In Part 1 we got down the Eastern Seaboard of the Island Nation, Australia, but there is still a lot of the 9,000nm journey to do, and for some, the best parts are yet to be discovered. Ultimately, it is all horses for courses, but the one irrefutable element is that maybe not completely hidden gems await, but definitely beacons of interest and wonder are yet to be explored. Time then to slip the lines and get steaming…
Tasmania:
Obviously an island in itself, nature, the freshest air in the world, and immense scenery, along with unreal food and wine place Tasmania on anyone’s list. Yes, you want to pick your weather, but with the forecasting tools available these days, it is more than doable. For those who want to delve a little more we have a specific story on Tasmania here; www.maritimo.com.au/maritimo-boating-destinations-tasmania/
Honourable mentions have to go to all of the islands of the world-famous Bass Strait, but especially the beloved Deal Island and King Island. Incredible, rugged, and to think many formed the fabled land bridge linking Victoria and Tasmania is something to really ponder.
Tasmania’s East Coast
Tasmania’s East Coast is a particularly stunning area to visit with your Maritimo luxury motor yacht. It offers a really diverse range of landscapes, from rugged cliffs to calm, sheltered bays. Ye Olde Town of Hobart is quaint and a haven for food and wine.
On the way south, the Freycinet National Park has Coles Bay for cruising, and ponder the history of Wineglass Bay whilst you’re there.
If you’re after a truly remote experience, head to Maria Island, an untouched nature reserve with abundant wildlife and stunning landscapes. Here, you can explore convict ruins, hike through eucalyptus forests, and swim in the crystal-clear waters surrounding the island.
Just below Eaglehawk Neck is the The Blowhole. Yet more World-Heritage sites reside on Tasmania’s East Coast like the Tasman Peninsula’s Tasman Arch and Devil’s Kitchen. Nearby, Storm Bay offers up Cape Raoul with those splendiferous Organ Pipes, and there’s also Tasman Island, best known in sailing circles as the ‘third start’ to the Sydney Hobart race.
Tasmania’s West Coast
The Bruny Islands mark the start of your passage around under the Southwest National Park to head up the west coast, where Port Davey and Macquarie Harbour await. For those interested in marine life, the waters off Tasmania’s coast offer opportunities for whale watching, dolphin encounters, and even penguin spotting.
Victoria:
Having come up Tasmania’s glorious west coast, you’ll no doubt take in King Island. From there you can ponder taking on the famous Port Phillip Heads below Melbourne. On a slack tide or a flow, it is not that formidable, and the Pilot’s Channel just to the left of ‘Four Fingers West’ does not have as much of the movement of water, and so can be far more pleasant.
Your reward? Both the Bellarine Peninsula to the west and Mornington Peninsula to the east have great scenery, and more food and wine options than you’ll be able to take in. Use Geelong and Martha Cove, respectively, as your base to go and explore each. What a delight. There are always the delights of Melbourne’s CBD, the incredible Arts scene, the plethora of laneways, along with every reason to understand why it is the Foodie capital. Best of all, if you moor in Docklands, you can walk to a lot of it.
South Australia:
Never to be forgotten. If it is seafood you’re after, you will come to SA. Crayfish, tuna, as well as oysters par excellence, and that is just the start of it. Names on the list include Robe, Port Lincoln, Kangaroo Island, and Coffin Bay. There is also Flinders Island in the Investigator Group, which is famous for birdlife.
Western Australia:
Basically, WA comprises one third of Australia’s landmass and approximately 20,781km or around 35% of Australia’s total coastline of 35,877 km. Arguably, there is just one spot everyone mentions, but there is Esperance, Albany, Rottnest Island, Fremantle, and the Margaret River region, for yet more food and wine, that all need major mentions.
Without doubt though, Geraldton, the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Shark Bay, Ningaloo Reef, and Port Hedland all need a very special mention. In our news section we have a very specific piece on the wonders of the Houtman Abrolhos https://www.maritimo.com.au/maritimo-boating-destinations-
In some ways, this can be considered the hidden gem. The room behind the bookshelf. Just pick the right book to pull out and the door opens.
Western Australia’s The Kimberley region
Yes. The area is hot on everyone’s list, and why not? Apart from the super impressive tidal flows, of up to 12m, this is probably about as prehistoric as it gets. Breathtaking and awe-inspiring get used all the time, and have lost their punch as a result, but in your Maritimo luxury motor yacht it will all take on new meaning. It is rugged. It’s wild. And it is most certainly dramatic.
Decades ago, WA sailors would disappear for months on the way into Indonesia each winter, and come back with tales of painted caves, endless landscapes, sunburnt orange country as far as you could see, secluded waterholes, and a peace only a place like this could deliver. Today it is not so much off the beaten track as it is everyone beating a track to it. Your Maritimo adds that all important additional feature back into it. Seclusion.
You have the Bungle Bungles, which are towering red rock formations in Purnululu National Park, which also has vast system of mangroves, rivers, and hidden coves. A motor yacht cruise along the Kimberley coast provides access to remarkable areas such as The Horizontal Falls, where tidal movements create spectacular waterfalls flowing through narrow gorges. The Montgomery Reef, a massive reef system that emerges from the sea at low tide, revealing ancient coral gardens.
Anchoring at Broome, a historic pearling town, allows you to explore its famous Cable Beach, where camel rides along the golden sands are a favourite activity. For those with a love for history, the Crocodile Creek and nearby Wyndham offer insight into the local Aboriginal culture and the region’s pearling history.
Northern Territory:
In some ways, ‘The Territory’, is a book in and of itself. It is both ancient and emerging. So much so that the Northern Territory might just own the adjective, unique, when it comes to describing Australia. Watching the Manta Rays play out the front of the gates of the locks to marinas will stay with you forever.
Truth is, if you were not a fisherman when you got here, you will by the time you leave. Catching Threadfin Salmon in the Tiwi Islands is a life moment that is sealed by the eating of this most scrumptious of white fish. Here, AFL football is a religion, and for such a small locale, they have provided a few of the game’s most celebrated and talented players, headed up by none other than Cyril Rioli.
Further afield, and ‘The Wall’ has a bountiful supply of huge Spanish Mackerel, ‘real’ Barramundi, Mangrove Jack, and Golden Snapper. Fill the ice chest, for this is a place tailor made for a long-range luxury motor yacht, such as a Maritimo, because you will want to be here for days, if not weeks.
There is both indigenous and colonial culture to explore, with the latter having no better example than the ill-fated mission at Port Essington. Heavy woollen clothing was just one of the hurdles they tried to overcome in this harshest and demanding of environments. Oh. And did someone mention scenery?
Summation:
Australia’s coastline offers some of the most diverse and stunning cruising grounds in the world. A paradise for cruising in your luxury motor yacht. It’s an immersive experience in nature, culture, and history, as diverse as the regions themselves. Cosmopolitan, calm beauty, rugged wilderness, endless skies, endless seas, wildlife above and under the seas, gastronomic treats, beauty, tropical delights, and pristine vistas for that sublime and oh-so-sought after tranquillity.
For those looking for a cruising adventure that offers relaxation, exploration, and unforgettable experiences, Australia is truly a world-class destination.
