Welcome to SailTime Port Stephens
Soldiers Point
Exploring Port Stephens on your SailTime Australia boat
If you live on the NSW Mid North Coast or are looking for a sailing base outside Sydney, SailTime Port Stephens offers something genuinely unique - the only sailing membership program in the region. Based at Soldiers Point Marina, memberships start from $790 per month, giving you access to the magnificent waters of Port Stephens, one of Australia's premier sailing destinations. Enquire today to find out what's available.
Port Stephens is one of those rare destinations that has it all - and then some. Larger in area than Sydney Harbour, this magnificent natural waterway sits just 80 nautical miles north of Sydney Heads, making it an achievable and enormously rewarding coastal passage for sailors looking to venture beyond the harbour. Framed by the dramatic headlands of Tomaree to the south and Yacaaba to the north, the entrance is wide, deep and navigable in almost all conditions - one of the most reliable ports of entry on the entire NSW coast.
Once inside, the harbour opens into a vast, sheltered expanse of sparkling blue water, with dozens of anchorages, protected bays and pristine beaches to explore with many accessible only by boat. Port Stephens is home to one of Australia's most celebrated resident dolphin populations, with over 100 bottlenose dolphins calling these waters home year round. Humpback and southern right whales pass through on their annual migration, turtles glide through the shallows and the marine park waters teem with life. It is, quite simply, one of the finest cruising destinations on the east coast of Australia.
Moorings, Anchorages & Public Berthing
Port Stephens is exceptionally well serviced for visiting sailors. Soldiers Point Marina — our home base — is a five-star facility offering everything from luxury amenities and full marina services through to fuel, repairs and provisioning, all in a stunning waterfront setting. Additional marinas include d'Albora Marina and Little Beach Marina at Nelson Bay, Anchorage Marina at Corlette and Lemon Tree Passage Marina further west, between them covering the full length of the harbour.
For those preferring to anchor out, the harbour offers excellent holding throughout in sand and mud, with popular anchorages at Shoal Bay, Salamander Bay, Fame Cove and North Arm Cove. Public moorings are available at a number of locations and are marked on local charts. The Nelson Bay Boat Harbour has courtesy moorings available with a 24-hour limit, and the Port Stephens Yacht Club adjacent to Soldiers Point Marina is open to visitors. Marine rescue operates 24/7 from Nelson Head, monitoring VHF channel 16.
Our Owner Member Program is also available in Port Stephens
If you’re looking for a smart and cost-effective way to buy a new yacht in your local waterway with all the of ownership but with the expenses taken care of and regular monthly payments to help offset your marine mortgage, then ask about our Owner Members program.
In addition to regular sailing as a Gold owner-Member, you also have automatic SailTime PLUS membership, opening sailing opportunities at over 50 bases across North America and Europe.
Base Fleet
Sovereign - Bénéteau Océanis 38.1
The Oceanis 38.1's creased hull offers exceptional sailing comfort. Firm at the stern, flat on the water, this cruising boat boasts a great sail-to-wind ratio, increasing speed with exceptional stability. It also features two helm stations, a large sail arch, and a spacious swim platform. Below deck, the L-shaped, open galley allows for a truly integrated saloon, accommodating up to eight people seated around the table.
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Joining fee (one-time fee): $1,300
Monthly fee*: $790
Guaranteed monthly SailTimes: 3
2 Days induction: Included
As available additional SailTimes: Up to 3 per month @ $200 per SailTime 30 hours in advance
Membership SailTime plus: Additional fee $350 first booking
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Joining fee (one-time fee): $1,800
Monthly fee*: $1,090
Guaranteed monthly SailTimes: 6
2 Days induction: Included
As available additional SailTimes: Up to 4 per month @ no charge 30 hours in advance
Membership SailTime plus: Included
Beneteau Swift Trawler 35
The new Swift Trawler 35 is built for a comfortable on-water lifestyle. Inside it provides elegant and practical living, it’s spacious with incredible natural light thanks to the fully glazed wheelhouse. The new design brings the outside inside and offers 360-degree views for you and your guests. So you can relax in the saloon, yet feel connected with your surroundings.
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Joining fee (one-time fee): $1,300
Monthly Membership*: $1040 (Plus Fuel & Engine Levy Fee)
Guaranteed monthly SailTimes: 3
2 Days induction: Included
As available additional SailTimes: Up to 3 per month @ $200 per SailTime 30 hours in advance
Membership SailTime plus: Additional fee $350 first booking
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Joining fee (one-time fee): $1,800
Monthly Membership*: $1650 (Plus Fuel & Engine Levy Fee)
Guaranteed monthly SailTimes: 6
2 Days induction: Included
As available additional SailTimes: Up to 4 per month @ no charge 30 hours in advance
Membership SailTime plus: Included
*Single annual payment attracts a discount of 5%
For further details please complete the no-obligation enquiry form or call us on 1300 944 974.
