna Westling – SY Rara
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