Town of 1770

The Town of 1770 (also known as Seventeen Seventy) is a sheltered anchorage with beautiful clear water and spectacular sunsets. Contact Volunteer Marina Rescue Round Hill (Call Sign VMR 477 on VHF 81 or 82 or phone 07 4974 9383) for information on accessing the Town of 1770.

Access is tidal and the channel does shift. Fuel and basic supplies are available from the small marina. If you can’t get in by water, it’s a must do day trip from Gladstone Marina.

Pancake Creek

Pancake Creek is located approximately 60NM north of Bundaberg and approximately 30NM south of Gladstone, with high tides guaranteeing access for most vessels. Pancake Creek is in the lee of Bustard Head and is a truly wonderful anchorage known for its wilderness and natural beauty. There are a number of environmentally friendly moorings available for public use. Take time for a stopover and explore the Bustard Head lighthouse and surrounds. The crabbing up the creek is excellent – a feast of freshly caught mud crabs, watching the sun go down on your back deck, is a fabulous way to finish your day! Or, simply rest and wait for the trade winds to ease when migrating south.

Rodds Harbour

West of Pancake Creek is the Rodds Peninsula and Rodds Harbour. There is deep water access to Rodds Harbour and Seven Mile Creek, and the area offers plenty of sheltered anchorage. Turkey Beach has a boat ramp, pontoon and a tidal swimming enclosure. The Turkey Beach general store is a short walk from the pontoon and can cater to most needs. Thornton Creek in Seven Mile Creek provides easy access to excellent shelter in extreme weather. The region is renowned for its national parks, dugong sanctuary, fishing and crabbing. So make sure you keep your eye out for dugongs and dolphins when cruising in; and when you anchor up, be sure to throw in a line to catch a fish for dinner – it won’t get any fresher!

Yellow Patch

Yellow Patch is a beautiful anchorage on the northeast end of Curtis Island. Yellow Patch is named after the towering yellow sand hill, which creates a dramatic backdrop to the anchorage. The climb up the sand hill provides some exercise and a stunning view over the entrance, anchorage and on a clear day, all the way to Great Keppel Island. The entrance is tidal — check your charts and tides, and watch your depth among shifting sandbanks.

Gladstone Harbour

Gladstone Harbour and Port Curtis provide numerous anchorages and shelter, where you can anchor for a relaxing lunch only a short cruise from the Gladstone Marina. Popular anchorages are off Oaks Beach, South End, Farmers Point and Gatcombe Head. Each spot has advantages in different weather conditions.

Curtis Island is a bird-spotters heaven, with jabirus, herons, brolgas, sea eagles, wood ducks, black swans and the rare Yellow Chat all inhabiting the island. Stroll around and immerse yourself in its beauty or simply enjoy your very own tropical anchorage from the comfort of your vessel.

Grahams Creek is a large tidal inlet at the beginning of The Narrows, which extends into Curtis Island roughly 5NM eastward towards the coast. It is a good point to wait for tidal passage through The Narrows or seek shelter from inclement weather. Black Swan Island and Targinie Creek, behind Kangaroo Island, are also excellent options at the Gladstone end of The Narrows. This entire area is known for its impressive fishing and crabbing.

The Capricorn Bunker Group

The Capricorn Bunker Group of islands and reefs is the perfect and accessible introduction to the Great Barrier Reef.

Cruising this section of the Southern Great Barrier Reef is an unforgettable experience and offers exceptional reef viewing, cruising, snorkelling and diving. The Southern Great Barrier Reef is rich in sea life, coral and scenery.

Navigation through the Capricorn Bunker Group can be effortless as most of the reefs have islands and wide channels between them.

Lady Musgrave Island

Lady Musgrave Island is instantly recognisable, with a large coral lagoon with deep water access. This tropical paradise and sheltered lagoon provides a safe anchorage and abounds with masses of fish, coral and turtles. Keep a look out for coral bommies when navigating in the lagoon, but with clear tropical water, spotting and avoiding them is easy and they are all marked on charts. Lady Musgrave is the jewel in the crown of the Southern Great Barrier Reef and very popular.

Fitzroy Reef

Fitzroy Reef is another stunning lagoon with a deep water entrance, but without a land mass. Deep anchorage on the southwest corner will protect from a north easterly and a north westerly wind. The deep water entrance is marked clearly for a good anchorage inside the lagoon. There is excellent fishing in the area.

Wistari Reef

Adjacent to Heron Island, Wistari is an elevated lagoon, which is shallow and crammed with coral. The best dive site on this reef is the brilliant Wistari Wall. This sloping wall drops from 3 metres to 20 metres and is decorated with many striking corals. There is also excellent reef walking and snorkelling. Shelter in the lee of the reef for anchorage.

Mast Head Island

Mast Head Island is a beautiful and accessible coral island close to Irving Reef, Polmaise Reef and Erskine Island. It is located just 31NM northeast of Gladstone. Boaters can shelter in the lee of the island to anchor in SE to NE winds. The island is popular with campers and day-trippers due to its close proximity to Gladstone.

North West Island

North West Island is a hidden gem of the Southern Great Barrier Reef and only 40NM northeast of Gladstone. It is the second largest coral cay in the area and offers opportunities for camping, bushwalking, nature study, reef walking, diving and snorkelling. Camping on the island requires a permit.

This is just a small selection of the islands and reefs in close proximity to Gladstone. Consult your charts and weather forecast and explore the numerous reefs and islands in the area at your leisure.

East Channel and South Channel

Approaching from the south, simply follow the channel markers from the Fairway Buoy, or pick up the channel as you head inside the Fairway Buoy.

Coming from the east, you round Gatcombe Head and enter through East Channel.

Deepest draft and easy access.

Admire the ships and sheltered Gladstone Harbour on this route. Troll a lure for mackerel, trevally, queenfish and cobia.

This approach can be affected by big outgoing tides, which can make travel time longer than expected. Check your tides and plan accordingly for the easiest passage, or leave enough time to combat the tidal influence. This is the deepest and safest entrance, allowing passage in all conditions.

North Entrance

From the north, you will approach between Facing Island and Curtis Island.

Consult your charts, strictly follow the lead markers, and ensure you know your draft and the tides.

Quick entry and exit — less tide dependant than The Narrows.

Cruise through tropical islands past the Southend community, the Oaks camping ground and many privately owned tropical island paradises. Keep your eye open for turtles and dolphins. There is a turtle rehabilitation centre on Quoin Island.

Ensure you know your draft and the tidal requirements for your vessel. Keep leads in line on the bow and stern. Outgoing tides and northerly winds can be rough. Troll a lure for mackerel, trevally, queenfish, cobia or even a marlin on the approach to the entrance and through the islands.

The Narrows

The Narrows is the stretch of water between Curtis Island and the mainland. It starts from Sea Hill Point in the north and extends to Grahams Creek in the south.

Please consult the Gladstone Marina team for local knowledge before travelling The Narrows section of water. The Narrows will dry out at low tide. However, many deep drafted vessels pass through on high tides. Gladstone Marina has all the relevant charts, and the team can talk you through the anchorages, tidal requirements and markers.

It’s suggested you start transiting The Narrows half an hour before Gladstone high tide, so you will be transiting on a flooding tide. For boats with a keel, high tide in Gladstone (Standard Port) should be equal to or greater than your draft plus 1.5m.

For example: for a Keel boat with a draft of 1.8m, the calculation is 1.8m + 1.5m = 3.3m. Therefore, you need a high tide of at least 3.3m.