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WA Cruising Guide

← back to cruising section, western australian cruising guide version 5.4.

February 2023 

The Western Australian Cruising Guide is regarded as the coastal cruising bible for WA, covering the coast from Darwin to Eucla, including the Christmas and Cocos Islands. This book is a definite “must have”, especially for cruising the Kimberley, with over 600 pages, 220 chartlets and many interesting colour photos. The main source of information for this guide is feedback from the hundreds of sailors who have shared their knowledge of this largely unexplored part of the coast.

The  5th edition, now in its fourth update (v5.4), was a major revision of the 4th edition published in 2014. It includes dozens of new diagrams and several hundred new items of information. The first part of the guide covers weather, tides, passage planning, communications, emergency services, marine animals and government departments. The second part contains specific pilotage information on many anchorages, showing suitable spots to anchor, dangers, the amount of protection, tidal information, places of interest, history of the area, and local contact details. 

The guide is now available in two electronic formats, downloadable here without charge: o download your free copy of this invaluable resource: Click here to download pdf

Click here to download ePub

The pdf file is about 70MB and the ePub file is about 140MB, so a reasonable internet connection is required for sensible download times. Once downloaded, you do not need an internet connection unless you want to use the live links in the document.  

This will enable the guide to be read on almost any platform, including desktops (PC and Mac), laptops, tablets (iPad etc.), Android phones and iPhones.

Photocopies of the guide are available from Fremantle Sailing Club in an A4 lever-arch file. To buy one of these hardcopies contact FSC on:  08 9435 8800 or  [email protected]

Alternatively you can print out all or part of the guide yourself, in any format you want.

Version 5.4

The current edition is version 5.4(files are labelled 540).  It contains more than 150 changes and updates since version 5.3 was issued in March 2021. If you wish to be notified when the next version becomes available for download, send an email now to mailto:[email protected]

The changes and updates we make derive mostly from reports submitted by users of the guide. Anyone wishing to contribute further knowledge for the next version, whether by correcting errors or providing new information, is asked to email the editor at  mailto:[email protected]

To go behind the scenes and find out how the guide has been prepared, download this document: click here to download How and Why doc

Kim Klaka | Editor

Hardcopy version of the guides are available from reception for $75 each.  To buy one of these hardcopies contact FSC on:  08 9435 8800 or  [email protected]

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• Yachting World
• Digital Edition

Cruising Australia: Everything you need to know about sailing Down Under

• July 7, 2020

From stunning coastal routes to unmissable sailing events, Janneke Kuysters shares her top tips for cruising Australia

Anna Caroline moored with iconic Sydney landmarks in the background

“It doesn’t matter where you choose, you can’t go wrong in Australia. There are so many wonderful cruising grounds,” says Hank Rosendal, a Dutch-Australian sailor. His Amel 53 Tempest is currently moored in Albany, West-Australia. And he’s right: you could sail a lifetime around Australian shores and still not see everything.

So for a foreign cruiser there is a difficult choice: how much time do you want to spend in Australia and what can you do and see? Classically, on a trip around the world , cruisers sail from the islands of the South Pacific to New Zealand for the cyclone season: a tough crossing but with the rich rewards of New Zealand hospitality and boat maintenance facilities.

From New Zealand many go back north to Vanuatu or New Caledonia and then on to the Indian Ocean. For those a short pitstop in Australia in either Cairns, Thursday Island or Darwin is logical. Visits to the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef will add the wonderful experience of tropical Australia.

Australia is a vast country: don’t underestimate the distances you’ll sail. From Bundaberg to Sydney is a little under 500 miles; add 628 miles for the trip from Sydney to Hobart. If you go from Hobart to Perth across the Bight, you’ll be adding another 2,250 miles.

East coast cruising

But in the past decade more and more cruisers have viewed Australia as a destination in itself. And that opens up a whole new perspective. The tough 1,000-plus miles crossing from the Pacific Islands to New Zealand is no longer necessary – a downwind cruise of around 700 miles from New Caledonia to the east coast of Australia is much more comfortable.

The boat can be safely left in Australia while you fly home, or you can keep sailing. The most important thing to consider is to stay below 30°S; the official cyclone belt lies to the north of this latitude. Instead of having to wait for the cyclones to pass, cruisers can sail on and explore Australian waters.

There are myriad choices to make depending on the distances you are willing to cover. Two popular options are to make landfall near Brisbane in Queensland and sail south to Sydney and back, or to continue sailing to Tasmania .

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South African cruiser Brent Grimbeek has chosen this second option: “I love the diversity that the Australian east coast has to offer. Most of the distances between ports are short, so we daysailed our Lagoon 44 Impi from port to port. Crossing Bass Strait is always a challenge, but the effort is richly rewarded by the stunning nature and landscapes of Tasmania.”

His wife Ana adds: “There is the annual Go West rally between New Caledonia and Australia. Although we have made this crossing a few times now, we enjoy participating in the rally: it makes entry into Australia easier and it is fun to meet like-minded people.”

