With the festive season just around the corner, we have picked our top three anchorages for Christmas Day.
Port Hacking, NSW
Located south of Botany Bay, Port Hacking is sometimes referred to as Sydney’s forgotten waterway. A sandy and protected harbour, there are plenty of places to drop anchor and enjoy the solitude. The southern beaches edge the National Park whilst the northern edges of the harbour are developed including marinas and even moorings managed by the Royal Motor Yacht Club. Shifting sands can make it a little difficult to navigate but it is well worth the effort and within easy reach of Sydney.
Horseshoe Bay, Peel Island, QLD
Perfect in a northerly, Horseshoe Bay is a go-to destination in South East Queensland. Named after its shape, the wide bay has a sandy beach lined with coastal forest. There are plenty of sandbanks inshore which, at high tide, shallow-draft boats can anchor over and then it is a hop, skip and jump to the beach. Others must anchor further offshore, but it is an easy trip to the beach in either the tender or paddleboard. The bay has a sandy bottom with seagrass which has been known to attract dugongs and other marine wildlife. Expect a lot of others to join you but there is plenty of space for everyone.
Jervis Bay, NSW
Jervis Bay is often associated with the HMAS Creswell Naval base yet there is so much more to the bay. Certainly, for most, it would be a little more than a day trip for Christmas Day so a stop may form part of a much larger festive season cruising itinerary. Jervis Bay is protected as a National Marine Park and there are specific zones indicating which activities are permitted. Yet, for the most part, recreational boating is allowed. Land and marine wildlife are plentiful throughout the bay. Long Beach and Bindijine are protected in easterly conditions, and Honeymoon Bay is easily accessible by tender from these anchorages. Across the bay, the western beaches have great access to the townships and their bars, cafes, shops and restaurants.
