Location: Coomera (Gold Coast), Australia
Duration: 29th November – 15th December 2020
Cost: Variable depending on size of berth required and length of stay.
We initially booked a berth for three nights but had to extend due to poor weather which made crossing the Gold Coast seaway to head on south unsafe. Cost of an overwide berth $573.30 per week inclusive of power, water and use of amenities.
The Marina
The Boat Works, located on the Coomera River in the Gold Coast region of Queensland, is well known by boaties throughout Australia. Apart from the marina (with a focus on super yachts), there is a well established and busy hard stand area surrounded by a host of businesses offering an extensive range of marine products and services. NB If you are looking to get work done here, ensure you factor in a reasonable lead time as the yard is chock a block and you may be waiting 2 – 3 months to get a spot both for haul out, hard stand space and services. We didn’t require any services whilst we were berthed here, so we can’t provide any recommendations or reviews. But as always, do your homework and if possible, check in and get the goss from local yachties.
Staffing
Marina staff operate during business hours Monday – Friday, and Saturday mornings. Security staff are on site 24 hours, seven days a week. Staff are professional and helpful, and they also have good knowledge of onsite and surrounding marine businesses, local shopping and eateries.
Docking assistance is only available during business hours, you will need to ring Reception prior to your arrival.
Security
As previously mentioned, onsite caretaker/security staff operate 24 hours, seven days a week. They actually live on site, and you will often see them buzzing around in their golf cart from early morning to late at night. Overnight they are contactable via mobile.
The marina area is separated from the boat yard by a road (cul-de-sac). The main gates to both the marina and the yard close early evening and reopen early morning, fob access is required during these times.
Secure parking: After hours only.
Amenities
Bathrooms: The marina can be described as having a northern section and a southern section, each section has two gender segregated toilet/shower blocks. If you can imagine up market ATCO buildings you are on the right track. Toilet/shower blocks are well maintained and cleaned at least twice daily. For those looking to use the hard stand, shower and bathroom facilities are also available in this area.
Laundry: Located in the hard stand area, it’s quite a hoof from the marina area particularly if you have a number of loads to wash and/or dry. If you are lucky a golf cart will be passing, and staff will happily give you a lift to the ‘other side’. Use of laundry facilities is free for those paying to berth at the marina or using the hard stand. (This hard stand area permits live aboards whilst work is being carried out).
Just before we left, work had commenced to create a laundry facility in the marina area which will be a real bonus for future marina users.
Fuel Dock: Petrol and diesel available at Gold Coast City Marina fuel dock, payment via credit card.
Gas: Refill facilities are not available onsite, Bunnings at Oxenford is your best bet.
Pump out: No.
Wifi: Free wifi is not available.
Chandlery – A number of onsite businesses offer marine products and spare parts. Just a short walk from the marina there are a whole host of of marine businesses offering maintenance and repair services. We used Marine Trade Supplies on Beattie Road and also Australian Boating Supplies on Waterway Drive, both provided good service and product range.
Noise: Generally, no problem just the usual from the jet skiers and guys ‘racing’ in tinies on the river.
Eateries: A restaurant and coffee shop operates on site Monday – Sunday, operating hours vary depending on the day of the week. We had a couple of meals off the boat while we were here – The Galley onsite restaurant; another at Oxenford and while provisioning at the Westfield Shopping Centre on Foxwell Road. There are plenty of restaurant and café options around, though you will require transport unless you partake of one of the onsite options. Food delivery is always an option as well.
Transport: There is a public bus which weaves its way from The Boat Works to Surfer’s Paradise, terminating at Sea World. You will need a ‘travel card’ to which you add a $ credit amount.
Courtesy cars are available for use by marina users, bookings can be made at Reception. Cars are available Monday – Friday, 7.30 am – 4.30pm for a maximum of 3 hours at any one time. There is no specific charge to use a courtesy car, though a donation towards fuel and car maintenance is appreciated on return.
Other transport options include taxi, car hire or Uber.
Shopping: Oxenford (off the M1) has a number of stores including Aldi, Dan Murphy’s, Bunnings, Super Cheap Auto. Heading in the other direction is a large Westfield Shopping Centre at Foxwell Road Coomera which has all the usual chain stores, Coles, Woolworths, a large fresh fruit and vegetable store, telcos, food court and speciality shops.
Overall, we rated this marina 9/10.
For more information check out their website: http://www.theboatworks.com.au