Runaway Bay Marina
Runaway Bay Marina is the working heart of the middle Broadwater: berths, a big dry stack, a travelift, a fuel jetty and a cluster of trades all in one spot, a short run up the North Channel from the Seaway. If you need fuel on the way north, a quick lift for a prop or a sounder, or somewhere to leave a boat for a broker, this is where most of us end up. Around it you've got the canal suburbs of Biggera Waters and Hollywell, Bayview Harbour's private marina, and Crab Island sitting out in the channel. It's busy, sheltered water, with jet skis, party pontoons and a forklift dropping boats in seven days a week, so keep your eyes open.
- 1Runaway Bay Marina · Berths, dry stack, travelift, fuel jetty.
- 2Bayview Harbour (Oc 5s beacon) · Private marina; visitor berths not confirmed.
- 3The Deep Hole west cardinal · Q(9) 15s, just north of John Elkes Beacon.
- 4Crab Island speed zone (approx.) · 6 kn for 8 m+ boats, 8 am to midday.
- 5Half-sunken boat, Carters Bank · Fl Y 2.5s, July 2026 (MSQ 419(T)/2026).
- 6Hollywell, Jasmine Ave ramp · 1 lane, toilets, tide-limited.
- 7Hollywell, Holly Ave ramp · 1 lane, toilets, tide-limited.
- 8Hollywell, Howard St ramp · 1 lane, not tide-limited.
- 9Runaway Bay, Ray St ramp · 1 lane, toilets, Biggera Creek.
At a glance
| What it is | Marina, dry stack and shipyard on the mainland side of the middle Broadwater |
| Getting here | In through the Gold Coast Seaway, then north up the North Channel |
| Fuel | Marina fuel jetty: diesel, unleaded and premium unleaded (marina website) |
| Haul-out | 35-tonne travelift for boats to 16 m overall; forklift dry stack to 10 m |
| Chart | AHO Aus 814 (the chart MSQ's notices for this area name) |
| Time limits | Anchoring limits apply. See Anchoring nearby |
| Last checked | 18 October 2026 |
Getting here
From the Seaway, follow the North Channel north past Lands End. MSQ's map notes that all the lit beacons marking the North Channel flash in sync, which makes it easy to pick out at night. In the MSQ open data the channel marks in this stretch run from N3 to N8, with N8, the John Elkes Beacon (Fl Y 4s), at the top. Just north of it, near the spot the map calls The Deep Hole, there's a west cardinal buoy (Q(9) 15s). From there, marked channels split up both sides of the Broadwater: one along the South Stradbroke shore and one up the western side past Crab Island and Hollywell towards Paradise Point.
⚠ Time-sensitive. From 19 October to 23 December 2026 a dredge and bed-levelling vessels are working the North Channel, mostly by day. Slow down, keep clear and keep your wash down.
⚠ As at July 2026, a half-sunken boat on Carters Bank, south of this area, is marked with a flashing yellow light (Fl Y 2.5s). Check the current notices for whether it's been removed.
Coming down from the north, you pass Rat Island and the Coomera River mouth. ⚠ As at May 2026, MSQ warned that several aids in the Coomera and Nerang rivers had been knocked off station by high flows, so don't trust a mark until you've seen it.
Charts. ⚠ Source conflict. MSQ's 2020 map for this area says "see chart AUS 230", but that chart isn't in AHO's July 2026 list. Every MSQ notice for this area names Aus 814. Use that.
Depths
MSQ's map key says selected Broadwater channels were surveyed by MSQ in 2019–2020, with other contours courtesy of Gold Coast Waterways Authority (2018). There are no depth contours in the canals or inside the marina itself. MSQ's older soundings snapshot (March 2017) gives a median of about 4.6 m in the North Channel and about 2.5 m west of Crab Island between Hollywell and Runaway Bay, with drying patches in both. Those numbers are older than the latest surveys, so use the chart.
Facilities
Runaway Bay Marina (marina website, October 2026): 197 wet berths for boats from 8 to 30 m, and 305 dry-stack berths for boats to 10 m, with a forklift launching and retrieving seven days a week. The shipyard runs a 35-tonne travelift for boats up to 16 m overall. There's a deep-water boat ramp, boat and trailer storage, a laundromat, and cafés and restaurants on site. The marina describes itself as a brokerage hub, with a lot of boats for sale at any one time. ⚠ Source conflict. MSQ's 2020 map says "30 t travel lift"; we've gone with the marina's own, newer figure.
On-site trades (from their own websites, October 2026) include:
- Runaway Bay Marine Service: Mercruiser, Volvo Penta and Honda Marine agents, a workshop on the water, and forklift and cradle hire for boats up to 28 ft.
- Short Marine: shipwright, marine electrics and detailing; Yamaha dealer.
- Gold Coast Inflatables & Outboards: outboard servicing, electrics, antifouling and detailing.
- RB Marine Covers: covers, clears and marine upholstery.
