Sanctuary Cove & Hope Island
A few miles up the Coomera River from the Broadwater, Sanctuary Cove and Hope Island are where a lot of the Gold Coast's bigger boats live. Sanctuary Cove Marina is the landmark: a big, polished resort marina with a 24-hour card fuel wharf and a village of shops beside it. Hope Harbour and the Hope Island Resort marina are just downstream, and there are more private basins tucked into the canals. It's flat, sheltered water and an easy run from the Seaway on a rising tide. The thing to watch is the river itself: it's a long 6-knot zone, the marks near the mouth have been moving, and anchoring is limited to 24 hours.
- 1Sanctuary Cove Marina · 481 berths; 24/7 card fuel wharf.
- 2Coomera, Tallawood Rd ramp · 1 lane (TMR).
- 3Hope Island Resort Marina (approx.) · MSQ enlargement E.
- 4Cova Marina · Named only (OSM).
- 5Hope Island, Boykambil Esp South ramp · 1 lane, toilets (TMR).
- 6Hope Harbour Marina · 280 berths, 6–40 m.
- 7South Branch red beacon (moved) · Fl R 2s relocated May 2026 (MSQ 293/2026).
- 8Paradise Point, Oxley Dr ramp · 2 lanes, toilets (TMR).
At a glance
| What it is | Resort and private marinas on the lower Coomera River, behind Paradise Point |
| Getting here | From the northern Broadwater via the Coomera River South Branch (past Paradise Point) or North Branch |
| Fuel | Sanctuary Cove Marina fuel wharf: open to the public 24/7 by card (marina website) |
| Speed | 6 knots on the Coomera River, including both branches |
| Anchoring | 24 hours in any 30 days on the Coomera River and its tributaries |
| Map age | MSQ Beacon to Beacon maps current to 6 July 2020; marks moved since |
| Last checked | 18 October 2026 |
Getting here
The Coomera River reaches the Broadwater by two arms. The South Branch runs in past Paradise Point and is the usual way up. The North Branch comes in further north, opposite Rat Island. Both join behind Coomera Island (see our Paradise Point page for the mouths).
Recent changes on the way in (MSQ notices):
- ⚠ November 2024 to May 2025: South Branch buoys off Paradise Point were withdrawn, moved and re-laid.
- ⚠ May 2026: aids in the Coomera River were reported off station after high flows. We found no cancellation.
- ⚠ May 2026: a red lateral beacon (Fl R 2s) in the South Branch near Hope Harbour was relocated slightly.
- ⚠ July 2026: a new beacon marks shoaling in the North Branch mouth.
MSQ's open data has 86 aids in this stretch of river and canals, more than half of them lit. The pink tracks on MSQ's map only show which side of the marks to pass. MSQ's map has no depth contours in some of the canals, marinas and lakes, and MSQ's 2017 soundings snapshot gives a median of under 2 m across the lower river map. Go up on the tide if you draw much.
Bridges. Hope Island and the canals have low bridges and power lines: MSQ's maps print clearances between about 1.5 m and 8 m above HAT around Hope Island and Coombabah. Check the chart for any crossing you need to get under.
Anchoring
MSQ's maps don't show a named anchorage on this stretch of river in our sources. The Waterways Management Regulation limits you to 24 hours in any 30 days anywhere on the Coomera River and its tributaries, and in the canals. There's a marine park mooring area on Coombabah Creek (MGA44), and the open Broadwater anchorages are covered on our South Stradbroke page.
Coombabah Lake is a marine national park zone (MNP34, no fishing) and a go-slow area. Coombabah Creek and the lake are 6 knots for all boats.
Skipper's notes
Garry's own observations from deliveries through Sanctuary Cove & Hope Island. 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]
Facilities
- Sanctuary Cove Marina: 481 berths, "from jet skis to superyachts up to 150 ft". Metered shore power, 15 A and three-phase, with test-tagged leads required. Private amenities around the clock and a cashless laundry. Pump-out is by booking through Sweep Marine. The village beside it has an IGA supermarket, a chemist, a post office and medical services (all from the marina's website, October 2026). For haul-out, the marina points you to the Gold Coast Marine Precinct just upriver.
- Hope Harbour Marina (Hope Island): 280 berths for boats from 6 to 40 m, including multihulls, with long and short stays and secure storage with a private ramp (marina website).
- Hope Island Resort Marina is shown on MSQ's map (enlargement E), with a marina office, amenities and marine workshops nearby. We haven't confirmed its visitor arrangements.
- Cova Marina and several unnamed basins are mapped in OpenStreetMap, details unconfirmed.