Invest in a SailTime Australia Monthly Sailing Membership
Gold Members have a guaranteed 6 SailTimes per month, unlimited ‘as available’ sailing and enrolment in SailTime Plus for a monthly fee that is typically only a few dollars more than the cost of a local marina berth!
Silver members have a guaranteed 3 SailTimes per month plus the ability to access ‘as available’ sailing and SailTime Plus for a small additional fee
We also offer exclusive Mid Week and Corporate membership packages
For further details please complete the enquiry form or call us on 1300 944 974
Exploring Port Stephens on your SailTime Australia boat
Soldiers Point Marina provides the perfect spot for exploring the magnificent waterways and hinterland of Port Stephens, covering nearly 1000 square kilometers of scenic diversity, mild weather, and great shopping and eating. The 5-star Marina is managed in an environmentally sensitive way and offers luxury hotel-style bathrooms, beauty and massage facilities, café, restaurants, coffee and papers delivered to your yacht in the mornings, with free cocktails in the evening. The Port Stephens Yacht Club sits right next door and is open to visiting sailors, and the surrounding waters offer excellent sailing in the reliable sea breezes that funnel through the harbour on most afternoons.
Nelson Bay
Nelson Bay is the beating heart of Port Stephens and the first major stop for sailors entering the harbour. Sheltered beneath the impressive headland of Nelson Head and its historic lighthouse, it's a vibrant and well-serviced hub with shops, restaurants, clubs and waterfront cafés all within easy reach of the marina. The famous local dolphin pod is a constant presence in and around the bay - it's not uncommon to be accompanied into the marina by a bow-riding escort of bottlenose dolphins, one of those magical Port Stephens experiences that never gets old.
The Nelson Bay Boat Harbour has courtesy moorings available for short stays, and the marina precinct offers fuel, water and a full range of provisioning options. For keen anglers, the marina breakwater is renowned for mulloway, and the offshore waters beyond the heads are among the finest game fishing grounds on the east coast, with marlin, tuna and kingfish all regular visitors.
Shoal Bay
Just around the corner from Nelson Head, Shoal Bay is a beautiful, gently curving beach that provides good shelter from southerly winds and a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. Visitor moorings are available, and the small collection of cafés, restaurants and shops ashore make it a lovely spot to spend a morning or afternoon. The bay can experience some roll from easterly swells wrapping around the headland, so it's worth keeping an eye on conditions, but on a calm day the water here is as clear and inviting as anywhere in the harbour.
Fame Cove
Fame Cove is one of Port Stephens' most treasured anchorages, a sheltered, naturally beautiful bay that perfectly captures everything that makes this waterway so special. Public moorings are available and the holding is excellent, with calm, clear water ideal for swimming and snorkelling. Dolphins are frequent visitors, wildlife abounds and the surrounding national park bushland creates a sense of complete seclusion. It's the kind of place you arrive for one night and find yourself staying for three. Note that the cove is less suited to strong south-westerly to westerly winds, so check conditions before committing to an overnight stay.
Salamander Bay
Salamander Bay opens up as you venture further into the harbour, offering a wide, calm expanse of water with good anchoring throughout. The bay has a relaxed, residential feel and is well positioned for accessing the large shopping centre at Salamander, making it a practical stop as well as a pleasant overnight anchorage. Free public gas BBQs and toilet facilities are available ashore at the council foreshore area, and the bay is a favourite gathering spot for cruising clubs making their way through Port Stephens.
Broughton Island
For those feeling adventurous, Broughton Island lies just offshore from the Port Stephens entrance and is one of the most rewarding day sails or overnight anchorages on the NSW coast. The island is a nature reserve of extraordinary beauty - crystal clear water, excellent diving and snorkelling, abundant birdlife and a wonderfully remote feel despite being only a short sail from the marina. Coal Shuttle Bay on the western side offers the most protected anchorage, with good holding in sand and kelp, and the fishing here is exceptional.
An overnight stay at Broughton is an experience unlike any other, just be sure to check the weather forecast carefully before committing, as it is an open ocean anchorage and conditions can change quickly. Log your intentions with Port Stephens Marine Rescue on VHF 16 before heading out.
Tomaree National Park
Tomaree National Park stretches for 20 kilometres along the southern shore of Port Stephens, from Anna Bay to Shoal Bay, and forms a spectacular natural backdrop to the entire waterway. From the water, the rugged headlands, pristine beaches and dense coastal scrub are breathtaking, and many of the best spots are accessible only by boat. Swimming, snorkelling, kayaking and fishing opportunities abound throughout the park, and the walk to the summit of Tomaree Head rewards with panoramic views across the harbour entrance, out to Broughton Island and south along the coast towards Newcastle that are simply not to be missed.