- R Marine Crawley: Riviera and Belize dealer and brokerage.
- Gold Coast Marine Training: boat and PWC licence courses.
- Gold Coast Party Pontoons: self-drive BBQ pontoons. Expect them out on the water near the marina.
Bayview Harbour (south, off Oatland Esplanade) is a private marina with staff on hand seven days, according to its own website. ⚠ An MSQ pump-out map from 2019 lists it with 199 berths and no pump-out. Visitor berths aren't confirmed. Its entrance is marked by quick-flashing green and red beacons, with an Oc 5s beacon nearby.
Southport Yacht Club has its Hollywell sailing office and clubhouse here, running learn-to-sail, junior training and club racing.
Rescue. Neither base is in this area. Marine Rescue Southport is on The Spit and Coast Guard Southport is at the mouth of Loders Creek (see our Seaway page). ⚠ Channels as printed on MSQ's 2020 map. Confirm current channels and hours with the units themselves.
Fuel, water and pump-out
- Fuel. The marina's fuel jetty supplies marine diesel, unleaded and premium unleaded, plus ice, bait and tackle (marina website). Hours and depth alongside aren't confirmed, so ring ahead if you're deep. It's the only marine fuel we found in this stretch of the Broadwater.
- Pump-out. ⚠ As at 2019, MSQ's pump-out map showed Runaway Bay Marina's pump-out as not operational. We haven't been able to confirm whether it's working now.
- Water and amenities. MSQ's 2020 map shows toilets, showers, waste-oil and battery disposal at the marina. Water for visiting boats isn't confirmed.
Boat ramps
The Queensland Government (TMR) list has these public ramps, all managed by City of Gold Coast:
- Hollywell, Jasmine Avenue (near Allisee): one lane, toilets, tide-limited.
- Hollywell, Holly Avenue (north of the marina): one lane, toilets, tide-limited.
- Hollywell, Howard Street (south of the marina): one lane, not tide-limited.
- Runaway Bay, Ray Street (Biggera Creek): one lane, toilets, not tide-limited.
The marina also advertises its own deep-water ramp.
Anchoring nearby
There are no anchorage symbols on the mainland side here. MSQ's map shows the two nearest anchorages across the Broadwater on the Currigee shore of South Stradbroke Island (see our South Stradbroke page), and shaded buoy mooring areas south of Runaway Bay Marina, at Paradise Point and on its Coomera side.
Time limits (Waterways Management Regulation): most of this stretch is "northern Broadwater", where you can stay no more than 7 days in any 60 within a nautical mile of the one spot. In the canals, Biggera Creek, Hollywell Harbour and Lake Runaway, it's 24 hours in any 30 days. You can't anchor or moor within 30 m of an approved structure or a boat moored to one.
Skipper's notes
Garry's own observations from deliveries through Runaway Bay Marina. First-hand notes, dated, and no substitute for the chart.
- Depth
- [Garry to add: depths seen, state of tide and date.]
- Holding
- [Garry to add: bottom type and how the anchor held.]
- Shelter
- [Garry to add: wind directions it is good or bad in.]
- Other notes
- [Garry to add: anything else worth knowing, with date.]
Notes last updated: [date]
Rules in brief
- Speed. 6 knots in canals, boat harbours and marinas, and in Biggera Creek and Lake Runaway. 6 knots for boats 8 m and over around the western side of Crab Island, between 8 am and midday (four yellow "Crab Island Speed" buoys mark it). Otherwise 40 knots inside smooth-water limits unless signed.
- Living aboard. In Gold Coast waters, no more than 7 days in any 60 within 3 nautical miles of one place, unless you're in a marina with toilets and showers.
- No wave jumping in Biggera Creek or within 100 m of the western Broadwater shore.
- Seaplanes. MSQ's map warns that seaplanes use the area by Crab Island.
- Bridges and power lines. The canals behind Runaway Bay, Hollywell and Biggera Waters have bridges and power lines printed at about 3 m above HAT, with one higher at Biggera Waters. ⚠ As at May 2026, City of Gold Coast was maintaining three Bayview Street bridges; MSQ says the works won't change clearances.
Ashore
What's within about a 15-minute walk (1.2 km) of each marina, ramp or landing on this page, measured along streets and footpaths in OpenStreetMap. Addresses are from OpenStreetMap where it has one; where it doesn't, we show the name and distance only. ⚠ As at 18 October 2026: we haven't confirmed each place is still trading, so check before you walk.
