Anchorage Marina upgrade attracts large boat tourism to Port Stephens

Anchorage Marina Upgrade completion brings water tourism to Port Stephens © Anchorage Marina

Anchorage Marina Upgrade completion brings water tourism to Port Stephens © Anchorage Marina

Anchorage Marina Upgrade completion brings water tourism to Port Stephens © Anchorage Marina

The newly completed upgrade of Anchorage Marina will bring quality water tourism and help raise the profile of Port Stephens as a destination for larger boats, Port Stephens Mayor Mr Ryan Palmer said today.

Speaking at the opening of the new facilities in Corlette Point, The Mayor said it was a new angle on the traditional fishing and sailing that Port Stephens was known for. “It's about quality, not quantity. Our waters are the bluest, our beaches are the quietest. Luxury boat owners can get away from it all up here, knowing there are now modern and secure facilities specifically for boats their size.”

The upgrade includes two new marina arms with 22 berths catering for larger boats between 55-66’. Berths of this size have not been easily accessible in Port Stephens before now. The new Anchorage Marina facilities have created an opportunity for large boat owners to plot Port Stephens on their cruising maps.

Works were in the planning for several years. One of the challenges of the job was ensuring the best design to cope with the seasonal winds that bring fetch into all of Port Stephens’ north facing marinas. Anchorage Marina commissioned a wave study for the location prior to finalising the design of a 5m x 50m wave attenuator that runs east west across the mouth of the marina. One of the widest in Australia at 5m, the patented design has specially designed and proven ‘skirts’ to further attenuate waves. In addition to the wave challenge the harbour bed conditions were quiet variable, ranging from hard granite to soft sand.

Gary Charlwood from Marina design and construction company Bellingham Marine Australia said “The wave attenuator was a critical part of the installation. Winds on Port Stephens can create a bit of discomfort wherever you are, so the brief was to ensure boats within the marina walls had maximum protection.”

Charlwood went on to say “We are finding the need for attenuators increasing in Australia and globally. We can provide shelter for and build marinas in places not possible 20 years ago. Corlette is certainly one of the prettiest places we’ve built a marina and I’m not surprised how popular it is with boaters”. Marina owner Greg Shand from Barana Group is pleased with Anchorage’s new capacity. “We’ve taken advantage of the winter months to push completion through in time for the upcoming season. The high end of the boating industry is growing in Australia and it’s time to provide for those boats in Port Stephens. Owners of boats over 55’ can’t just arrive casually and hope for a berth; it takes planning. Here at Anchorage we now have a place you can enjoy the luxury, the quiet, the beautiful waters and the best of onshore life too.”

Anchorage Marina operates alongside the Anchorage Hotel and Spa, which hosts two restaurants and a cocktail bar. Guests of both facilities enjoy the ambience created in this stylish enclave overlooking the blue waters of Port Stephens.

The Marina is now taking bookings for permanent and casual berths.

For more information call Ruth on 0405 505 855 or email