How do I choose a marina in Australia?

Short answer

Work from constraints to preferences, not the other way round. Fix the three things that cannot change — your vessel's dimensions, the region you actually cruise, and whether you need to live aboard — then shortlist marinas that clear all three, and only then compare price, amenities and atmosphere. Most people do this backwards, fall for a marina they saw a photograph of, and discover the travel lift cannot pick their boat up.

By Gabriel Machuret · Updated 2026-10-02

How to Choose a Marina in Australia: practical steps

Write down your vessel numbersLength overall including davits and bowsprit, beam, draft at full load, and displacement. Every later question depends on these four figures, and the brochure numbers are usually optimistic.
Pick the cruising region before the marinaA berth is only useful where you actually go. Decide whether you are based near home, near a cruising ground, or near the trades you need, then look only inside that region.
Decide whether living aboard is requiredIf it is, this eliminates most marinas immediately and must be settled first. Only marinas with a verified permission belong on your list.
Shortlist on hard capabilityDepth at your draft at low tide, berth length, beam clearance, and whether there is a boatyard and lift on site or a long trip away.
Check the trades, not the restaurantCount the shipwrights, riggers, engineers and electricians working on site. This is the single biggest practical difference between marinas and it never appears in photographs.
Get the berthing licence in writingAsk for the actual licence document, not the website summary. Liveaboard rules, power metering, insurance requirements and what happens to your berth if you cruise for six months all live in there.
Visit at low tide, on a weekdayLow tide shows you the real depth; a weekday shows you whether anyone is actually working. Walk the hardstand and look at the condition of the boats on it.

Questions to ask the marina

What is the controlling depth at the berth and through the approach at the lowest tide?
What is the maximum beam your lift can take, and the maximum displacement?
Is the rate charged on my length or the berth length?
Is power metered or included, and at what rate?
What is the written liveaboard rule, and are exceptions granted?