Stonehaven

Stonehaven is one of the most popular overnight anchorages in the Whitsundays, on the west side of Hook Island. Three bays give you a choice of spots, with 35 free public moorings and fringing reef to snorkel a short dinghy ride away. It sits close to some of the best snorkelling in the islands, and the sun sets right over the water. It is approved for overnight stays in both north-easterly and south-easterly winds, which makes it one of the most reliable stops on a self-skippered charter.

Snorkelling at Stonehaven

All three bays are fringed with coral reef and scattered coral bommies. Expect hard coral gardens and good numbers of reef fish in clear, generally calm water. Visibility is usually best in light winds and on gentler tides.

• Explore by dinghy: grab your snorkel, jump in the tender and explore the reef around the headlands and small coves. Anchor the dinghy on sand or rock, never on live coral.
• Gear: every guest on a Whitsunday Escape charter, including children, gets a mask, fins and snorkel free of charge. Prescription masks and wetsuits can be hired.
• Best views: snorkelling is usually best between quarter and three-quarter tide, when the water is 1 to 2.5 m above the reef.
• Stay safe: don’t swim or snorkel between dusk and dawn, in murky water, or where fish are being caught or cleaned. Always swim with a buddy, and wear a stinger suit from about November to May.

Snorkelling nearby

Stonehaven is a good base for the north end of Hook Island and nearby Hayman and Langford Islands.

• • Langford Island: directly opposite, with a long sand spit that almost disappears at high tide, and a favourite feeding spot for turtles. Langford Reef moorings are for day use only, in winds under 10 knots.
  • Blue Pearl Bay, Hayman Island: protected coral and a resident giant Maori wrasse, with moorings approved overnight in south and south-east winds.
  • Butterfly Bay, Hook Island: a sheltered bay on the north side of Hook Island with coral and reef fish, approved overnight in south and south-east winds.
  • Manta Ray Bay and Pinnacle Bay, Hook Island: mooring-only day stops on the north end of Hook Island, in winds under 10 knots.
  • Luncheon Bay, Hook Island: home to a resident family of clownfish. Moorings only, in winds under 10 knots.

Sunsets at Stonehaven

Stonehaven faces west across to Langford Island and the mainland, so it is one of the best places in the islands to watch the sun go down. Stay on board, light the barbecue and enjoy the view after the day boats have gone.

Fishing near Stonehaven

Fishing is allowed in parts of the Stonehaven area, and mackerel are often caught around Hook Island. Check the zoning map on board before you put a line in, as much of the surrounding reef is protected, and spearfishing is not allowed in green or yellow zones. Coral reef fin fish and Spanish mackerel can’t be taken during the spawning closures, usually two short periods in October and November.  Bring lines in well before you arrive, and never throw bait or fish scraps into the anchorage.

Fishing in the Whitsundays

Best time to visit Stonehaven

You can visit Stonehaven all year, with water of about 23°C in winter and 27°C in summer. It is approved for overnight stays in both the south-east winds of winter and the north-east winds of summer. In strong south-easterlies, gusts off the hills can more than double the wind strength and change direction suddenly, so don’t use the headsail here. Stinger season runs from about November to May, so wear a stinger suit when you swim. Arrive around midday for the best light to see the reef.

How to get to Stonehaven

• Sail yourself: Whitsunday Escape is based at Coral Sea Marina in Airlie Beach, and you get a full briefing on the boat, navigation, tides and anchorages before you leave.
• Travel time from Airlie Beach: It takes about 2 – 3 hours to reach Stonehaven anchorage from Airlie Breach by Power or Sailing Catamaran.
• Route: reef extends more than 1 nautical mile from shore around Black Island, Langford Reef and Stonehaven. Stay in the middle of the channels and follow the routes marked in 100 Magic Miles and the detailed plan on Chart AUS 254. Sailing is not permitted in this area, so drop the sails well before you arrive.

Where to moor and anchor at Stonehaven

Public moorings. 35 free public moorings sit across the bays. They are first come, first served, with one boat per mooring. You can use a mooring for 2 hours between 7am and 4pm. To stay overnight, pick up the mooring after 2pm and leave by 9am the next morning. Do not use the two public moorings near Ian Point in the south anchorage. They sit inside a tongue of reef within the reef protection markers, and using them voids your insurance cover.

Anchoring. In strong winds, anchoring is the better option, as the moorings become very uncomfortable above 25 knots. Keep a good lookout from the bow, as there are isolated coral heads and fringing reef. Anchor in sand, never on coral, in water between 2 m at low tide and 15 m at high tide, with at least 40 m of chain. Stay outside the reef protection markers. Some bays may not be accessible at low tide.

Overnight. Approved in north, north-east, south and south-east winds. Confirm your plans at the morning radio schedule and be anchored or moored by 4pm.

Anchoring tip: aim to arrive around midday, and no later than 3pm. Approach at under 3 knots with the sun behind you and polarised sunglasses on, so you can see the coral heads clearly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Stonehaven a good overnight anchorage? Yes. It is approved for overnight stays in both north-easterly and south-easterly winds, with 35 free moorings and room to anchor. In winds over 25 knots, anchoring is more comfortable than the moorings.

Are there moorings at Stonehaven? Yes, 35 free public moorings. Use them for 2 hours between 7am and 4pm, or overnight if you pick one up after 2pm and leave by 9am. Do not use the two moorings near Ian Point in the south anchorage.

Can you fish at Stonehaven? Fishing is allowed in parts of the area. Check the zoning map on board first, as much of the reef around Hook Island is protected, and note the October and November closures for coral reef fin fish and Spanish mackerel.

Why should I arrive before 3pm? As the sun gets lower, it becomes hard to see coral heads and fringing reef. Arriving around midday gives you the best light, and all boats must be anchored by 4pm.

What is near Stonehaven? Langford Island is directly opposite, and Blue Pearl Bay and the north end of Hook Island are a short trip away.