10 Weekend Boating Destinations on the Australian East Coast
The Australian east coast stretches more than 6,000 kilometres from the tip of Cape York to the shores of Bass Strait. Along that coastline lies some of the most spectacular boating waters on the planet: sheltered bays, island archipelagos, pristine estuaries, and open coastal runs that will take your breath away. The hardest part is choosing where to go first.
Here are ten weekend boating destinations along the east coast, each offering something unique and all accessible as a weekend trip from a major population centre. Whether you are in a tinny, a centre console, or a trailerable amphibious catamaran towed behind your vehicle and launched at the local ramp, these spots deserve a place on your list.
1. Moreton Bay, Queensland
Just east of Brisbane, Moreton Bay is a vast protected waterway dotted with islands, sandbanks, and secluded anchorages. Moreton Island's western shore offers calm waters and sandy beaches that are perfect for anchoring in the shallows and wading ashore, or gently beaching a shallow draft amphibious catamaran on the firm sand. Peel Island, Coochiemudlo, and the southern bay islands are all within easy reach for a day trip or overnight stay. The bay is also one of Australia's best fishing grounds, with species including snapper, flathead, whiting, and the occasional mud crab.
2. Gold Coast Broadwater, Queensland
The Broadwater is the Gold Coast's sheltered inner waterway, a stretch of calm water running from Southport to the Seaway. It is ideal for families and less experienced boaters, with minimal swell, plenty of sandy islands to pull up on, and restaurants accessible by water. South Stradbroke Island's western beaches are a highlight: anchor in the shallows, wade ashore, and you are on a pristine beach with no road access. Cat Cruisers is based on the Gold Coast, and the Broadwater is their home testing ground for good reason.
3. The Whitsunday Islands, Queensland
The Whitsundays are the crown jewel of Australian boating. Seventy-four islands surrounded by the Great Barrier Reef, with sheltered passages, world-class snorkelling, and Whitehaven Beach, regularly voted one of the best beaches on Earth. For a trailerable boat, the Whitsundays require a tow from south-east Queensland or northern NSW, but the drive is worth every kilometre. Launch from the ramp at Airlie Beach or Shute Harbour and you are in paradise within the hour.
4. Pittwater and the Hawkesbury River, New South Wales
Just north of Sydney, Pittwater is a deep, sheltered waterway surrounded by Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. The steep, bush-covered hillsides drop straight to the water, and the numerous bays and inlets offer protected anchorages with stunning natural beauty just 40 minutes from Sydney's CBD. The Hawkesbury River extends further inland, offering quieter, more remote anchorages upstream where you can feel a thousand kilometres from the city.
5. Jervis Bay, New South Wales
Jervis Bay has some of the clearest water on the Australian east coast and beaches that rival the tropics. The bay is large and well-protected, with excellent anchorages at Murray's Beach, Plantation Point, and the many coves along the Beecroft Peninsula. Dolphins are regular visitors, and humpback whales pass through during the migration season. The town of Huskisson provides provisioning and fuel, and the surrounding Booderee National Park offers walking trails for when you want to stretch your legs on land.
6. Port Stephens, New South Wales
Two and a half hours north of Sydney, Port Stephens is a large natural harbour that feels far more remote than its proximity to a major city would suggest. The protected waters of the inner harbour are perfect for families, while the outer harbour and nearby Broughton Island offer more adventurous boating with excellent fishing and diving. A resident population of bottlenose dolphins makes dolphin encounters a regular occurrence.
7. Myall Lakes, New South Wales
For something completely different, Myall Lakes offers freshwater boating in a national park setting. The interconnected lakes and waterways are surrounded by coastal rainforest, paperbark swamps, and sandy beaches. Motor restrictions keep the water calm and quiet, making it ideal for slow-paced cruising and overnight anchoring. For a shallow draft amphibious catamaran, the firm sandy shores provide multiple options for beaching overnight.
8. The Gippsland Lakes, Victoria
Australia's largest inland waterway system, the Gippsland Lakes stretch for over 70 kilometres through eastern Victoria. Lake King, Lake Victoria, and Lake Wellington offer vast, open waters with long sandy beaches, quiet anchorages, and excellent fishing. The lakeside towns of Paynesville, Metung, and Lakes Entrance provide services and character. The shallow, calm waters are particularly well-suited to catamarans with their minimal draft.
9. Noosa River and Everglades, Queensland
The Noosa Everglades, one of only two everglades systems in the world, is a boating experience unlike anything else on the east coast. The upper reaches of the Noosa River wind through pristine wilderness, with mirror-still water reflecting the overhanging trees. Downstream, the broader river and Lake Cootharaba offer more open cruising. The entire system is shallow and calm, making it ideal for electric boats that can navigate quietly through the wildlife-rich waterways.
10. Tin Can Bay and the Great Sandy Strait, Queensland
The Great Sandy Strait separates Fraser Island (K'gari) from the mainland and offers a protected, navigable waterway stretching over 70 kilometres. Tin Can Bay, at the southern end, is a charming departure point with a wild dolphin feeding experience that draws visitors from around the world. The strait itself offers countless anchorages, sandy beaches, and some of the best fishing on the Queensland coast. The western shore of K'gari is one of the great unspoiled stretches of coast in Australia, accessible by water and rarely crowded.
Making Every Weekend Count
The east coast of Australia offers a lifetime of weekend boating destinations, and the beauty of a trailerable vessel is that you are never limited to just one. Each of these ten locations offers something different: from tropical islands to temperate river systems, from bustling harbour towns to wilderness anchorages where you will not see another boat all weekend.
A Cat Cruisers amphibious catamaran is designed to explore them all. Tow it behind your vehicle to a new destination, launch from a public boat ramp, cruise all day on quiet electric power, and beach in the shallows or anchor overnight in comfort. If exploring the east coast by water sounds like the lifestyle you have been looking for, visit catcruisers.com.au/contact and let us help you plan your first trip.