British solo sailor Thom D’Arcy sailed his Vancouver 28 Fathom along the east coast from Bundaberg to Sydney and back up north, all the way to Darwin. “I’m very pleased I took Fathom to Sydney. The sense of achievement on entering such an iconic port is fantastic.”

Thom D’Arcy sailed his Vancouver 28 Fathom along Australia’s east coast

For those with a taste for speed and endurance, sailing south along the east coast of Australia can be ‘spiced up’ by entering the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race . Paul Billingham, Commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia explains: “We encourage foreign yachts to participate in ‘the Hobart’ as part of their trip around the world and extend all the necessary help and support to make it happen for them.”

There is also a lesser used track to cruise around the south of Australia and up the west coast. After studying the weather patterns closely, we saw that the tough westward crossing of the Great Australian Bight is feasible in the summer months of February and March.

A succession of high-pressure systems chases the prevailing south-westerly winds away and makes for periods of four to seven days of nice easterly winds. A cruise ‘along the bottom’ of Australia not only gives the opportunity to visit Tasmania’s lesser known cruising areas on the wild west coast, but also puts cities such as Adelaide within reach.

The start of the Sydney Hobart Race means a congested Sydney Harbour. Photo: Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi

Bruce Roach, Commodore of the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron, says they welcome visiting cruisers. “The south coast of Australia is a very rewarding cruising ground, from Adelaide to the natural beauty of the Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf with its many anchorages,” he adds.

During our cruise around the south of Australia we experienced this warm hospitality first-hand: the generosity of the Australians to visiting yachts is one of the rewards of sailing off the beaten track in such a vast country. Once across the Bight, Western Australia offers a whole new cruising experience. Long reefs stretch along the coast, so careful navigation is needed.

Cities like Perth and Fremantle offer all possible facilities to visiting yachts, and from the west coast of Australia there are two options: start crossing the Indian Ocean as early as possible after the cyclone season or sail north to Indonesia.

The Royal Prince Albert Yacht Club in Pittwater

Coastal sailing

In Australian sailing vocabulary, ‘cruising’ doesn’t mean bluewater cruising, but is mainly coastal daysailing from port to anchorage. Coastal sailing in Australia therefore comes with lots of interesting options, often seen as luxuries by foreign cruisers, such as streaming internet up to 25 miles offshore and ample provisioning (around every corner there is a supermarket and an ATM).

We joked how cruising the east coast is ‘sailing with a watch in your hand’, as a lot of the entrances are river mouths with sandbars across them, requiring careful calculation to cross the bar at the turn of the tide. The navigational challenges can be roughly summarised in three words: current, depressions and sea breeze.

First the current. Along the east coast of Australia there is a southbound current of up to four knots which makes for fast sailing to the south, but rather tedious work when sailing up north, unless you use the countercurrent close inshore. Along the south coast the Leeuwin current flows east at a rate of 0.5 knots. On the west coast the Leeuwin current is stronger and flows south at a rate of about one knot.

Cruising in Pittwater and Broken Bay, north of Sydney

The second challenge is the depressions. They flow in a steady succession from west to east, bringing troughs and fronts. The quality of the available forecasts is high, so you can make good use of the wind the depressions generate to propel you in the right direction. Going against the prevailing winds makes for tough conditions though, because in the shallow coastal areas steep wind-waves build up very quickly.

Australia’s hot interior generates sea breezes. Again, if you study them and use them to your advantage, it can make for some fine passages. But you need to be careful. Sea breezes can easily last for 12 hours and reach over 25 knots on top of the prevailing winds.

Timing and distances

The cruising season in southern Australia is at its best in January, February and March. That means that you can sail to Australia from, for instance, New Caledonia in September. This gives you the time to cruise at leisure down the coast and make some trips overland too. We went to Ayers Rock/Uluru.

You can spend the summer in Tasmania and sail back up in March, to be in time for the end of the cyclone season by the time you reach Queensland again. If you decide to go along the Bight, you need to leave Tasmania at the end of January to time your crossing of the Bight in February or March.

Cruising Australian shores has been very rewarding for us: the wildlife, nature, diversity and hospitality left us in awe.

Entry in Australia

Australia has the reputation of being a tough country to enter. In reality, if you prepare yourself and your boat, there is no need to worry. The process is fairly straightforward and all necessary information is easy to find on the government websites.

Before arriving in Australia, every crew member needs to have a visa. There are two types. The e-visitor visa which is valid for three months. It is free of charge and can be extended. The other type is valid for one year (multiple entry) and costs AU$140. Both can be applied for online.

When you have been in certain countries in the Pacific for more than three months, you will need to have a chest X-ray before you arrive in Australia. Check the online forms carefully for the conditions.

For your boat there are two important steps. First, the cruising permit. This is issued on arrival and is valid for one year, with the option of extending it to three years. With this cruising permit as proof of being a ‘yacht in transit’, buying parts for the boat or having repairs done is exempt from sales tax (GST in Australia).

