It’s hard to imagine a more convenient and truly amazing spot to stop with your boat. It’s right up there with Constitution Dock in Hobart. Imagine being moored at the bottom of one of the main streets in a CBD along side a Botanic Garden. The whole city is at your feet: entertainment, museums, parklands -the lot! There is even a dedicated dinghy wharf. It costs mere shekels - $70 per week but the process of making your stay official is an entertainment that only a public servant could dream up, so we’ll share it with you.
Zofia tied up with one of dozens of ferries in the background.
Sun setting behind the mature Botanic Garden trees
City getting festive at dusk
There are 4 rows of piles. Smallest spaces are closest to river wall. Being closer in gives an advantage re boat wash. It’s very busy with ferry traffic but calm enough at night. You need long lines to secure the boat at the bow and stern. There will usually be someone around who will assist you tie up. It’s easiest if you can time your arrive at slack High tide. If arriving slack Low, it’s much harder to get the ropes through the stainless steel rings as they are so high up relative to your deck! We like facing downstream (bow pointing at Storey Bridge)so we have more protection in the cockpit from any stronger prevailing breezes.
There is a first in best dressed system: no bookings. Just arrive and find a spot you like the look of. If there are lines between 2 piles it means the spot is taken and the boat temporarily absent.
Once you’re settled you can head to the ‘office’. It's in the St George Square car park and accessed via Anne Street.
Yes, just walk in here.
Hmmm? Where to now? Walk diagonally across.
Boomgate behind the pillar labeled ‘B’ is your target.
Destination. Yes, really!
The 'Office' is in a booth located near a boom-gate in the underground carpark at St Georges Square (access from Anne St) you walk diagonally across the carpark and down the ramp to a lower level. The booth is next to a boom-gate.
Take the following with you (or a copy).
1) Boat Registration
2) Photo ID (passport OR drivers licence)
3) Skippers Ticket/Boat Licence
4) Insurance Certificate of Currency no older that 1 month old proving you have $10m Public Liability. (This proved as problem for us because our insurer only issues 1 Certificate of Currency and it’s after renewal. Our Broker and the Council Official exchanged emails to confirm we had not cancelled our policy since it’s issue).
5) Completed Application form - see BCC website OR ask for one when you get to the booth OR someone might let you into the laundry located near the dinghy dock under the Stamford Plaza hotel where there are usually a few spare blank forms.
In return the Council Officer (very helpful) will give you a temporary fob to access Laundry, Oar Store+Ablutions. Once your application is approved (by some person located elsewhere) you’ll receive an email. You can then return and get another fob key and pay money. You can only pay 2 weeks in advance and in person. In principal this payment regime is to discourage people from leaving their boats (rotting hulks) unattended for extended periods.
It might be more comfortable on anchor a bit further along and certainly the dinghy dock is not restricted in any way. Be prepared for your dinghy to get a bit of harsh treatment on the wharf because of current + wash. A method of locking your dinghy to the dock is advisable.
Bins are located ashore and freshwater can be collected by Gerry can from the laundry.
2 top loader washing machines are located in the laundry as well as 1 dryer. $4 per wash. The machines take $1 and $2 coins.
At the end of your stay the fob can be returned into a collection box in the Laundry.
High tide
City night sky and a few fireworks thrown in.
Crazy as it is, it's fun here, even if a bit lively at times due to ferry wash!
