Top 5 Destinations for a Trailer Boat Holiday

Are you looking for some new places to take your trailer boat over the summer holiday? We check out some of the best places for boat vacations around Australia.
Lake Eildon, VIC
A popular summer holiday destination, Lake Eildon is a vast inland waterway north-east of Melbourne. With over 540 kilometres of shoreline ranging from Bonnie Doon at the northern end to Jamieson in the south, it caters for all craft from speedboats and fishing boats to power skis to canoes.
The area has plenty of camping spots, fuel facilities, lakeside shops and boat ramps, as well as waterside hotels at Jamieson and Bonnie Doon.
The Hawkesbury, NSW
Set amongst huge valleys carved by ancient rivers through sandstone, the extensive waterways of Broken Bay and the Hawkesbury River offer deep, sheltered cruising grounds, sandy beaches and mirror-calm inlets that are perfect for exploring, fishing, cruising, water sports or anchoring overnight.
Popular launch spots are Bobbin Head, Berowra, Brooklyn or around Pittwater, but you can put your trailer boat in at any number of boat ramps, marinas and yacht clubs scattered along the foreshores.
Port Stephens, NSW
A couple of hour’s drive north of Sydney is the large natural harbour of Port Stephens. It stretches approximately 134 square kilometres from open sea to the vast network of lakes and rivers that make up the Myall Lakes National Park. There are abundant campsites, ramps, moorings and parking spaces, so you can spend the days fishing, sailing and kayaking, or just watching dolphins play or swans float on the calmer waters of the estuaries.
For more activity, time your visit to join fishing competitions such as the NSW Game Fishing Association (NSWGFA) tournament in February-March, Sail Port Stephens in April or the annual Trailer Boat Fishing Tournament in autumn.
Moreton Bay, QLD
Fed by no less than six rivers, Moreton Bay stretches from the Gold Coast Seaway to Caloundra and offers diverse water sports, excellent fishing, protected inlets and numerous islands.
There are plenty of places to launch your trailer boat for a day’s adventuring, including Bongaree Jetty, which has floating pontoons for disability access. Once on the water, you do need to be aware of shifting sand banks and the marine animals that inhabit the area.
Esperance, WA
With some of Australia’s whitest beaches, protected bays, estuaries and over 100 islands in the surrounding Recherche Archipelago, Esperance is popular both for fishing and its abundant wildlife including sea lions, seals, migrating whales and sea eagles.
The town has boat ramps and there’s a harbour five minutes away at Bandy Creek. Other spots are accessible by 4WD only, but well worth it, especially if you’re okay to launch from the beach.
Whether you prefer to take your boat out on open seas, quiet estuaries, an inland river or lakes, Australia has plenty to offer. For the best tips, talk to the locals.
 
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