Half Moon Bay Marina (Yorkeys Knob Boating Club)

About Half Moon Bay Marina (Yorkeys Knob Boating Club)

Half Moon Bay Marina is the waterfront heart of Yorkeys Knob Boating Club, north of Cairns and well placed for tropical-coast cruising. Its 197 berths accommodate a broad mix of monohulls and multihulls, bringing together local owners, liveaboard-style cruising crews on permitted stays and boats moving along Australia's east coast. We think the marina's strongest quality is its easy-going club atmosphere: practical facilities sit beside a restaurant, bar and a boating community that understands what visiting crews need.

Berth sizes vary across the marina, with single-phase 15-amp power at each berth and 32- or 63-amp three-phase supply available in selected larger spaces. Secure gate and amenity access uses a refundable-deposit fob, while CCTV covers marina entrances around the clock. Car parking permits can be arranged, and trolleys at the entrances simplify moving luggage, provisions and refuse between the car park and the boat.

The facility includes its own amenities block, fuel wharf, dry store and haulage service. Full club members with fuel fobs can access fuel around the clock, while bosuns provide fuel and gas assistance plus waste-oil and waste-fuel disposal during published daytime hours. Ice and Wi-Fi are available through the club. What stands out to us is the way these operational details sit beside somewhere pleasant to eat, meet people and step out of the tropical heat.

Yorkeys Knob creates a useful base for Cairns-area boating and passages toward the reef or along the Far North Queensland coast. Tropical weather, seasonal cyclone planning and reef navigation still demand preparation. Fuel can be unavailable when cruise ships are moored offshore, so time-sensitive departures should be coordinated with the marina. The marina operates a nil-discharge policy, and skippers should ask the office about the current pump-out or approved waste solution before arrival.

Our take is that Half Moon Bay Marina suits cruisers and local owners who prefer friendly club character with real boating infrastructure. Send accurate length, beam, draft, multihull status, power needs and insurance evidence before booking; current policy requires substantial third-party liability cover. Contact the marina office for the assigned berth and arrival guidance, then use the club facilities as part of the stay. With those arrangements made, it is a welcoming tropical base that feels connected to boating rather than built around spectacle.

Services

Half Moon Bay Marina has 197 berths in varied sizes for monohulls and multihulls. Every berth has access to 15-amp single-phase shore power, while selected larger berths offer 32- or 63-amp three-phase connections for an additional charge. Marina gates and the dedicated amenity block use a security fob, and CCTV monitors entrances continuously. Parking permits and provisioning trolleys are available through the office.

A fuel wharf, dry store and haulage service support vessel operations. Full members can use fuel fobs for 24-hour access, while bosuns assist with fuel, gas refills, waste oil and waste fuel during published hours. Fuel becomes unavailable when cruise ships are stationed offshore. The club also provides ice, Wi-Fi, a restaurant, bar and gaming facilities.

The marina is nil-discharge, so sewage, contaminated water and other waste must use an approved shore-side solution. Confirm current pump-out arrangements with staff. Before arrival, provide registration, current insurance showing at least the required third-party cover, and complete the berth agreement. Check berth dimensions, multihull fit, power, parking and any dry-store or haulage requirement in advance. The office operates daily, with the bosun on call during separate daytime hours.

Ideal for

Far North Queensland cruisers, multihull owners and local boaters wanting a friendly club marina with fuel, haulage and shore facilities.

What we love

• A relaxed Yorkeys Knob club atmosphere
• 197 berths for monohulls and multihulls
• Useful fuel, dry-store and haulage support
• Flexible single- and three-phase power
• Restaurant and bar beside the marina

To keep in mind

Provide vessel dimensions, registration and compliant insurance before arrival, and confirm the appropriate berth and power connection. Fuel access can pause during offshore cruise-ship calls, and the marina is strictly nil-discharge. Discuss waste handling, haulage and cyclone planning with staff ahead of time.