With the holiday season just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to hit the waters of Sydney Harbour for some boating fun. And guess what? We’ve got you covered if you’re looking for free mooring spots!
Alright, let’s talk about moorings. There are four types: yellow buoys, which you’ll need a license for as they’re for private use; orange buoys, meant for licensed commercial activities like charters, commercial fishing, and boat repairs; red buoys, reserved for boating and sailing clubs. And here’s the best part – the pink buoys! These beauties are courtesy moorings provided free of charge to the boating public for a 24-hour period.
If you’re up for the adventure of finding these free moorings yourself, feel free to use the Free Mooring Locator. But hey, if you prefer the easiest way, no worries! Just scroll down and check out all the pink buoys we’ve gathered around Sydney.
Public Courtesy Moorings:
Athol Bay – Five Swing Moorings
NSW Courtesy Moorings Map: Athol Bay
Maritime Asset ID: CPJ435, CPJ434, CPJ431, CPJ432, and CPJ433
Conditions of Use: Maximum of 24 hours and maximum vessel displacement of 20 tonnes.
Seagrass Friendly Moorings: None of the five spots are seagrass friendly.
Last Edited Date: 8 Dec 2023
Taylors Bay – One Swing Mooring
NSW Courtesy Moorings Map: Taylors Bay
Maritime Asset ID: CMH125
Conditions of Use: Maximum of 24 hours and maximum vessel displacement of 20 tonnes.
Seagrass Friendly Moorings: Not seagrass friendly.
Last Edited Date: 8 Dec 2023
Rose Bay – Four Swing Moorings
NSW Courtesy Moorings Map: Rose Bay
Maritime Asset ID: CMH121, CMH122, CMH123, and CMH124
Conditions of Use: Maximum of 24 hours and maximum vessel displacement of 20 tonnes.
Seagrass Friendly Moorings: None of the four spots are seagrass friendly.
Last Edited Date: 8 Dec 2023
Hermit Bay – Two Swing Moorings
NSW Courtesy Moorings Map: Hermit Bay
Maritime Asset ID: CMH119 and CMH120
Conditions of Use: Maximum of 24 hours and maximum vessel displacement of 20 tonnes.
Seagrass Friendly Moorings: None of the two spots are seagrass friendly.
Last Edited Date: 8 Dec 2023
Shark Bay – One Swing Mooring
NSW Courtesy Moorings Map: Shark Bay
Maritime Asset ID: CMH118
Conditions of Use: Maximum of 24 hours and maximum vessel displacement of 20 tonnes.
Seagrass Friendly Moorings: Not seagrass friendly.
Last Edited Date: 8 Dec 2023
Vaucluse Bay – One Swing Mooring
NSW Courtesy Moorings Map: Vaucluse Bay
Maritime Asset ID: CMH117
Conditions of Use: Maximum of 24 hours and maximum vessel displacement of 20 tonnes.
Seagrass Friendly Moorings: Not seagrass friendly.
Last Edited Date: 8 Dec 2023
Watsons Bay – One Swing Mooring
NSW Courtesy Moorings Map: Watsons Bay
Maritime Asset ID: CMH116
Conditions of Use: Maximum of 24 hours and maximum vessel displacement of 20 tonnes.
Seagrass Friendly Moorings: Not seagrass friendly.
Last Edited Date: 8 Dec 2023
Camp Cove – One Swing Mooring
NSW Courtesy Moorings Map: Camp Cove
Maritime Asset ID: CMH115
Conditions of Use: Maximum of 24 hours and maximum vessel displacement of 20 tonnes.
Seagrass Friendly Moorings: Not seagrass friendly.
Last Edited Date: 8 Dec 2023
Chowder Bay – One Swing Mooring
NSW Courtesy Moorings Map: Chowder Bay
Maritime Asset ID: CMH126
Conditions of Use: Maximum of 24 hours and maximum vessel displacement of 20 tonnes.
Seagrass Friendly Moorings: Not seagrass friendly.
Last Edited Date: 8 Dec 2023
Hunters Bay – Three Swing Moorings
NSW Courtesy Moorings Map: Hunters Bay
Maritime Asset ID: CMH112, CMH111, and CMH110
Conditions of Use: Maximum of 24 hours and maximum vessel displacement of 20 tonnes.
Seagrass Friendly Moorings: None of the three spots are seagrass friendly.
