Breakwater Marina

My wife and I had the absolute plearsure of staying at the Breakwater Marina on and off over a October and November this year (2015). From our first visit we found the staff to be extremely friendly and obliging, nothing was a problem. (Dave your a legend). Booking in was a simple and friendly affair.

The entrance to the marina had been dredged in 2015 making it an all tide entrance and exit. The fuel wharf as you enter the marina and adjacent the main office is very large and will accommodate many vessels at all times. Diesel and unleaded fuel is available plus LPG gas.

Some of the marina is showing its age but B arm is relatively new and nearest arm to the Strand. Power and water are available at each berth. The amenities are very clean and tidy. The laundry is well laid out and functional. Each arm has a secured entrance and is also patrolled at night by security. We were invited to the Social room to watch the NRL grand final with all the other visitors to the marina. To be in Townsville with locals when their Team, The Cowboys won the grand final will be a memory we hold very dear for the rest of our lives. The town centre is within walking distance. In fact most things in Townsville are within walking distance from the marina. Cafe's and eateries are nearby as well as a great water park for the kids and the kids at heard. Magnetic Island is a lazy two hour sail away.

Excellent marina with excellent staff.

It was with considerable nostalgia that Cath and I headed our Seawind 1000 'Double Fun' into the entrance channel to the Breakwater Marina. Just on 25 years ago we had been one of the first yachts to move into what was then a very new facility. We had spent a very happy two years sailing 'Gabo Island' around the Townsville region and it was great to be coming back.

The marina is, in the one breath, very much the same and very different. Gone are the hardstand and workshop facilities, replaced by apartment blocks and new developments, but the ambience is still very much the same. With quite a high number of 'live aboards' each finger has its own community feel and there is a great mix of foreign, local and visiting boats of all shapes and sizes.

At the time of our first arrival we had one engine not working that made close manoeuvring quite a challenge but the reception staff came to the rescue offering us a berth that was really easy to enter. They made sure that there was someone to assist with our lines and it proved to be much less stressful than I had feared. That friendliness continued throughout several visits and all the staff have a genuine interest in their tenants both as 'boaties' and as people. It was always a delight to visit the office and have a chat.

While the marina is, in places, showing its age, the facilities and all very clean and functional. The 'Social Room' is a great idea and seems to be used regularly and they even have an area for people to leave items that might be of use to others. Stuff does't seem to stay there very long!

Personally, I think that the thing that really makes this marina stand out is its location. It is easy walking distance to the CBD of Townsville with its great restaurants, pubs and museums. It is also within walking distance to several major shopping centres with both species of supermarkets. Now, did I mention The Strand? That would have to be the greatest change in 'down town' Townsville since we left. It is magic and a real delight to stroll be it early morning or evening. Great for the soul as well as the cardiovascular system!

Conclusion: A great marina with outstanding staff and the perfect location to sample everything that Townsville has to offer.

The marina is well maintained, the facilities are always clean and serviceable and the complex is cyclone rated. It's within easy walking distance of shops - both major supermarket chains - and public transport.

The Breakwater Marina in Townsville, is well maintained, the staff are friendly and helpful, the plentiful facilities are clean and tidy and the berth fees are reasonable considering the high cyclone rating.

We've sailed up and down most of the east coast of Australia and stopped at loads of marinas, but our favourite will always be Breakwater in Townsville, great location close to pretty much everything, great facilities, clean and well maintained but most of all the Breakwater team are absolute legends, always helpful and friendly whether it's advice on local services or organising events to make visitors feel welcome and meet other boaties. Scott and his team will be the yard stick that I compare all other marinas to.

Can’t wait to visit again.