Victoria, Australia
From CruisersWiki
Victoria Cruising Guide
An online cruising guide for yachts sailing to Victoria.
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Capital: | Melbourne |
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| 37°48.5′S, 144°57.5′E |
| Photo gallery |
| Local chartlet |
Overview
Originally part of New South Wales, Victoria became a separate British colony in 1851, the same year that gold was discovered in Ballarat. This triggered the one of the world's largest gold rushes and within ten years the population of Victoria increased from 76,000 to 540,000. At 227,600 sq km Victoria is only slightly smaller than the UK.
Cruising the region
Coastal Victoria is essentially unspoiled due to the vast reserves and marine parklands administered by Parks Victoria. While this ensures protection of the environment, cruisers should be aware that these facilites are meant to be used and explored, albeit with sensitivity to the natural habitat of the flora, fauna and marine life thus protected.
Along most of the coastline you are more likely to find caravan parks than condominiums, and cruisers may find that they can negotiate the use of communal showers and washing facilities by simply asking the management and paying a small fee.
The various coastal islands, particularly those between Inverloch and Port Albert, often form part of environmentally protected zones, and permission should be sought before camping, or in some cases even landing, on them. There is no fee for doing so (if allowed) but Parks Victoria like to keep track of movements and traffic volumes in the area.
Climate & Weather
- Bureau of Meteorology Official weather for Victoria
- Australian Hydrographic Service
- AU240140 Australia South Coast - Cape Martin to Cape Howe (1:1500000)
Crossing Bass Strait between Victoria and Tasmania can be risky but if the right procedures are followed it can be done safely and comfortably.Firstly, check the weather from the BOM (Bureau of Meterology)they provide first rate weather forecasting.There are regular forecasts on HF Daytime (7am–6pm) EST 4426, 16546.Night-time (6pm–7am) EST 2201, 6507.Anytime 8176, 12365.VIC forecasts are broadcast at 0130, 0530, 0930, 1330,1730, 2130 hours Eastern Standard Time. If you have internet check out the site and go to 'Marine and Ocean' then Victoria, then Bass Strait.The Strait is broken up into regions for more accurate forecasting but if you are heading south from Eden look at East Gippsland Coast,Central Gippsland Coast,Central Coast,Central North Coast forecasts. Crossing Bass Strait can be done in stages eg.From Eden you can go to Lakes Entrance though the bar there has to be crossed in the right conditions (more about that at a later date) which is about 120 NM from Eden.You can get behind Gabo Island and anchor near the jetty in anything from south to northerly winds.Another worthwhile stop is at Refuge Cove on the eastern side of Wilson's Promitory.That is approx. 100 NM from Lakes Entrance.Refuge Cove is a delightful little cove where you can await for the right conditions to cross to Tasmania or from there you can island hop to the Kent Group (Deal Island) about 60 NM thence to Flinders Island where anchorages abound.Be prepared for the odd gale but Flinders Island is worth it.If anchoring over kelp try to use a fisherman's (Admiralty pattern) anchor or move anchorages.From Flinders you can hop down before crossing Banks Strait.A word of caution here.Do not cross through with wind against tide as it can get nasty-wait for the right conditions and it will be safe and comfortable.Captain Dave 06:03, 17 September 2011 (BST)
Local Radio Nets
Ham Radio
2011/05/27 22:55 VK3PG 7068.3 PACTOR I/II/III Public QF22JC 2.1.2.0
2011/05/27 22:55 VK3PG 7098.5 PACTOR I/II/III Public QF22JC 2.1.2.0
2011/05/27 22:55 VK3PG 10140.0 PACTOR I/II/III Public QF22JC 2.1.2.0
2011/05/27 22:55 VK3PG 14127.5 PACTOR I/II/III Public QF22JC 2.1.2.0
2011/05/27 22:55 VK3PG 18126.5 PACTOR I/II/III Public QF22JC 2.1.2.0
Also see World Cruiser's Nets
Arrival/Departure procedures
See Australia
Immigration and Customs
See Australia
Health and Security
No specific warnings
Ports & Popular Cruising Stops
- Portland (Port of entry)
- Port Fairy
- Warrnambool
- Apollo Bay
- Port Phillip Bay
- Western Port (Port of entry)
- Inverloch
- Corner Inlet/Wilsons Promontory
- Port Albert
- Lakes Entrance
- Mallacoota
Australian Customs will process private yachts at all ports of entry.
Routes/Passages to/from Victoria
Offshore Islands
Victoria has 184 islands off her coast. The most popular, and populous, are French and Phillip Islands.
Western Port Islands
- French Island
- Phillip Island — Fairy Penguins!
Wilsons Promontory Islands
- Anser Island
- Great Glennie Island
- Norman Island
- Snake Island
Bass Strait Islands (Tasmania)
- Cape Barren Island
- Curtis Island
- Flinders Island — Furneaux Group.
- Hogan Island
- Kent Group (Deal, Dover and Erith Islands) — National Park and Marine protected area.
- King Island — Dairy Farming mainly. Renowned for high quality produce, especially cheese.
- Rodondo Island Group (includes East and West Moncoeur Islands)
- Sister Islands — Sheep grazing, muttonbirds. Part of a marine sanctuary.
See Tasmania for a more complete list.
Transportation
Victoria is served by a network of country and interstate train services from Spencer Street Station (Melbourne), as well as interstate and international air services from two major airports at Avalon and Tullamarine. Local bus services are also relatively plentiful.
References & Publications
Publications, Guides, etc.
Cruiser's Friends
See each region
Forum Discussions
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
External Links
Personal Notes
Personal experiences?
- The majority of Victoria's population is centered in the bayside city of Melbourne, with main arterial roads leading out in four directions. These go to south-eastern NSW via the coast (Princes Hwy), Sydney via Benalla (Hume Hwy), Adelaide via Geelong (Hamilton Hwy) and Mildura via Bendigo (Calder Hwy). --Haiqu 21:52, 25 May 2011 (BST)
Contributors to this page |
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Names: Haiqu |
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| HOMEPAGE | Wiki Contents | Indian Ocean | Australia | Bass Strait | Victoria | |