Port Phillip’s Aquatic Playground

Last month we looked at Port Phillip’s history. This issue we dig into the marina options for visiting boaties.

As Melbourne prospered, its pioneering residents quickly discovered the recreational uses of Port Phillip. 

Rowing, sailing and fishing became entrenched in the colonial lifestyle. Bayside suburbs such as St Kilda and Brighton were established on the east shore of the bay and Sorrento and Portsea became popular resorts in the south. 

For Melburnians and others who live close to its shores, the bay is a vast and freely accessible sanctuary from the bustling metropolis, and a major contributor to the liveability of the city and its surrounds.

With its mostly calm, temperate waters and long stretches of sandy coastline, the bay’s beaches are ideal for swimming, kitesurfing, windsurfing and stand-up paddle boarding. 

Dozens of lifesaving clubs dot Port Phillip, especially on the east coast, providing volunteer lifeguard services and conducting sporting carnivals. 

Port Phillip is also one of the state’s premier saltwater recreational fishing locations, with target species of flathead, snapper and King George whiting making up more than 500 tonnes of catch annually. 

Divers and snorkellers have a wide choice of experiences among the bay’s diverse underwater environments — beaches and piers, wrecks, reefs and walls, and marine parks and sanctuaries.

More than 40 boating and sailing clubs are located around the bay, with large maritime hubs at Queenscliff (see TAB 529), Geelong, Williamstown (see TAB 530), Docklands, St Kilda, Brighton Sandringham, Mornington, Martha Cove and Blairgowrie. 

Trailer sailors and tinnies have access to the bay at more than 50 boat ramps.

GEELONG WATERFRONT

Fronting Corio Bay, the Geelong waterfront is the historic heart of this satellite city and a hub for regional tourism and recreation. 

It hosts major sporting and community events, such as the Festival of Sails, world championship sailing regattas and ironman competitions, which attract more than two million visitors and generate more than $37 million annually.

The precinct encloses the Fisherman’s Basin, the Victorian Sailing School (VSS), Victorian Regional Channel Authority, Coast Guard and the Bay City Marina, home to the Royal Geelong Yacht Club (RGYC).

Fisherman’s Basin is a commercial port managed by City of Greater Geelong. The facility supports 24 permanent berths with vessel to shore loading/unloading infrastructure. 

Operators include maritime construction and commercial fishing boats, helicopter and marine charters, dive operators, food sales and recreational visitor berths. 

Established in 1987, the VSS provides maritime education for the community with more than 2000 participants each year drawn from across the state.

The RGYC was founded in 1855 and received the Royal warrant in 1924.  It has 250 pile berths for sailing and motor vessels, with access to power, water and fuel (diesel and ULP), and additional hardstand storage for 45 craft. The club can also accommodate vessels on swing moorings. 

Facilities include a maintenance yard with a crane for launching and retrieving boats, a mast hoist, slipway, shower amenities and CCTV security. 

Local chandleries and tradesmen provide an extensive range of specialised marina services.

In 2019, the Club commenced the Geelong Waterfront Safe Harbour Development Project. 

Co-funded by the City of Greater Geelong, Victorian and Federal Governments, the multi-million project will expand the harbour with a new wave attenuator and additional marina berths. 

On-water construction was to be completed in March 2020, with land elements (rebuilding of the VSS, RGYC Junior Clubhouse and public amenities) expected to commence in May 2020. 

YARRA RIVER TO DOCKLANDS

The Yarra River downstream of Bolte Bridge is a commercial port with busy container wharves. 

Private vessels must keep well clear of ships and port operations. 

A 10kt speed limit applies up to the Westgate Bridge, and 5kt thereafter. 

Westgate has an official clearance of 50.1m and the Bolte Bridge 25m at the centre of each of its two spans. 

The river is navigable by masted vessels until the Webb Bridge (2.9m at HW). 

The depth is maintained at 11m until the Bolte Bridge, where it begins to shallow to 6m and then abruptly to less than 2m just west of the Webb Bridge. 

Pier 35, on the south bank of the Yarra near the junction with the Maribyrnong River, is operated by d’Albora Marinas and has good quality services, including fuel, sewage pump-out and a restaurant. 

It caters mostly for motor craft, but has some yachts and may have berths for cruisers. Dry storage is also available.

Between Bolte Bridge and Webb Bridge, Docklands is an inner-city enclave of modern high-rise buildings sited on land formerly occupied by once-thriving, but latterly decayed, port facilities. 

The precinct includes residential towers, retail outlets, restaurants, and bars set along picturesque waterfront promenades with event hubs and cultural spaces. 

It is now Melbourne’s prime waterfront location, just minutes from the CBD, with five high-quality marinas.

Managed by the City of Melbourne Docklands Waterways, the Superyacht Marina is located at Central Pier within the calm waters of Victoria Harbour. 

It is Victoria’s only dedicated superyacht facility, catering to vessels up to 65m, with single- and three-phase power, telephone links, water and sewage pump-out at each berth. 

