Australia : Profile

Facts

In spite of the large number of yachts in Australia, the number of Australian yachts cruising overseas is surprisingly small and the only explanation for this is that Australia possesses such beautiful and varied cruising grounds that they do not need to go and look for variety elsewhere. From the wind-swept coasts of Victoria and Tasmania to the picturesque harbours of New South Wales, the tropical islands and Great Barrier Reef of Queensland to the huge shallow bays of the Northern Territory, Australia has it all.
The island of Tasmania and the Torres Strait Islands are also part of Australia and there are the overseas territories of Norfolk Island, Cocos Keeling and Christmas Island
Facilities in Australia are generally good and anywhere near a yachting centre are excellent. For yachts arriving from the Pacific it is a great relief to find a country where everything is available and virtually anything can be fixed. If in need of a major overhaul or repairs, it is advisable to head for a main centre, such as Sydney, Brisbane, Townsville, Cairns or Darwin, where repair facilities are of a high standard and spares readily available.
Due to the large fishing fleet based in Darwin, there are excellent repair facilities of all types and chandlers in the area around the Mooring Basin. Boats bound for Darwin should join the annual Over the Top Cruise organised by the Gove Yacht Club as it includes stops in several places that are normally closed to visitors.
Yacht clubs everywhere are welcoming and are also a valuable source of advice concerning repairs or provisioning. Australian charts are excellent and are continually kept up to date. They are available in any port of significant size.

The climate varies from one end of the country to the other. It is mainly temperate except for the tropical north and central desert. The north has two seasons, wet from November to March, with the heaviest rainfall after January. The winter months of April to October are drier and more pleasant. The cyclone season is from late October/early November to early May on both the Pacific and Indian Ocean coasts.

Australian weather: www.bom.gov.au

Marine Weather Broadcasts (Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology) email - marineradio@bom.gov.au

Main Ports

New South Wales: Coffs Harbour * , Eden * , Gosford , Lord Howe Island * , Newcastle + Port Stephens * , Port Botany and Kurnell , Port Kembla / Shellharbour , Sydney * , Yamba, Clarence River

Northern Territories: Darwin * , Gove * , Groote Eylandt, Milner Bay

Queensland: Abbot Point , Brisbane * , Bundaberg * , Cairns * , Gladstone * , Gold Coast , Hay Point, Dalrymple Bay , Lucinda , Mackay * , Manly * , Mooloolaba , Mourilyan Harbour , Port Douglas , Rockhampton, Port Alma * , Scarborough , The Whitsunday Islands , Thursday Island * , Tin Can Bay , Townsville * , Weipa *

South Australia: Adelaide * , Ceduna(Cape Thevenard) , Kingscote , Port Lincoln * , Port Pirie * , Robe , Wallaroo , Whyalla *

Tasmania: Burnie * , Devonport * , Hobart * , Launceston * , Strahan

Victoria: Geelong * , Hastings (Westernport) * , Melbourne * , Portland * , Westernport

Western Australia: Albany * , Broome * , Bunbury * , Carnarvon * , Dampier * , Derby , Esperance * , Exmouth , Fremantle & Perth * , Geraldton * , Onslow , Port Hedland * , Port Walcott

*Indicates a port of entry.

Page Sponsor

Click here

PASSAGEMAKERS DIRECT, beautiful Seahorse fiberglass and Oceaneer steel passagemakers, trawler yachts, and motorsailers delivered direct from SEAHORSE MARINE to you. Up to 50% savings by purchasing direct.