Last Edited Date: 8 Dec 2023
Quarantine Beach – Three Swing Moorings
NSW Courtesy Moorings Map: Quarantine Beach
Maritime Asset ID: CMH106, CMH107, and CMH108
Conditions of Use: Maximum of 24 hours and maximum vessel displacement of 20 tonnes.
Seagrass Friendly Moorings: CMH106 and CMH108
Last Edited Date: 8 Dec 2023
Manly Cove – Five Swing Moorings
NSW Courtesy Moorings Map: Manly Cove
Maritime Asset ID: CMH105, CMH104, CMH103, CMH102, and CMH 101
Conditions of Use: Maximum of 24 hours and maximum vessel displacement of 20 tonnes.
Seagrass Friendly Moorings: All five spots are seagrass friendly.
Last Edited Date: 8 Dec 2023
Chinamans Beach – Five Swing Moorings
NSW Courtesy Moorings Map: Chinamans Beach
Maritime Asset ID: CMH098, CMH114, CMH099, CMH113, and CMH100
Conditions of Use: Maximum of 24 hours and maximum vessel displacement of 20 tonnes.
Seagrass Friendly Moorings: None of the five spots are seagrass friendly.
Last Edited Date: 8 Dec 2023
Fisher Bay – Two Swing Moorings
NSW Courtesy Moorings Map: Fisher Bay
Maritime Asset ID: CMH088 and CMH089
Conditions of Use: Maximum of 2 hours, limited to sailing vessels only, and maximum vessel displacement of 20 tonnes.
Seagrass Friendly Moorings: None of the spots are seagrass friendly.
Last Edited Date: 8 Dec 2023
Pearl Bay – Two Swing Moorings
NSW Courtesy Moorings Map: Pearl Bay
Maritime Asset ID: CMH087 and CMH097
Conditions of Use: Maximum of 2 hours, limited to sailing vessels only, and maximum vessel displacement of 20 tonnes.
Seagrass Friendly Moorings: None of the spots are seagrass friendly.
Last Edited Date: 8 Dec 2023
Sugarloaf Bay – Four Swing Moorings
NSW Courtesy Moorings Map: Sugarloaf Bay
Maritime Asset ID: CMH082, CMH083, CMH095, and CMH096
Conditions of Use: Maximum of 24 hours and maximum vessel displacement of 20 tonnes.
Seagrass Friendly Moorings: None of the spots are seagrass friendly.
Last Edited Date: 8 Dec 2023
Bantry Bay – Eight Swing Moorings
NSW Courtesy Moorings Map: Bantry Bay
Maritime Asset ID: CMH080, CMH079, CMH078, CMH077, CMH076, CMH075, CMH074, and CMH073
Conditions of Use: Maximum of 24 hours and maximum vessel displacement of 20 tonnes.
Seagrass Friendly Moorings: None of the eight spots are seagrass friendly.
Last Edited Date: 8 Dec 2023
PLEASE NOTE:
In recent years, new types of moorings have been developed to prevent chains from dragging along the seafloor. These moorings are called Environmentally Friendly Moorings (EFMs), and they are slowly replacing the traditional block and chain moorings in many coastlines around the world. However, in New South Wales, the traditional block and chain moorings are still widely used.
The image below shows a comparison between the traditional block and chain mooring and the environmentally friendly mooring designs.
To wrap it up, remember to stick to the spots allowed by the NSW Government when you moor your boat and be careful while doing so. Keep an eye out for the designated mooring areas, especially at night when things can get a bit tricky to see. Always stay alert for swimmers, small dinghies, and those sneaky ropes. And if you’re cruising at a speed of 6 knots or more, make sure to give a 30-metre buffer around any moored vessel. If that’s not doable, just play it safe and keep a comfortable distance. Finally, as a responsible boater, be mindful of your impact on the marine environment and do your part to prevent ocean pollution by properly disposing of any waste.
Now, go out there and enjoy some fantastic boating adventures this holiday season! If you’re still unsure where to go, we’ve gathered information on the public swing moorings on Pittwater, Hawkesbury and Brisbane Water as well as some of the best spots to watch the Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks by boat. If you’re looking to buy or rent berths to keep your boat, you can also check out our Sydney Marina berths for sale for a list of options. Stay safe and have a blast on the water!
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