ABOUT US

Australian Marinas. Every Single One of Them.

The online Australian Marinas Guide was developed after much research into boaties’ needs. They said they wanted to enjoy their day out on the water, and didn't want to waste time trawling the web trying to find a safe marina stopover. 

New vessel purchasers wanted to know where they could berth their boats short and long term, or which marinas had berths for sale. When undertaking passage planning and coastal voyages, cruising boaties needed to know where safe harbours were located. They also needed to know which facilities and services were available and how to contact the harbourmaster. When undertaking repairs or maintenance in unfamiliar waters, they wanted to know which tradesmen were on-site and how to contact them.

Once they arrived at a new destination, they wanted to know which restaurants were recommended and how to entertain the kids. Some wanted family and friends to join them, which necessitated finding suitable hotel accommodation and destination information. Our research indicated that the marketplace didn’t service these needs adequately. We created the Australian Marinas Guide in response to these needs, and launched the Guide in August 2008. It is constantly evolving as both boaties and marina operators give us feedback on how the guide can best meet demand.

Independent
The Australian Marinas Guide is totally independent and is not aligned with any boating or marina association. While we work closely with industry associations to better inform boat owners, we are not obligated to appease their members. It is this independence that allows us to list every single marina in Australia. While some boating directories are published by, or affiliated with, industry associations, they are all limited to publishing only their own members details, thereby reducing the usefulness of their own directory. The Australian Marinas Guide is squarely aimed at meeting the needs of boat owners rather than boating industry members.

Australian Marinas. Every Single One of Them.

EBook
We're developing our EBook to service the needs of boaties who lack a reliable onboard Internet connection. By compiling all the marina information contained in The Guide in a printable format, boaties can be sure they have access to marina information whilst at sea. The EBook will be available for purchase online in 2009.

Website Created by a Team of Experts
Fiona Harper is the founding Editor of The Guide. Fiona is a Freelance Journalist, specialising in Travel & Marine Writing, Web Editing and Copywriting. Her engaging, informative articles appear regularly in national and regional newspapers and magazines. She is member of a highly acclaimed group of travel writers, the Global Travel Writers, as well as a member of the Aust Society of Travel Writers. 

With qualifications in travel, journalism and yachting, Fiona has diverse skills and experience across the media, tourism and marine industries. Her vast network of contacts ensures she is informed in marine, travel and tourism industry trends. Additionally, Fiona has over 20 years of commercial, racing and leisure boating experience in Australia, New Zealand and across the Asia/Pacific region. There's hardly a local waterway or marina that she doesn't have first hand knowledge of. 

Fiona is supported by researchers, marketers and web professionals, ensuring that The Guide is continuously improved and updated as it evolves as the definitive guide to Australian marinas. 

John Forster - Assistant Editor & Vessel Reviewer
John joins the Australian Marinas Guide with a strong background in the marine industry as well as in boating journalism. John managed a charter boat operation in Melbourne before becoming the chief researcher for the Australian Marinas Guide. These days he can be frequently spotted test reviewing boats of all sizes, visiting marinas across the country, as well as reporting on the Australian marine industry.