Island hopping, sheltered waterways, and an easy mix of time on the water and ashore make this one of South East Queensland’s most rewarding short-range cruising grounds.
For Maritimo owners based on the Gold Coast, some of the best cruising does not require a long coastal passage, or complicated itinerary. Moreton Bay and the Broadwater offer a mix of island anchorages, beaches, waterfront clubs, and protected waterways. It is a cruising ground where the journey can be every bit as enjoyable as the destination, and where a long weekend can feel considerably longer once the marina disappears astern.
That was the thinking behind Maritimo’s late-August owners’ muster, which brought together 10 boats, and around 40 people for a relaxed cruise from the Gold Coast into Moreton Bay and back. A majority of those attending were taking part in a Maritimo muster for the first time. Grant Binskin, Maritimo’s Retail Marketing Consultant estimated that around 70 per cent of the group were new to the experience, creating an ideal mix of established owners and fresh faces. “It was the perfect number to have a nice celebration, a terrific party, but also not so big that you don’t get to meet and chat with everybody,” said Binskin.
The route demonstrated why this part of South East Queensland works so well for cruising in company. Rather than beginning with a long offshore run, the boats gathered as they moved north along the Gold Coast, with timing arranged around the tide-sensitive shoals near Jacobs Well. Once through, the fleet settled into an easy passage toward Southern Moreton Bay, where confined waterways quickly open to broad expanses of water, islands and sheltered anchorages.
The first stop was at Peel Island, where “…we dropped anchor and a few people took their tenders in and we just caught up on the beach and got our feet wet, which was nice,” commented Binskin. “Nothing really formal set up there, but that was a good chance to kind of say hello to a few new faces.”
That informality is one of Moreton Bay’s strengths. A passage can be broken by an hour or two at anchor, a beach landing or lunch ashore, rather than every stop becoming a major destination. For owners cruising independently, Peel Island offers exactly that freedom, somewhere to pause, enjoy the surroundings, and then move on when the mood takes you.
From Peel Island, the group continued to Dunwich on North Stradbroke Island, anchoring in protected water south of the vehicle ferry landing. An early arrival gave owners time to settle their boats and relax before heading ashore. A large Brig inflatable, supplied by Sirocco Marine Queensland, ferried guests to the public wharf, with the Little Ship Club then assisting with transport to the club itself.
Dunwich shows how easily Moreton Bay can combine the independence of anchoring, with the pleasure of stepping ashore. The Little Ship Club looks west across the bay, giving the group a front-row view as the sun dropped over the mainland.
Maritimo had its own marquee, food platters, and an informal afternoon gathering that deliberately avoided becoming too structured. “They really did a great job for us,” Binskin said. “We had some really delicious platters of food coming out for us, and we had a bar tab there as well. We had a really enjoyable afternoon just relaxing, and watching the sun come down over the bay.”
This stop captured much of what makes cruising here appealing. The best days move easily from passage to anchorage, tender to shore, and then back to the comfort of your own yacht. Binskin summed up the afternoon simply, “It was a beautiful sunset there, and by around 7pm the group was safely back aboard for the night.”
The following morning showed the value of having options close at hand. The wind had increased overnight and conditions in the bay had become less comfortable, but the planned route was already taking the fleet south toward the more protected waters of the Gold Coast Broadwater. The boats lifted anchor at around 8am and headed back through the Jacobs Well area toward South Stradbroke Island. “Luckily for us we were heading back down through the bay, into the Gold Coast Broadwater where it’s more protected,” Binskin said. “So, we were able to make the best of the weather, even though it turned a little bit sour.”
The second-day destination was Dux Anchorage, Southport Yacht Club’s island haven on South Stradbroke Island. It has the remote feel that makes an overnight anchorage special, yet sits within the Broadwater rather than at the end of an offshore passage. The fleet arrived around late morning, giving owners time to anchor, launch tenders, and then move between boat and shore at their own pace.
Lunch set the tone for the afternoon. A large marquee had been arranged on the grounds, with a sit-down buffet and tropical theme that encouraged Hawaiian shirts and resort-style clothing, despite the winter date. “Even though it was still in winter, it was great to be able to chuck on the Hawaiian shirts and pretend that we’re somewhere tropical,” Binskin said. It was enough structure to bring everyone together, while still leaving owners free to return to their boats or relax ashore.
