July 12, 2002
Ports of Entry - Australia East Coast (Part One)

By comparison with a cruise among the islands of the Pacific, where there is little or no choice about the point of arrival, the east coast of Australia offers a bewilderingly large target. From Sydney in the south to Thursday Island (the farthest northern point of Australian territory) stretches 3000 km of coastline.

Most yachts head for Australia from October onwards in order to avoid being in the islands during the cyclone season. Consequently, many crews avoid the far northeast of Australia, as it too is in the cyclone belt. Also many yachts do not want to go as far south as Sydney as they will have to retrace their steps in the spring. That leaves the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and the Capricorn Coast as favored areas for cruisers to spend the summer months.

The climate in this part of Queensland is very good, perhaps a little too hot in the height of the summer but generally perfect for boat work and enjoying the local amenities.

Having last year faced the choice of where to go along this section of coast, we thought we would put together some information about the facilities available to visiting yachts. The list is by no means comprehensive, as it only includes those places we visited, but it includes all the main centres.

GOLD COAST

The Gold Coast is the most developed area of the Queensland coast. You'll see lots of high-rise buildings and miles of surfing beaches. If you have children on board, there is plenty of entertainment - Ocean World, Movie World etc.

	Hope Harbour.

Hope Harbour Marina is located on the Coomera River, which is some 6 miles from the ocean access via the Gold Coast (aka Southport) Seaway. A 3-metre draught can be carried at LAT through from the Seaway to the entrance.

It is a quiet, attractive and very well sheltered basin and the only marina on the river that allows people to live aboard. There is a cafe/bar and convenience store just inside the harbour entrance.

Approximately half the existing berths have phone connections and at the time of writing the marina manager was looking at installing a wireless Internet service across the marina, whereby you may rent a transceiver to enable high speed Internet access and possibly phone from on board without plugging in.

Services: The Hope harbour Shiplift has a fully featured spray booth for undercover spray painting vessels up to 100 feet. They also have on site marine trimmers, engineering shop, aluminum welding and fabrication, engine repairers (Yanmar agents) plus basic chandlery.

Shopping: There is a small shopping centre (service station, convenience stores) a kilometre away, a larger one with supermarket 3km away and seriously large ones with all usual needs 8km away (there is an hourly bus service leaving from the road adjacent the marina). About the same distance away are to be found the bulk of the specialist shops like riggers, sailmaker, electronic repairs etc.

Nearest port for clearing: Scarborough.

Contact: www.hopeharbour.com.au and e-mail harbourmaster@hopeharbour.com.au and for anyone enquiring specifically about getting work done use shiplift@hopeharbour.com.au.

BRISBANE

Brisbane is the capital of Queensland and we thought it was a great city. There are marinas right in the centre of the city, but most cruisers head for Manly, a suburb of Brisbane or Redcliffe (Scarborough Marina).

Manly

East Coast Marina is a large modern facility in a pretty setting. A promenade stretches for several kilometres in both directions along the water front where people walk, jog and cycle or use one of the BBQ facilities.

Although the marina states 2 metres as their maximum draft they were dredging when we were there. We draw 2.2m and had no problem so long as we didn't try to enter or leave at dead low water. There is a cafe on site open 7am to 3pm but there is no bar for cruisers to get together in the evenings.

The marina has recently been awarded a GREEN license by the Brisbane City Council. (We believe that this is the first GREEN license to be issued to a Marina.)

Services: There are a few facilities on site (canvas/awnings, fibre glass work, outboard engine agent) but because there are four marinas in the areas there are many chandlers and other service providers locally based e.g. sailmakers, dinghy repairs, electronics repairs.

Shopping: Manly is five minutes walk from the marina and has everything you need for day to day shopping (a butcher, a baker, a small supermarket etc.). It has a very pleasant village atmosphere and a good selection of cafes, restaurants.

Brisbane offers all that you would expect from a city and is a 20-minute drive away or a 40-minute train ride from Manly (cost US$2 return).

Nearest port for clearing: Scarborough.

Contact:www.eastcoastmarina.com.au and e-mail boatsell@powerup.com.au.

Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron.

Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron (RQYS) is right next door to East Coast Marina. The RQYS clubhouse is located here. Reciprocal membership is available to members of specific yacht clubs. There are regular events held at the club, e.g. Wednesday evening races, which enliven the marina and create opportunities to meet local sailors.

Availability of berths is limited as priority is given to members and they are often booked up well in advance. You can haul here but are required to effect any work as quickly as possible and then launch.

Services: Same as for East Coast Marina (above).

Shopping: Same as for East Coast Marina (above).

Nearest port for clearing: Scarborough.

Contact: e-mail amonks@rqys.com.au.

Redcliffe

Redcliffe is about 40 minutes drive from Brisbane and is connected by a fast inexpensive rail service.

Scarborough Marina is an official port of entry and is the first marina you come to when you enter Morton Bay. Consequently it has a very yachtie feel and a high proportion of visiting yachts in the marina.

The marina can take yachts up to 3m draft and the channel has a LWS depth of 2.3m. The boatyard can take around 25 boats and there is space for a further 25 on the hard stand.

They have a couple of berths with their own telephone lines but they are also installing an Internet connection to a broadband LAN line accessed via the marina office.

There is no bar or yacht club on the site but Moreton Bay Boat Club is just next door.

Services: Several yacht service companies, including a chandlery, are on site or within walking distance. We know several yachts that hauled and carried out refit work here and found all the services they needed locally.

Shopping: The nearest shopping mall is about 5 km and the marina provides a bus service twice a week during the main season.

Nearest port for clearing: Scarborough.

Contact: www.scarbmarina.com.au and e-mail info@scarbmarina.com.au.

Marina Berths - wet Berths - dry Largest berth Max draft Lift (t).

Hope Harbour 180 Available locally 35m 3.5m 45 & 70.

Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron 464 0 for long term 25 2m (lat) 35.

East Coast Marina 358 120 25m 2m (see notes) 35.

Scarborough Marina 165 50 20m 3m 32 Mooloolaba Yacht Club 195 Browns Slipway 17m 2m Browns Slipway Bundaberg Port Marina 130 30 50m 4.5m 70.

Gladstone Marina 270 100 FORGACS & GMC 20+m 5m 50 FORGACS

*All these marinas have power and water to the berth/showers/laundry/fax services etc.

** Prices vary annually and depend upon availability and length of stay so are not quoted.