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13 departure bases

A charter starts at a wharf, and the wharf decides your flights, your drive and your first afternoon. These are the marinas and waterfronts the operators in this directory actually leave from, clustered from the bases they publish, with what is reachable from each.

Airlie Beach and Coral Sea MarinaThe busiest charter base in Australia and the one most first-time bareboaters leave from.Queensland · sails Whitsundays

Sydney HarbourThe deepest day-charter market in Australia, and the one with the most wharves to choose from.New South Wales · sails Sydney Harbour

Adelaide, Glenelg and North HavenGulf sailing from three bases inside half an hour of the city.South Australia · sails Adelaide and Gulf St Vincent

Port Douglas and CairnsReef day sailing from two marinas an hour apart, with different reef access from each.Queensland · sails Port Douglas and Low Isles

Brisbane and Moreton BayShallow, sheltered water inside two sand islands, twenty minutes from a capital city.Queensland · sails Brisbane and Moreton Bay

Pittwater and NewportAustralia’s best short-charter ground and its main bareboat base outside the tropics.New South Wales · sails Pittwater and Broken Bay

Hobart and the DerwentA waterfront departure into cold, clear water and the gateway to the channel.Tasmania · sails Hobart and River Derwent

Townsville and Magnetic IslandA short, sheltered crossing and a quieter alternative to the Whitsundays.Queensland · sails Magnetic Island and Townsville

Melbourne and Port PhillipA very large bay, a very narrow entrance, and a fleet that mostly stays inside.Victoria · sails Melbourne and Port Phillip

DarwinBig tides, a short season, and sunset sailing as the main product.Northern Territory · sails Darwin Harbour

The Gold CoastBroadwater day charter and events, with an ocean bar most charters do not cross.Queensland · sails Gold Coast Broadwater

Port StephensA large sheltered bay two and a half hours from Sydney, with dolphins as the headline act.New South Wales · sails Port Stephens and Broughton Island

Fremantle and PerthThe Rottnest run, and an afternoon sea breeze you can set your watch by.Western Australia · sails Fremantle, Rottnest and Carnac

Two bases in the directory carry a single operator each and are covered on their region pages rather than here: Port Geographe in Western Australia and Lake Burley Griffin in the ACT. Nothing on these pages describes marina facilities — this directory has inspected no berth, and fuel, parking and provisioning change without notice. Confirm the wharf, the time and what is included with the operator in writing. See the disclaimer.