The marina lounge is a short walk away with showers, TV, kitchenette and free internet for crew use.

New Quay Marina is an impressive facility offering 48 fully-serviced berths for vessels up to 12m, with 24-hour security cameras and restricted pass access gates. 

Located in the northeast corner of Victoria Harbour, opposite Etihad Stadium, it is the closest marina to Melbourne CBD, with free tram service into the city for restaurants and business hubs.

d’Albora Marinas Victoria Harbour is a boutique marina with 69 berths for vessels ranging from 11–38m on short- or long-term leases. Facilities include a member’s lounge, personal care amenities and laundry.

Also located in Victoria Harbour, Melbourne City Marina is the largest visitor berthing facility in Melbourne, providing casual, short-term berths (up to 90 days) to the recreational boating community. 

Its 31 gated berths accommodate vessels up to 65m in length, with power, water, sewage pump-out and 24-hour security. 

This ‘5 Gold Anchor’ marina offers up to four hours of free daytime visitor berthing and overnight berthing from $45 (subject to availability). 

The modern marina lounge includes an outdoor deck and barbeque overlooking the harbour, with free Wi-Fi, private bathrooms and laundry facilities.

Yarra’s Edge Marina (or Marina YE) nestles in a small basin on the south bank of the Yarra just west of the Webb Bridge. 

It offers 149 long-term and 21 visitor berths for yachts, catamarans and motor boats up to 30m, with power and water pedestals, dock master assistance seven days a week, 24-hour security and sewage pump-out. 

The marina lounge features kitchenette, shower/change rooms and laundry. The adjacent South Wharf Promenade contains cafes and restaurants with panoramic waterside views.

ROYAL MELBOURNE YACHT SQUADRON 

Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron is located at St Kilda Beach, 6km southeast of the Melbourne CBD. 

Founded in 1876, the club was granted a royal warrant in 1924 and adopted its current name after amalgamating with the St Kilda 14-Foot Sailing Club in 1961. 

The clubhouse overlooks a harbour formed by the historic St Kilda Pier (c.1853) and a stone breakwater that protects the squadron marina. 

The Pier and its Pavilion are local landmarks, attracting more than eight million visitors to the St Kilda foreshore each year, while the breakwater is home to a permanent colony of 1300 Little Penguins. 

During a multi-million-dollar redevelopment of the harbour in 2014, the old marina was replaced by the current 250-berth facility for mostly keel boats ranging in length from 8–20m. 

The squadron also manages 115 swing moorings in the harbour suitable for vessels up to 10 metres. Long-term and some casual berths and moorings are available. Facilities include power, water, sewage pump-out, but no fuel.

ST KILDA MARINA

About 3km south of St Kilda Harbour is the St Kilda Marina, a commercial facility with 125 berths accommodating mainly power boats ranging from 6–23m at floating pontoons. 

There is undercover dry storage for boats up to 8m, an outdoor hardstand with 150 allocated spaces for trailer boats up to 9m and dedicated on-water spaces for PWC storage. 

The trailerboat park has two launch ramps in the marina with adjacent waterside queuing for four vessels on floating pontoons. 

A public boat ramp is located near the marina entrance. 

A wide range of on-site marine services includes a 24/7 fuel dock (diesel and ULP), general boat maintenance, fibreglass repairs, engine service and repairs, shipwright and slipping (trailer and crane).

ROYAL BRIGHTON YACHT CLUB 

The affluent bayside suburb of Brighton, 11 km southeast of Melbourne's CBD, is home to the Royal Brighton Yacht Club. 

The Club was formed in 1875 and gained the Royal prefix in 1927. Its marina has 241 berths from 8–18m, all with light, power, water, sewage pump-out and fire protection, hardstand accommodation for 60 yachts (including a home fleet of 30 Etchells racing yachts), and a dinghy storage yard with undercover mast down storage. 

The hardstand is served by two waterside jib cranes for vessel launch and retrieval. 

Casual (nightly, weekly, monthly) berthing is offered at competitive rates. On-site services include shipwright, sailing school, yacht charters and catering. 

The well-appointed clubhouse has a restaurant, bar and full amenities.

SANDRINGHAM YACHT CLUB

Sandringham Yacht Club (SYC) is located at Picnic Point, 19 km southeast of Melbourne.

Its 356-berth floating marina occupies most of a small boat harbour enclosed by a long stone breakwater and a public jetty. 

The club was established in 1903 and, although its name does not have a ‘Royal’ prefix, it is honoured to have HRH Prince Phillip as its Commodore-in-Chief. 

The marina is 3.5m deep and suitable for boats up to 20m long. 

Essential services include water, power, gated access, security patrols and ablution amenities. Visitor berthing is offered when available. 

A unique feature of the marina layout is the diagonal kink along the central walkway to avoid the submerged ‘J7’, a WWI British submarine scuttled here in 1926 to form a breakwater. 

The marina is supported by a well-equipped yard maintenance precinct with capacity for up to 30 boats, a slipway, double-lane launch ramp and fuel (diesel and ULP). 

