Clontarf Marina

About Clontarf Marina

Clontarf Marina occupies one of those Sydney Harbour positions that immediately makes boating feel easy. Tucked into Sandy Bay on Middle Harbour’s north-eastern shore, it combines a sheltered setting with direct access towards the Heads. Masted boats do not need to negotiate the Spit Bridge, which is a meaningful advantage for owners who want to turn a free morning into time under sail. We think the beachside atmosphere gives the marina a particularly relaxed character without sacrificing serious marine capability.

The operator lists 64 modern floating berths, completed in 2017, in 10, 12, 15 and 18-metre sizes. Power and water are supplied at the berths, while two security gates give customers round-the-clock access to their boats. A further 18 swing moorings sit in protected Sandy Bay. The seven-day tender service handles regular transfers during marina hours, and dinghies remain available for mooring customers outside those times. That arrangement should appeal to owners who enjoy the value and open-water feel of a mooring but still want practical shore support.

Clontarf is more than a place to leave the boat. The EPA-compliant slipway can handle vessels to 22 tonnes, with antifouling, detailing, shipwright work, restoration, mechanical, electrical and rigging services available through the marina. Toilets, showers and parking complete the everyday picture. What stands out to us is the opportunity to keep storage, maintenance and advice within one experienced operation, particularly when a routine haul-out grows into a list of smaller jobs.

On the water, owners are well placed for Manly, North Harbour, the city reaches and an offshore departure through Sydney Heads. Ashore, Clontarf Reserve, the beach and waterfront dining make it easy to add a family afternoon or an unhurried lunch to a boating day. The bay can feel removed from central Sydney even though the wider harbour remains close. That balance of scenery, protection and access is the marina’s distinctive strength.

Our take is that Clontarf Marina best suits owners seeking a long-term Sydney base backed by a hands-on service yard. Availability should never be assumed in a tightly held harbour marina, so discuss vessel dimensions, berth or mooring options, fees and any waitlist directly. Confirm tender times before planning a late return, and obtain a written scope for slipway work. With those details organised, this is a wonderfully appealing place to begin and end a day on Sydney Harbour.

Services

Clontarf Marina provides 64 floating berths in published 10, 12, 15 and 18-metre sizes, each supplied with power and water. Secure gates allow berth customers 24-hour access. The marina also manages 18 swing moorings in Sandy Bay, supported by a tender operating seven days during published hours and dinghies for customer use outside the regular tender schedule. Confirm vacancy, vessel fit and current operating times directly.

The service yard centres on an EPA-compliant slipway rated to 22 tonnes with a wastewater-treatment system. Published services include antifouling, detailing, shipwright and restoration work, mechanics, marine electrical work and rigging. Owners should provide accurate length, beam, draft, displacement and hull details, then agree on lift or slip timing, labour, materials, hardstand arrangements and launch date in writing.

Toilets, showers, boat sales and parking are available, although parking conditions may depend on local-resident status. Fuel is not advertised onsite, so plan refuelling elsewhere and verify pump-out and waste arrangements before arrival. Mooring customers can ask about access to a work berth for occasional power or water. For a smooth first visit, request the marina’s approach guidance and make contact before entering the berth or picking up a mooring.

Ideal for

Sydney yacht and motorboat owners wanting protected long-term berthing or a supported swing mooring close to the Heads. It is especially attractive to masted-vessel owners and anyone who values an established slipway and marine trades onsite.

What we love

• Direct access towards Sydney Heads without waiting for the Spit Bridge.
• A choice of modern floating berths and protected swing moorings.
• Seven-day tender support with after-hours dinghy access for customers.
• An EPA-compliant slipway handling vessels to 22 tonnes.
• The easy pairing of serious boat care with Clontarf’s beachside lifestyle.

To keep in mind

Berths and moorings can be tightly held, so confirm availability, dimensions and fees before making plans. Tender hours matter for mooring customers, while slipway work should be scoped and quoted in advance. Fuel is not advertised onsite, so include a separate refuelling stop in your harbour plan.