Bundaberg - Clearance
This is a Port of Entry and a Biosecurity First Point of Entry for Australia.
For full details of Clearance into Australia, see the Noonsite Australia Formalities page.
Australian Border Force and the Department of Agriculture carry out customs, immigration and biosecurity clearance formalities here.
General Clearance:
Clearance procedures are carried out at the Bundaberg Port Marina which is located on the port side of the river, one nautical mile from the river entrance.
Once vessels have entered the river, proceed up the deepwater channel and turn to port past Channel Marker 16. Bundaberg Port Marina staff will assist with docking at the Quarantine Berth/Clearance Dock shown on the photo below.
Yachts arriving between 08.00 and 16.30 Monday to Friday, 08.00AM and 14.00 Saturdays or 08.00AM and 12.00 Sunday will be allocated a berth for clearance. After these hours of operation, the vessel must anchor inside the entry to the river anywhere to the south of the channel markers and they must stay on the seaward side of the point before reaching the marina. Vessels cannot anchor between the channel markers and the marina due to vessels coming into or leaving the Marina. The vessel must then contact the marina office within the operating hours to arrange berthing.
Note: Australia has strict quarantine rules regarding fresh produce and hull growth. See Australia formalities for more information.
International Clearance:
If you are an international visitor entering Australia through this port, Australian Customs MUST be notified at least 96 hours before your arrival. Large fines can be imposed if the correct notice is not given.
When vessels are approximately 10 nautical miles out from the Port of Bundaberg, call VMR 488 (Volunteer Marine Rescue Bundaberg) on VHF Channel 81. You will be asked to provide the following information:
- Vessel Name
- Full names of master of crew and crew onboard
- Nationality of master of vessel and any crew onboard
- Your last port of call
- If there is any sickness or injury onboard the vessel
- If you have any pets or animals onboard
From here, you will be instructed to contact the Bundaberg Port Marina for berthing details on the quarantine dock. Note: Quarantine officers will remove the majority of any edible supplies upon arrival.
If you have significant growth on your hull when you arrive, quarantine officers will inspect it with an underwater camera and then decide if the growth is a threat to the marine environment of Australia. They will then advise you if it’s necessary to haul out and have the growth removed.
Once you have entered the “runway” or shipping leads, proceed up the deep water channel (10 meters LOA) and turn to port past channel marker 16.
Last updated: January 2023
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Related to following destinations: Australia, Bundaberg, Queensland
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Spot on for the information re- International Clearance:
If you are an international visitor entering Australia through this port, Australian Customs MUST be notified at least 96 hours before your arrival. Large fines can be imposed if the correct notice is not given.
When vessels are approximately 10 nautical miles out from the Port of Bundaberg, they should call VMR 488 (Volunteer Marine Rescue Bundaberg) on VHF Channel 81. Except you must include that all vessels must have their radios on international and not on US as they will not be able to contact VMR488 if they are still on US.
Cheers from Cam H
We stayed in the Bundaberg marina for 2 years from 2016 to 2018 leaving our boat Baringo on the hard standing during the Australian summer. It was excellent. Very helpful staff and good repair work done while on the hard. Facilities were good and very clean. They organise all the formalities on arrival. There is a good restaurant in the marina and fresh fish can be bought directly from the fishing company next door. Highly recommended.
s/v Baringo
more information at http://www.yachtbaringo.com
Posted on behalf of Pauline Davis:
As is always the case it is the people who provide the services and operate the machinery that makes or break a marina. We came into Bundaberg in October 2013 in our Bruce Roberts 53 with a daunting job list involving everything from respraying the top sides, through mechanical work, canvas repair, sanding timber toe rails and galvanizing the anchor chain.
On the hardstand there is no restriction on doing your own work or if you prefer all the necessary skills are readily available. We have lifted and worked on our boat in numerous yards in a whole variety of countries all over the world but never before have we received such skilled, helpful and friendly service right from the management through to the operatives on the ground. The marina is to be complimented on their service, they deserve to do well.
Posted on behalf of Gunnar Eriksson of SY Kahiba
Returning to Australia after a 9 1/2 year circumnavigation we were not looking forward to the alleged complications and expense clearing into Australia (Bundaberg). Nothing could have been further from the truth; we were attended to by very courteous and friendly officials, all done on board in about 1/2 hour and the total cost $330.
Needing groceries the marina then called the manager at the supermarket in nearby Burnett Heads who picked us up in his van, took us to his shop and after finished shopping took us back to the boat via the local liquor store to pick up some beer, how is that for Aussie hospitality! Can thoroughly recommend Bundaberg as a port of entry.