The Perfect Get Away Adventure!!

Come Sail on South Passage, Queensland’s tall ship. Create memories that will last a lifetime! Join South Passage as she sails along the eastern eastern seaboard - from Brisbane to Cairns and back!

Here’s your chance to experience first hand what it is like to sail a 100 foot ship the traditional way.  South Passage is a sail training ship used to develop sailing and life skills as well as providing a unique and fun-filled adventure against the backdrop of the breath taking scenery of the east coast of Australia.

South Passage is a two-masted 100 foot (30.5m), gaff rigged schooner.  She is a modern ship, launched in 1993, but built on the design of the 19th century pilot schooners that operated off the east cost of America.  She is sailed the traditional way where everything is done by hand.

On one of our voyages, you will run the ship under the guidance of the watch leader and one of the qualified crew. Passengers are organised in three watches named Red, White and Blue usually with between 6 and 8 in a watch. They are rostered for periods of two to fours hours and are in charge of the ship.  Each watch works as a team. They bunk together, eat together and run the ship together when they are on duty. Of course, there are times when it is all hands on deck with all watches involved.  When on watch the passengers will rotate around deck duties such as helming, lookout and recording entries in the ship‘s log and on the chart as well as tacking and gybing when required.

Our crew will show you how to raise sails, haul in a sheet, tack and gybe.  You will take a turn at the helm and feel the deck lift under your feet as the wind fills the sails.

There are several voyages to choose from.  All itineraries are weather dependent:

1.   MANLY to HERVEY BAY 6th - 9th May 2023 

DEPARTS:    William Gunn Jetty, Wyvernleigh Close, Manly

                     8:30 am Saturday 6th May  (board by 8:00 am or the night before)

 ARRIVES:     The Boat Club Marina 1 Buccaneer Dr, Hervey Bay

                     approx. 4:00 pm Tuesday 9th May

POSSIBLE HIGHLIGHTS:  Tangalooma Wrecks, Wide Bay Bar crossing, Great Sandy Straits, Fraser Island.

2.   HERVEY BAY to GLADSTONE 15th - 18th May 2023

DEPARTS:    The Boat Club Marina 1 Buccaneer Dr, Hervey Bay

                     8:30 am Monday 15th May  (board by 8:00 am or the night before)

 ARRIVES:     Commercial Wharf - Gladstone Marina, Bryan Jordan Drive, Gladstone

                     approx. 4:00 pm Thursday 18th May

POSSIBLE HIGHLIGHTS:  Platypus Bay, Pancake Creek, Lady Musgrave Island

3.   ROSSLYN BAY to MACKAY  23rd - 26th May 2023

DEPARTS:    Keppel Bay Marina, 1 Waterline Way, Rosslyn Bay

                     8:30 am Tuesday 23rd May (board by 8:00 am or the night before)

ARRIVES:     Mackay Marina, Mulherin Drive, Mackay

                     approx 4:00 pm Friday 26th May 

POSSIBLE HIGHLIGHTS:  Middle Percy Island, Curlew Island, Scawfell Island

4.   AIRLIE BEACH TO TOWNSVILLE 29th May - 1st June 2023

DEPARTS:    Coral Sea Marina, Shingley Drive, Airlie Beach

                     8:30 am Monday 29th May (board by 8:00 am or the night before)

ARRIVES:     Breakwater Marina, Mariner’s Drive, The Strand, Townsville

                     approx 4:00 pm Thursday 1st June

POSSIBLE HIGHLIGHTS:  Hayman Island, Gloucester Island, Cape Upstart, Magnetic island.

5.   MACKAY to ROSSLYN BAY 10th - 13th August 2023

DEPARTS:    Mackay Marina, Mulherin Drive, Mackay

                     8:30 am Thursday 10th August (board by 8:00 am or the night before)

ARRIVES:     Keppel Bay Marina, 1 Waterline Way, Rosslyn Bay

                     approx 4:00 pm Sunday 13th August

POSSIBLE HIGHLIGHTS:  Scawfell Island, Curlew Island, Middle Percy Island

There is free accommodation on board the night before departure for those that need to travel to the port of departure.

The cost includes all on-board meals, accommodation, training and safety equipment.  We are a non-smoking, dry vessel.

Please click on the  “Choose a Date” arrow to select your chosen voyage.