 Introduction
Wondering where to go after visiting South East Asia? Many
Superyachts, particularly those requiring a re-fit, head for the Pacific Rim and Australia.
The gem of Australian cruising is the Great Barrier Reef, off Australia's east coast. It is World Heritage
listed and abounds with wildlife, including dugongs, green turtles, dolphins and whales.
It is the largest barrier reef in the world spanning an unbelievable 1,000 miles from Cape York to Brisbane
and consisting of more than 3,000 separate reefs. It is scattered with beautiful islands.
The most popular area is the Whitsunday Islands which features abundant anchorages on offshore islands
and spectacular beaches.
Weather
The climate of the Great Barrier Reef varies and it is generally more
tropical in the north than the south.
The dry season, with relatively low humidity and cool breezes, is between May and October and the wet
season, with tropical rainfalls caused by the monsoons, is between November and April. The wet season
brings with it the splendor of the waterfalls in full swing and the fast raging rivers.
Charts
Charts of Australia are produced by the Australian Hydrographic
Service. Charts can be purchased on-line from Boating Books & Charts Australia - accredited Chart
Agents for the Australian Hydrographic Service - at www.boatbooks.com.au
In Australia there is a 12% sales tax on charts which does not apply if charts are sent to a customer
outside of Australia.
Cruising Guides
Alan Lucas is Australia's foremost cruising author.
His books include:
 Australian Cruising Guide -
This cruising guide surveys all Australian waters and is intended as a handbook for yachtsmen wishing to
visit the country. It contains all the necessary planning information. The work is divided into sections
covering geography, climate, formalities, plus navigational advice, sailing directions, and detailed
two-colour sketch charts.
Cruising the New South Wales Coast - This is a sailor's guide to the ports, anchorages and lakes
of Australia's First State and also Lord Howe Island. First published in 1976, this book has been fully
revised and updated in a fourth edition, using personal research and surveys carried out by the author
aboard his own boat during 1994 and 1995. The maps for the port approaches and recommended anchorages are
very clear and include all navigation information.
Cruising the Coral Coast - First published in 1968, this book has reached its seventh edition and
remains the only guide to embrace the entire east coast of Queensland, the Torres Strait and the Great
Barrier Reef. This edition, published in 1996, includes notes on the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Coral
Sea. To celebrate its successful twenty-five years, this edition is the biggest yet with larger, more
detailed charts and the inclusion of more ports and anchorages than ever before. These guides can be
purchased on-line from Boat Books
Ltd.
Tides
 In both eastern
and western Australia there are two high tides and two low tides every 24 hours but in southern and
northern Australia, due to the canceling or competing effects of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, there may
only be one high tide and one low tide in 24 hours.
Occasionally on South Australian shores there may be a "dodge tide", where the tide may remain fairly
stationary for a couple of days.
South-eastern Australia, including New South Wales and Victoria and Tasmania, has a 2 metre tidal range,
while south-western Australia has a 1 metre tidal range.
Courtesy Flag
 An Australian courtesy flag should be displayed
whenever entering Australian waters.
The stars of the Southern Cross represent Australia's geographical position in the Southern Hemisphere,
the Commonwealth Star symbolizes the federation of States and Territories, and the Crosses stand for
Parliamentary Democracy, Rule of the Law and Freedom of Speech.
Security
Survey's show that there has been a decline in the level of crime
in Australia and other industrial countries in the last ten years. A significant proportion of
Australians believe that the police do a good job of controlling crime and Australia rates third behind
the USA and Scotland in its level of satisfaction with its police force.
Arrival
 All
vessels sailing into Australia are required to give prior notification of their estimated time of arrival
to the Australian Customs Service, Department of Immigration, Multi Cultural Affairs and the Australian
Quarantine and Inspection Service. They can be contacted direct through any Telstra Coastal radio station
on 2182 khz.
Regulations
Customs clearance must be completed immediately and everyone on
board the vessel will require a valid passport and, where necessary, an Australian Visa; they will also
be required to complete a passenger card and traveler's statement. The skipper must have proof of clearance
from his last overseas port of call.
Facilities
Australian marinas are located in New South Wales, Queensland, South
Australia and Western Australia.
Here are some of them:
 River Quays Marina, Sydney, New South Wales
Spinnaker
Sound Marina, Bribie Island, Queensland
Marina Mirage,
Port Douglas, Queensland
Keppel Bay Marina,
Yeppoon, Queensland
Flinders Marina,
Adelaide, South Australia
Aquarama Marina,
Freemantle, Western Australia
Australia
is a popular place for re-fits and Cairns Slipwayis equipped with extensive wharves, dry dock, slipway, side slip and
workshops. The slipway can handle vessels up to 1200 tonnes and 70 metres long.
The two Australian members of the Association of Yacht Support Services (A.Y.S.S.) -
Barwil Agencies Australia Pty Ltd
and
Major Yacht
Services - can assist with check-in procedures and local regulations. |