On-site services include chandlery, shipwright, marine mechanics and electronics, and a rigging shop. 

The public jetty in the Sandringham Harbour has two-hour berthing. 

MORNINGTON HARBOUR

The Mornington Harbour precinct comprises the Mornington Pier and forecourt, Fisherman’s Jetty, the Mornington Yacht Club (MYC), the public boat ramp and trailer park, all hosting a range of commercial and recreational activities. 

Parks Victoria manages the Pier, the jetty and the harbour waters between them. 

The MYC manages the rest of the harbour on behalf of the Port of Melbourne Authority and the swing moorings (on 12-monthly permits) in the harbour basin as agent for Parks Victoria. 

Schnapper Point and the Pier together provide some protection for the harbour from south-westerly storms and the pier has been upgraded with wave screens to enhance protection from W-N winds. Despite this, boats moored in the harbour remain vulnerable to strong N–NE winds. 

Mornington Yacht Club occupies a building between the carpark and launching bays, and shares the accommodation with a café and The Rocks Restaurant. 

MARTHA COVE

Martha Cove is a commercial development adjoining the town of Safety Beach, 70km south of the Melbourne CBD. 

Set on 94ha, Martha Cove integrates a completely sheltered boat harbour with a waterfront residential community. 

The floating pontoon marina offers 300 berths with essential services for mono- and multi-hull vessels from 10–30m, on short- or long-term lease.  It also has casual berths, 24/7 security, fuel dock, public boat ramp and car parking, but no slipping, chandlery or marine trades. Access to Port Phillip passes the Safety Beach Sailing Club and Coast Guard through a 2.4m deep channel between two stone training walls.

BLAIRGOWRIE YACHT SQUADRON

Located in the south end of Port Phillip Bay, 8nm east of the Heads along the Sorrento Channel, Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron (BYS) is one of Victoria’s strongest sailing clubs with large fleets of keel boats, catamarans and off-the-beach dinghies. 

With a $25-million marina expansion and clubhouse redevelopment recently completed, BYS offers short- and long-term rentals in state-of-the-art facilities (but no fuel) for 170 yachts and power boats, and hardstand storage for over 200 more craft. 

The new extension provides an additional 40 visitor berths and the club manages swing moorings in Camerons Bight and Blairgowrie (about 350 in total) for Parks Victoria. 

The marina is sheltered in most conditions, except strong NW to E winds, and inshore waters are generally smooth. 

The redeveloped clubhouse offers expansive views over the Bay and includes a bar and bistro, free W-Fi, toilet, showers and laundry facilities.

CONTACTS

MELBOURNE CITY MARINA

Unit 120, 439 Docklands Drive. Docklands

P: (03) 9658 8738

E: berthing@melbourne.vic.gov.au

W: melbourne.vic.gov.au/community/boating-waterways/Pages/melbourne-city-marina.aspx

NEW QUAY MARINA

Shop 1, 401 Docklands Drive. Docklands

P: (03) 9091 1400

W: newquay.com.au

D'ALBORA MARINA

28 Cumberland Street, Victoria Harbour, Docklands

P: (03) 9602 4511

E: info@dalboramarinas.com.au

W: dalboramarinas.com.au/marinas/victoria-harbour

YARRA'S EDGE MARINA

84a River Esplanade, Docklands

P: 903) 9681 8394

W: marinaye.com.au

MELBOURNE SUPERYACHT MARINA

Unit 120, 439 Docklands Drive, Docklands

P: (03) 9658 8738

E: superyacht@melbourne.vic.gov.au

W: superyacht-australia.com/member/melbourne-superyacht-marina

ROYAL GEELONG YACHT CLUB

25 Eastern Beach, Geelong

P: (03) 5229 3705 

E: info@rgyc.com.au

W: rgyc.com.au/

ROYAL MELBOURNE YACHT SQUADRON

Pier Road, St Kilda

P: (03) 9534 0227

E: manager@rmys.com.au

W: rmys.com.au

ST KILDA MARINA

Marine Parade, Elwood

P: (03) 9534 0448

E: stkildamarinapl@bigpond.com

W: stkildamarina.net.au

ROYAL BRIGHTON YACHT CLUB

253 Esplanade, Middle Brighton

P: (03) 9592 3092

W: rbyc.org.au

SANDRINGHAM YACHT SQUADRON

Jetty Road, Sandringham

P: (03) 9599 0999

E: office@syc.com.au

W: syc.com.au

MORNINGTON YACHT CLUB

Schnapper Point drive, Mornington

P: (03) 5975 7001

E: admin@morningtonyc.net.au

W: morningtonyc.net.au

MARTHA COVE MARINA

Cnr Mariners Way & Anchorage Ave, Martha Cove

P: (03) 5987 0827

W: marthacoveharbour.com

BLAIRGOWRIE YACHT SQUADRON

2900 Point Nepean Road, Blairgowrie

P: (03) 5925 9600

E: info@bys.asn.au

W: bys.asn.au