I am planning a sail from Sydney to the Gold Coast and would like to have an overnight stop at Tuncurry. My boat draws 2.1Mts and it seems there is not much depth in the harbor. Does any one have any experience.

Hi,
I have a coxswains licence for this bar. Do not attempt to cross the bar on a falling tide as the race runs at about 10 knots with resulting standing waves just inside the walls. Best on a rising tide near the top. There is considerable overflow on this bar and you could get in up to an hour late before the tide turns, just remember that the tide is DROPPING. Keep clear of the end of the walls by at least 100m as the rocks extend out a ways under water. One yacht has already been wrecked on the southern wall in the 1980's.

If the swell is 3m or above keep going north to the Camden Haven, Trial Bay or Coffs Harbour. Also with a large swell forget Port Macquarie.

Best to approach the entrance from just south of the line of the southern wall, before turning into the entrance. The actual bar is in line with the north wall some 3 to 400 meters out.

Once in, move across to the north wall at the western side of the swimming beach, there is a light on that point. Then staying close to that wall, I mean 50 feet max. [watch your depth sounder], proceed up to the Fishing Co-op.

You can anchor in the stream, but you must be there for the tide changes in case your rode wraps around your anchor and fouls it.

Or you can moor up to one of the wharves. I don't know what the situation re payment is at the moment but last I heard it was $25 per day, see the Fish co-op. Be warned, to moor to one of the wharfs you will need springers and a mooring board to allow you to lay alongside a pole. It's not like a marina. The small harbour on the southern side is not generally used by visiting yachts.

But all said and done, if you follow Lucas's direction you can't go wrong.

I'll look out for you if you come into the Camden Haven.

My home port but my yacht doesn't live here!

All great advice above. Accurate too!!

You can surf 3' standing waves on the run out tide in the channel so you need a fair bit of grunt to push in through that. Top of tide best as said above or run in especially when flat seas.

At the moment the Tuncurry moorings and breakwall from the co op to the bridge is being refurbished,, nearly finished by the looks of it. Best to call the Wallis Lake Fishermans Coop, 02 6554 6402. They manage the moorings again now. Don't expect a hot shower , actually don't expect a shower at all!! There is toilets across the park

Anyway people do anchor in the middle of the Tuncurry channel, too narrow on the Forster side to do that. But like NSW said you've gotta watch your anchor on the change of the tide.

If you keep going north Crowdy Heads harbour used to be an option but not sure these days.

So obviously your going round the top?

Send me an email RiffRaff about a week before you get to the Camden Haven.

Overnight from Port Stephens to Camden Haven is an easy run.

Do you have a blogsite on Blogsails yet so we can follow your efforts?

P.S. We have six cruisers in port at the moment.

Thanks NSWsailor,
I am leaving Newcastle on 27 Dec and sailing a short sail to Port Stephens (get used to the new boat) From there I am doing an overnight sail to Camden Haven so I will bypassing Tuncurry.
Talking with Dunbogan Boatshed for a mooring for a day or two, looks like I am in luck.

Thanks BlueMoon,
Stayed at Camden Haven last night on a mooring. Was impressed with the moorings there, very pretty place. The depth was a little concerning at first as I draw 7.1 ft
Left Early this morning for Coffs.