The second step is the biosecurity inspection. Fresh fruit, meat, dairy and eggs are not allowed. Importantly, the boat also needs to be without any pest infestation, such as fruit flies, termites, or growth on the hull. Australian agri- and aquaculture is strictly protected and the inspections are thorough.

At AU$60 per 15 minutes increments, it pays to prepare the boat in the port of departure, cleaning and making all surfaces accessible makes for a quick inspection. On average, the cost is AU$300 for the inspection.

Where to enter? There are roughly three options, depending on your cruising plans. If you want to do ‘Australia light’, the port of Bundaberg is the best. It is just below latitude 30°S, so you can wait for the cyclone season to pass north of you before you head to Cairns or further north.

If you want to cruise the east coast, ports further south such as Brisbane, Southport or even Coffs Harbour are attractive. If your focus is on Tasmania, you could even choose to enter in Sydney.

About the authors

Dutch couple Wietze van der Laan and Janneke Kuysters are sailing around the world in their Bruce Roberts 44 Anna Caroline . They love high latitude cruising and exploring areas which are slightly off the beaten track.

First published in the August 2019 edition of Yachting World.

The Cruising Yacht Club of Western Australia (inc)

Try sailing day 2023.

Saturday 9th September

Session times start from 9am

Bookings Essential

Discover sailing days are where Juniors (7+) and Adults can have a go at Sailing, under the instruction of qualified instructors.

They are a fantastic way to have a great day out with your partner, friends and family. The Club is looking forward to showing you just how fun, safe, accessible and affordable sailing is.

Discover Sailing Days are free to attend and all boats and safety equipment is provided by the club. All you need to bring is clothes and shoes you don't mind getting wet, sun screen and a hat.

Dinghy Sailing for kids from 7 years, up to and including Adults. These a smaller, basic boats for one or two Sailors. These are excellent to start out in, and is what our Sailing training on Saturday Mornings throughout the season are all about.

Click here to book your Discover Sailing Session

For more information, please phone the Club on 9527 5468 or  email Amanda [email protected]

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Bars and Dining

Images: Jessie Ann Harris

Opening hours:

Monday-Sunday: 0800-2000hrs

Enquiries – Boathouse Reservations

Phone: (02) 4379 1131

Email: [email protected]

Sydney Hobart Bar

Mon-Tue: 1100-2100hrs

Wed-Thu: 1100-2200hrs

Fri: 1100-2300hrs

Sat: 0800-2300hrs

Sun: 1000-2100hrs

Coasters Retreat (Members bar)

Mon-Fri: 1600-2000hrs

Sat-Sun: 1500-2000hrs

Conditions of entry

Please note that under the Registered Clubs Act, visitors who are not Members of CYCA and who reside within a 5 kilometre radius of the Club may not enter the Club unless they are:

• a guest of a Member (and remain in their company); or
• a member of another NSW registered club that is a yacht club; or
• a member of any other NSW registered club (or a club established interstate that is licensed or permitted to serve liquor and have gaming machines) that is at the CYCA at the invitation of CYCA or a Full Member of CYCA to participate in a sailing event run by CYCA.

Visitors will be required to present a current photo ID showing their current residential address when checking in at Reception.

Whether you’re catching up with fellow sailors after a day on the water or just enjoying the waterside location with friends, the CYCA is the place to be! Dining at the CYCA brings together award-winning cuisine and a relaxed outdoor vibe.

Enjoy drinks by the water, order breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack at the bistro and soak in the atmosphere on the waterfront seating.

Sydney Hobart Bar and deck

The Sydney Hobart Bar has a sophisticated fibreglass boat-shaped bar front, polished concrete flooring and a contemporary lighting plan. At the same time also being practical with a bar featuring 32 taps across two stations with carbon-fibre beer fonts.

There are numerous meal options for all visitors and occasions.

The elegant furniture on both the upper covered and lower open decks allows for the perfect place to meet after a Harbour twilight or offshore race for a cold beer or bottle of wine, as the sun sets over the CYCA.

Attire is always casual.

Coasters Retreat

Coasters Retreat on the upper level of the CYCA is an area exclusive to members and their guests with views over the marina and Rushcutters Bay towards the Sydney skyline.

The history of the club is ever-present with half-models of Sydney Hobart winning yachts lining the walls and plaques acknowledging boats and members for their years of service and sailing achievements. With a lounge area and double-sided fireplace adjoining the archives nook stories and traditions are readily available.

The Coasters Retreat Bar features a marble fronted bar and striking brass beer fonts. With sliding doors, balcony access and elegant furniture from Janus et Cie there is no better place to share stories and enjoy the Club.

Dress regulations apply in Coasters Retreat.

Click here to view the current opening hours of Coasters Retreat.

Liquor Act 2007

It is against the law to sell or supply alcohol to, or to obtain alcohol on behalf of, a person under the age of 18 years.

CYCA Principal Sponsor

Cyca official sponsors, helly hansen, club marine, income asset management, sydney brewery, lgt crestone, the luxury collection, winnings appliances, roads and maritime services, cyca youth sailing academy sponsors and supporters, helly hansen, forecasts.global, vibe hotels, network marine, sun foundation.