Island Anchorage Guide

The Whitsundays are made up of about 74 tropical islands forming part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP). Most of the islands are national parks and therefore subject to laws and regulations.

The Great Barrier Reef acts as a natural barrier to create idyllic conditions for yacht cruising between the islands and there are literally dozens of safe, convenient anchorages throughout the archipelago, all within a couple of hours sailing.

The Whitsunday Islands reefs are outstanding for their coral cover and marine diversity. As a general rule, you must not damage coral. Make sure that you are causing the least damage possible by anchoring well away from coral whenever possible and following the responsible reef practices for anchoring.

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Distance Guide (approx, nautical miles) From Coral Sea Marina to: Nara/Macona 13nm, Hayman Island 15nm, Hamilton Marina 16nm, Whitehaven 30nm, Cid Harbour 14nm, South Molle 9nm.
To estimate travel times: cruising under motor speed around 5kts (nautical miles per hour) allow extra time to anchor / pickup a mooring. e.g. Coral Sea Marina to Cid Harbour approx. 3 hours under motor, less if under sail in favorable wind conditions.

APPROVED ANCHORAGES

Overnight anchorages suitable for winds to 20 knots

No	Name	Map Ref	Anchorage	Note	Wind Protection
1	Double Bay West	N12	1, 2 & 3		E SE S SW W NW
2	Double Bay East	N13	1, 2 & 3		E SE S SW NW
3	Woodwark Bay	N14	1, 2 & 3		E SE S SW W
4	Coral Sea Marina	C1	Marina		All weather
5	Airlie Bay	C1	1 & 2		E SE S SW
6	Funnel Bay	C2	1		NE E SE S SW
7	Long Is – Happy Bay	C4	1	Anchor/moorings	NE E SE S SW
8	Long Is – Palm Bay	C4		Mooring only	NE E SE S SW
9	Daydream Is Sunlover Beach	C8		Mooring only	Light winds only
10	Sth Molle Is – Bauer Bay	C9			E SE S SW
11	Nara Inlet	C10b	1 & 3		All weather
12	Macona Inlet	C10a	1		NE E SE S SW
13	Macona Inlet	C10a	2		All weather
14	Stonehaven	C12	2	Anchor/mooring	NE E SE S
15	Blue Pearl Bay	C13b		Moorings only	NE E SE
16	Butterfly/Luncheon Bay	C14/15		Moorings only	NE E SE S SW W NW
17	Maureens Cove	C14/15		Anchor/mooring	E SE S SW
19	Mays Bay	C18	1		E SE S
20	Cid Harbour – Sawmill	C19	1 & 2		NE E SE S SW
21	Cid Hbr – Dugong Inlet	C19	3		NW N NE E SE
22	Gulnare Inlet	C20	1	Enter & leave 2nd half of rising tide	All weather
23	Hamilton Island	C22		Marina	All weather
24	Turtle Bay	C24	1 2 3 & 4		NW N NE
25	Chance Bay	C25	1 & 2		NW N NE
26	Whitehaven Beach	C26	1		E SE S SW W NW
27	Chalkies Beach	C26	2	Max 6 boats – extra care!	E SE
28	Tongue Bay	C27	1	Anchor/mooring	SE S SW W NW
29	Cateran Bay	C29	1	Anchor/mooring	E SE S SW
30	Windy Bay	C31	3		E SE S SW
31	Lindeman Is – Boatport	S1	3		NE E SE
32	– Gap Beach	S1	5		SE S SW W
33	– Plantation Bay	S2	1		NW N NE E SE S
34	Shaw Island – Neck Bay	S2	2		NE E SE S
35	– West	S3	1		NE E SE S
36	– Burning Pt	S3	3		E SE S SW

Public Moorings and Responsible Anchoring in the Great Barrier Reef

Heading out boating? All you need to know to utilise the system of public moorings in the Great Barrier Reef and help protect delicate coral from anchor damage.

The Great Barrier Reef and its spectacular island national parks are home to an abundant and diverse marine life, attracting thousands of visitors each year.

The magnificent corals are among the most popular attractions, yet they are the most vulnerable. Coral reefs can be damaged by:
• a vessel’s anchor and chain dropping or dragging on coral;
• a vessel grounding when the wind changes or the tide ebbs; and
• a chain or rope wrapping around coral and breaking pieces off.

Coral can be killed or damaged by anchoring. It may take many years for the coral to recover. Some coral never returns to its original condition.

Public moorings and reef protection markers have been installed in a number of locations throughout the Great Barrier Reef to reduce anchor damage.

The following is a brief overview of the public moorings throughout the Whitsunday Islands. For more information simply scan the barcode.