Island hopping, sheltered waterways, and an easy mix of time on the water and ashore make this one of South East Queensland’s most rewarding short-range cruising grounds.
For Maritimo owners based on the Gold Coast, some of the best cruising does not require a long coastal passage, or complicated itinerary. Moreton Bay and the Broadwater offer a mix of island anchorages, beaches, waterfront clubs, and protected waterways. It is a cruising ground where the journey can be every bit as enjoyable as the destination, and where a long weekend can feel considerably longer once the marina disappears astern.
That was the thinking behind Maritimo’s late-August owners’ muster, which brought together 10 boats, and around 40 people for a relaxed cruise from the Gold Coast into Moreton Bay and back. A majority of those attending were taking part in a Maritimo muster for the first time. Grant Binskin, Maritimo’s Retail Marketing Consultant estimated that around 70 per cent of the group were new to the experience, creating an ideal mix of established owners and fresh faces. “It was the perfect number to have a nice celebration, a terrific party, but also not so big that you don’t get to meet and chat with everybody,” said Binskin.
The route demonstrated why this part of South East Queensland works so well for cruising in company. Rather than beginning with a long offshore run, the boats gathered as they moved north along the Gold Coast, with timing arranged around the tide-sensitive shoals near Jacobs Well. Once through, the fleet settled into an easy passage toward Southern Moreton Bay, where confined waterways quickly open to broad expanses of water, islands and sheltered anchorages.
The first stop was at Peel Island, where “…we dropped anchor and a few people took their tenders in and we just caught up on the beach and got our feet wet, which was nice,” commented Binskin. “Nothing really formal set up there, but that was a good chance to kind of say hello to a few new faces.”
That informality is one of Moreton Bay’s strengths. A passage can be broken by an hour or two at anchor, a beach landing or lunch ashore, rather than every stop becoming a major destination. For owners cruising independently, Peel Island offers exactly that freedom, somewhere to pause, enjoy the surroundings, and then move on when the mood takes you.
From Peel Island, the group continued to Dunwich on North Stradbroke Island, anchoring in protected water south of the vehicle ferry landing. An early arrival gave owners time to settle their boats and relax before heading ashore. A large Brig inflatable, supplied by Sirocco Marine Queensland, ferried guests to the public wharf, with the Little Ship Club then assisting with transport to the club itself.
Dunwich shows how easily Moreton Bay can combine the independence of anchoring, with the pleasure of stepping ashore. The Little Ship Club looks west across the bay, giving the group a front-row view as the sun dropped over the mainland.
Maritimo had its own marquee, food platters, and an informal afternoon gathering that deliberately avoided becoming too structured. “They really did a great job for us,” Binskin said. “We had some really delicious platters of food coming out for us, and we had a bar tab there as well. We had a really enjoyable afternoon just relaxing, and watching the sun come down over the bay.”
This stop captured much of what makes cruising here appealing. The best days move easily from passage to anchorage, tender to shore, and then back to the comfort of your own yacht. Binskin summed up the afternoon simply, “It was a beautiful sunset there, and by around 7pm the group was safely back aboard for the night.”
The following morning showed the value of having options close at hand. The wind had increased overnight and conditions in the bay had become less comfortable, but the planned route was already taking the fleet south toward the more protected waters of the Gold Coast Broadwater. The boats lifted anchor at around 8am and headed back through the Jacobs Well area toward South Stradbroke Island. “Luckily for us we were heading back down through the bay, into the Gold Coast Broadwater where it’s more protected,” Binskin said. “So, we were able to make the best of the weather, even though it turned a little bit sour.”
The second-day destination was Dux Anchorage, Southport Yacht Club’s island haven on South Stradbroke Island. It has the remote feel that makes an overnight anchorage special, yet sits within the Broadwater rather than at the end of an offshore passage. The fleet arrived around late morning, giving owners time to anchor, launch tenders, and then move between boat and shore at their own pace.
Lunch set the tone for the afternoon. A large marquee had been arranged on the grounds, with a sit-down buffet and tropical theme that encouraged Hawaiian shirts and resort-style clothing, despite the winter date. “Even though it was still in winter, it was great to be able to chuck on the Hawaiian shirts and pretend that we’re somewhere tropical,” Binskin said. It was enough structure to bring everyone together, while still leaving owners free to return to their boats or relax ashore.
As daylight faded, things became even more relaxed. After the substantial lunch, dinner was intentionally simple, with Maritimo staff cooking a sausage sizzle before a large screen was set up for the evening’s football match. A bonfire provided another focal point, and owners naturally divided between watching the sport, talking around the fire, and enjoying a drink with people they may only have met the day before. “It was a lovely way to enjoy the night, and gave people something to focus on and talk about,” Binskin said. “There were a number of footy fans there, and others who were just there to have a beer and hang around by the fire. So, it was a good mix.”
Binskin added, “This Maritimo Muster would not have been possible without the support of our partners, Scirocco Marine for the large Brig, Club Marine who sponsored our opening night drinks, and Garmin, who were there with us, and sponsored the activities on the Sunday night.”
That balance between organisation and freedom is equally relevant to an individual itinerary. Moreton Bay and the Broadwater reward owners who leave space in the schedule. Weather can change, tide windows matter in parts of the southern passages, and a quick anchorage can easily become an afternoon stop. Good planning remains essential, but nearby protected waterways give owners valuable flexibility when conditions change.
The late-August muster also showed that this is not exclusively a summer cruising ground. Pleasant weather accompanied the first day, and the tropical-themed Saturday lunch was comfortable enough for the group to embrace the idea. Winter puts more emphasis on selecting the weather window, but sheltered alternatives are close enough that a change of plan can still produce a memorable day.
Cruising in company adds another dimension. With a mix of boat ages and models in the fleet, owners could look through other Maritimos, compare layouts, talk about how they use their boats, and meet the people behind the brand in a setting far removed from a boat show, or handover. Binskin said the Maritimo Muster program had become “…a really valuable opportunity for us to connect with owners, and to get some good feedback on our vessels, all the while keeping Maritimo’s team connected with the greater owner community. All the owners comment on the new models we showcase at these events. This time it was the wonderful S50 that had been debuted at this year’s Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show in May.”
By Sunday morning there was no formal program, and no need for one either. Boats lifted anchor when their crews were ready, farewells were exchanged across the water, and the fleet gradually dispersed toward home ports. It was a fitting end to a weekend that had deliberately avoided over-complication, something Binskin described as, “…the KISS principle is the guide for our events, and it’s definitely the motto I like to try and run these things by now, rather than trying to make it over complicated.”
That philosophy translates neatly to cruising Moreton Bay itself. Peel Island, Dunwich and South Stradbroke Island each provide a different experience within a compact cruising area, while open bays, sheltered waterways, beach access and waterside hospitality allow the pace to change from one hour to the next.
For a Maritimo owner, that variety is exactly the point. A capable motor yacht is not only about distance, or cruising comfort, but how easily it lets you use the water once you arrive, relaxed anchoring, easy launching of your tender, entertaining on board, and stepping ashore. Moreton Bay and the Broadwater put those possibilities within easy reach, which is ideal for a first cruise in company, a spontaneous long weekend, or a reminder that some of the best destinations are close to home.
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