- Trades. Most of the boatyards and trades are upriver at the Coomera Marine Precinct (see our Coomera page). Marine One (boat dealer) is listed near Hope Island.
Rescue. MSQ's 2020 maps print VMR Jacobs Well, VMR Southport and Coast Guard Southport for this area. ⚠ As printed in 2020. Confirm current channels and hours.
Fuel, water and pump-out
- Fuel. Sanctuary Cove Marina's fuel wharf is open to the public 24/7 by card swipe, with fast-flow diesel (120 L/min) and premium unleaded (marina website, October 2026). That makes it one of the handiest fuel stops on the Broadwater.
- Pump-out. By booking at Sanctuary Cove, via Sweep Marine.
- Water. Shore power and amenities at the marinas for berth-holders. A water point for passing boats isn't confirmed.
Boat ramps
From the Queensland Government (TMR) list, all managed by City of Gold Coast:
- Paradise Point, Oxley Drive (South Branch): two lanes, toilets, not tide-limited.
- Hope Island, Boykambil Esplanade South: one lane, toilets, not tide-limited.
- Coomera, Tallawood Road (North Branch side): one lane, not tide-limited.
Rules in brief
- Speed. 6 knots on the Coomera River including the North and South Branches, at Hope Island, near Hope Harbour Marina, and in Coombabah Creek, Coombabah Lake and Saltwater Creek. Between the Sovereign Islands and Rat Island near the South Branch mouth: 6 knots for boats 6.5 m and over, 30 knots under 6.5 m.
- Anchoring. 24 hours in any 30 days on the river and its tributaries.
- No waterskiing in the Coomera River south arm, and no freestyling or wave jumping in the river or the canals.
- Seaplanes. MSQ's map warns that seaplanes use part of this area.
Ashore
Sanctuary Cove village itself has a supermarket, chemist and restaurants by the marina (marina website).
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 Hope Island Resort Marina (approx.) (marina)
| Name | Type | Walk | Street address (OSM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and cafes | |||
| Red Rock | Restaurant | 370 m | – |
| The Boardwalk Tavern | Restaurant | 620 m | – |
| Supermarkets and provisioning | |||
| Coles | Supermarket | 340 m | – |
From Paradise Point, Oxley Dr ramp (boat ramp / dinghy landing)
| Name | Type | Walk | Street address (OSM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supermarkets and provisioning | |||
| Premier Fuels Hope Island | Convenience store | 910 m | 18 Broadwater Avenue, Hope Island QLD 4212 |
| Premier Fuels | Convenience store | 920 m | 18 Broadwater Avenue, Hope Island QLD 4212 |
| Broadwater Plaza | Shopping centre | 940 m | 18-24 Broadwater Avenue, Hope Island QLD 4212 |
From Sanctuary Cove Marina (marina)
| Name | Type | Walk | Street address (OSM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and cafes | |||
| Ioesco Cafe Cucina, Sanctuary Cove | Restaurant | 160 m | – |
| George's Paragon | Restaurant | 440 m | – |
From Coomera, Tallawood Rd ramp (boat ramp / dinghy landing)
| Name | Type | Walk | Street address (OSM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and cafes | |||
| The Press Cafe | Cafe | 1.2 km | 25 Harbour Village Parade, Coomera QLD 4209 |
| Supermarkets and provisioning | |||
| IGA | Supermarket | 1.1 km | – |
From Hope Island, Boykambil Esp South ramp (boat ramp / dinghy landing)
| Name | Type | Walk | Street address (OSM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supermarkets and provisioning | |||
| EG Australia | Convenience store | 750 m | – |
Nothing mapped within the 15-minute walk of: Cova Marina; Hope Harbour Marina.
No marine stores or chandlers are mapped in OpenStreetMap within the walk; see the Facilities section above for marine businesses we know of.
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
- Queensland Parks: Moreton Bay Marine Park zoning maps and app
- 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 the Coomera River, Hope Island and Coombabah (edition of 16 October 2026, Ashore data added 18 October 2026) and chapter 2 and Appendix D of the Tweed to Mooloolaba guidebook. Those draw on MSQ Beacon to Beacon maps NGC-3, NGC-5 and NGC-7 and enlargements C, E and F (current to 6 July 2020), MSQ notices to mariners to 16 October 2026, the MSQ speed-limit schedule, the Waterways Management Regulation, the Moreton Bay Marine Park layers, TMR boating-facility data and marina websites (fetched 15 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.
Need a boat moved to or from Sanctuary Cove?
Get a delivery quote