Australia: The Ideal Yachting Destination

The Great Barrier Reef

Of course, the star attraction of cruising down-under is the Great Barrier Reef. It stretches for 2,300 km, from the very tip of Australia right down to Bundaberg. It is not one reef but 2,500 individual reefs which link together. As the name suggests, it provides a barrier from the Pacific Ocean, protecting countless islands, anchorages, towns and cities – the most well-known being Cairns and the Whitsunday Islands.

The Great Barrier Reef offers exceptional cruising, diving, fishing and island destinations along its whole length, starting at the northernmost point of the Australian continent – Cape York. It’s where the Torres Strait meets the Coral Sea, and is a great spot for fishing for barramundi. This area of the world has little to no development, so you’ll be seeing it as it has been for thousands of years.

Cairns, The Whitsundays and Gold Coast

As you head south, you will find Lizard Island close to Cairns. It’s a mecca for black marlin fishermen and has a six-star resort for those looking for some land-based activities and fine dining.

The heart of the reef is where you will find the Whitsunday Islands, including Hamilton Island and the beachside town of Airlie Beach. Hamilton Island is the home of the famous Hamilton Island Race Week with Airlie Beach popular for its coastal bars, restaurants & nightlife. Naturally, The Whitsundays has two great ports for Superyachts at Abell Point Marina & Hamilton Island, with both providing plenty of first-class facilities on the doorstep to the 74 islands of the Whitsundays.

The iconic Whitehaven Beach is a jewel in the crown of the Whitsundays. Stretching over seven kilometres it boasts brilliant white silica sand that is among the purest in the world. At the northern end of Whitehaven Beach is Hill Inlet, a stunning inlet where the tide shifts the sand and water to create a spectacular fusion of colours. Many people claim Hill Inlet and Whitehaven Beach are the most beautiful places they’ve ever seen.

A few days’ cruising south gets you to the southernmost tip of the reef. Locals call this the Bunkers, and the stars are Lady Musgrave, Lady Elliot and Herron Islands. They are islands within coral cays which are reminiscent of the Caribbean. The famous Gold Coast is a further few days of sailing away.

The Gold Coast is a beach-side city stretching over 57 km. It’s Australia’s sixth largest city, with a resident population of 570,000 people, which is significantly added to by the arrival of 13 million tourists each year. They come for the very same reason that superyacht crews love the city – the world-class surf, the great weather, leading golf courses, and great theme parks, all framed by World Heritage-listed rainforest.

The West Coast

On the opposite side of Australia from the Great Barrier Reef is Ningaloo Reef – Australia’s other reef. At 260 km long, it’s the longest single fringing reef in the world, and one of the few places you can swim with whale sharks. Like the Great Barrier Reef on the east coast, the west coast’s Ningaloo Reef is UNESCO World Heritage listed. It’s a marine nursery for manta rays, turtles, fish and dolphins, so it makes for an outstanding diving and fishing location.

Further up the same coastline is the Kimberley. This vast region of Western Australia has been the focus of international attention recently after it won the Voyager Awards at the World Superyacht Awards in 2017. It’s about the size of Germany, but populated mostly by beautiful canyons and gorges. It is one of the most remote parts of the Australian coastline, so hiring a local guide is virtually a must. There is an 11-metre tidal range, which creates spectacular but challenging horizontal waterfalls. Careful planning is required to get the most out of this relatively unknown area, but it is worth the effort. As it has very little in the way of development, it is full of native wildlife.

North and South

The north of Australia is for the truly intrepid, and is best cruised in the cooler months of May to October. By contrast, the southern parts are more popular in the warmer months – November through April.

The mega star of Australian yachting destinations is Sydney Harbour, though more for its glamour and cosmopolitan atmosphere than the natural environments of other parts of the country. It’s a busy harbour and has the iconic bridge and opera house, which are at their best when illuminated by the amazing New Year’s Eve fireworks displays.

Finally, there is Tasmania. Sitting off the southern coast of the Australian mainland, it’s severely underrated as a yachting destination, although that is changing. Over half of the island is dedicated to national park and the pelagic seafood you will find here is amazing. Along the east coast, there are many natural harbours in much-desired locations, such as the Bay of Fires, the Freycinet Peninsula, Wine Glass Bay and down to Hobart and Bruny Island. The west coast can be unforgiving, but the challenges are completely smothered by the raw natural beauty.