From Runaway Bay Marina / Hollywell, Holly Ave ramp (boat ramp / dinghy landing, marina)
| Name | Type | Walk | Street address (OSM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marine stores, chandlers and boat services | |||
| Runaway Bay Marine Service | Engine and sterndrive service † | 160 m | – |
| Short Marine (Runaway Bay) | Shipwright, marine electrical, detailing † | 160 m | 1/247 Bayview St |
| Gold Coast Inflatables & Outboards (Gold Coast Outboards) | Outboard service † | 160 m | U5/247 Bayview St. 27°54.040′S 153°24.183′E Runaway Bay Marina, 247 Bayview St |
| Runaway Bay Marine Covers (RB Marine Covers) | Canvas and marine upholstery † | 160 m | – |
| Gold Coast Antifouling | Antifouling † | 160 m | – |
| Viking Tackle and Boat Sales | Bait and tackle † | 160 m | – |
| Getaway Sailing (yacht Eau de Vie) | Sailing charters † | 160 m | – |
| Southport Yacht Club, Hollywell sailing office and clubhouse | Yacht club: sailing office and clubhouse † | 180 m | 1 Marina Crescent, Hollywell |
| Runaway Bay Marine Electrical Services | Boat builder / repairer † | 440 m | – |
| Pro-Care Marine | Boat builder / repairer † | 500 m | – |
| Marine Power & Marine Energy Systems | Marine engineer / mechanic † | 540 m | – |
From Bayview Harbour (Oc 5s beacon) / Runaway Bay, Ray St ramp (boat ramp / dinghy landing, marina)
| Name | Type | Walk | Street address (OSM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and cafes | |||
| Caffene | Cafe | 130 m | – |
| L'Etranger | Cafe | 790 m | – |
| La Piazza Waterfront Restaurant | Restaurant | 870 m | 21 Bayview Street |
| Entertainment | |||
| Seaway Kayaking Tour | Attraction | 880 m | – |
| Supermarkets and provisioning | |||
| 7-Eleven | Convenience store | 280 m | – |
From Hollywell, Jasmine Ave ramp (boat ramp / dinghy landing)
| Name | Type | Walk | Street address (OSM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marine stores, chandlers and boat services | |||
| Bullet Boats | Boat builder / repairer † | 540 m | – |
| Mercury Inboard Engines | Marine engineer / mechanic † | 540 m | – |
| Seapower Marine | Chandlery / marine equipment † | 540 m | – |
From Hollywell, Howard St ramp (boat ramp / dinghy landing)
| Name | Type | Walk | Street address (OSM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marine stores, chandlers and boat services | |||
| Billy Billson Marine Solutions | Chandlery / marine equipment † | 330 m | – |
† From our own marine business directory (live directory listings and business websites checked 16 October 2026), not OpenStreetMap; walk measured the same way from the listed position. Where no street address was published, only the suburb or nothing is shown.
Places, types, addresses and walking distances: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), fetched 18 October 2026.
About this page
This page is a planning aid written by a working delivery skipper from public sources. It is not for navigation. Use the official AHO chart (Aus 814), current MSQ notices to mariners, official tide tables and local advice. Spotted something out of date? Please use Report a correction below.
Official links
Check these before you go. They beat anything on this page.
- MSQ notices to mariners, Southport (current list)
- Gold Coast Waterways Authority: anchoring and mooring
- MSQ: crossing a coastal bar (safety advice)
- Queensland notices to mariners, all areas (subscribe)
- MSQ Queensland tide tables
- Bureau of Meteorology: tide predictions
- Bureau of Meteorology: Queensland warnings (incl. marine wind warnings)
- Bureau of Meteorology: Queensland coastal waters forecasts
Sources & credits
Written in fresh words from the facts in the Hartshorne Marine Sailing Directions area guide for Runaway Bay, Paradise Point and the middle Broadwater (edition of 16 October 2026, Ashore data added 18 October 2026). That guide draws on MSQ Beacon to Beacon map NGC-8 and enlargements G and H (current to 6 July 2020), MSQ notices to mariners to 16 October 2026, the MSQ pump-out map C2-335 (2019), the Waterways Management Regulation, TMR boating-facility data, and the marina's and businesses' own websites (fetched 16 October 2026).
Maritime Safety Queensland. Contains Maritime Safety Queensland data (Beacon to Beacon guide, notices to mariners, nav-aid open data, pump-out map C2-335, speed-limit schedule, tide information) © State of Queensland (Department of Transport and Main Roads), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Facts restated and summarised in our own words. Not endorsed by MSQ or TMR.
Queensland legislation. Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Regulation 2016 and Transport Infrastructure (Waterways Management) Regulation 2012 © State of Queensland, CC BY 4.0. Summarised; the authorised versions at legislation.qld.gov.au prevail.
NGA. Background from NGA Pub. 127, Sailing Directions (Enroute) East Coast of Australia and New Zealand (2025), U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, a US Government work in the public domain. Parts of it are out of date; where a page leans on it, we say so. Not endorsed by NGA.
OpenStreetMap. Map tiles and some facility positions © OpenStreetMap contributors, data available under the Open Database Licence (ODbL).
Others. Facts from local authority pages and notices (for example the Gold Coast Waterways Authority), volunteer marine rescue sites and businesses' own websites are cited for fact only and restated in our own words. Listing a business is not an endorsement.
Last checked: 18 October 2026.
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