Hook Island Sailing Guide for Yachts
Hook Island Sailing Guide. Hook Island is one of the central cruising areas of the Whitsundays, offering a mix of deep, protected anchorages, coral‑fringed bays, tidal passages and exposed outer‑reef faces. The island forms the eastern boundary of the Whitsunday Passage and provides some of the region’s most reliable shelter in south‑easterlies, along with some of its most exposed anchorages in northerly winds. For skippers moving between Airlie Beach, Shute Harbour, Stonehaven, Nara Inlet and the northern island group, Hook Island is a natural waypoint with predictable depths, strong holding in the protected bays and clear navigational logic shaped by wind and tide.
Although Hook Island is forgiving in settled conditions, the skipper must remain alert to coral bommies, fringing reefs, tidal flow and the exposure created by northerly winds. The eastern side of the island is fully open to the Coral Sea and becomes uncomfortable or untenable in anything with north in it. The western side provides deep, protected anchorages with excellent holding and calm water in the prevailing trades. Hook Island is not a difficult region, but it rewards a deliberate approach and an understanding of how wind, tide and reef structure interact across its bays and passages.
Hook Island Sailing Guide
- Location
Hook Island sits at the northern end of the Whitsunday Passage and forms the key junction between the sheltered western cruising grounds and the more exposed northern and eastern island routes. From a navigation viewpoint, the island acts as a natural pivot point: its western side opens directly into the deep, predictable waters of the Passage, while its northern and eastern faces transition into coral‑fringed bays, bommie fields and the outer‑reef influence of the Coral Sea.
The island lies immediately north of Cid Harbour and south of Hayman Island, creating a clear north–south corridor for vessels moving between Airlie Beach and the northern Whitsundays. Its position also defines the entrances to Nara Inlet and Macona Inlet on the western side, and the approach to Stonehaven, Butterfly Bay and Maureen’s Cove on the northern side. Hook Passage, between Hook Island and Whitsunday Island, forms one of the main tidal gateways of the region, and the island’s shape and orientation strongly influence wind acceleration, tidal set and sea state in the surrounding waters. . Approximate centre position: 20°06.0’S 148°56.0’E
Hook Island Sailing Guide
- Approach
The approach to Hook Island from the west is clear, with 20–40 m of water in the Whitsunday Passage and wide, unobstructed lines toward Nara Inlet, Macona Inlet and Stonehaven. Depths remain consistent at 15–25 m until nearing the island, where the seabed begins to shoal near the fringing reefs. In strong south‑easterlies, the western side remains comfortable, but the eastern side becomes exposed and develops short, steep chop. Approaches from the east require careful attention to bommies, reef edges and tidal set.
Hook Island Sailing Guide
- Exposure
Hook Island’s western side provides reliable shelter in south‑easterlies, with deep, protected anchorages and calm water. The eastern side is exposed to the Coral Sea and becomes uncomfortable in northerlies or fresh trades. Tidal flow is noticeable around the northern and southern tips of the island, particularly near Hook Passage and the entrance to Nara Inlet. The seabed varies from deep sand and mud in the protected bays to coral and rubble near the reef edges. The skipper must choose anchorages carefully based on wind direction and intended transit timing.
Hook Island Sailing Guide
- Primary Anchorages
Nara Inlet: A deep, fjord‑like inlet with 15–25 m of depth and complete protection from all wind directions. The inlet is calm, predictable and one of the most secure anchorages in the Whitsundays. The shoreline is steep, and the skipper must anchor in deep water with adequate scope.
Macona Inlet: A wide, protected inlet with 8–15 m of depth over sand and mud. Macona offers excellent shelter in south‑easterlies and is a practical alternative to Nara Inlet. The holding is strong, and the inlet remains calm in most conditions.
Stonehaven: A series of bays on the western side of Hook Island offering 8–15 m of depth over sand. Stonehaven provides good shelter in south‑easterlies but becomes exposed in northerlies. The anchorage is scenic and popular, with reliable holding and clear water.
Butterfly Bay: A coral‑fringed bay on the northern side of the island offering 10–15 m of depth in the central basin. The bay provides moderate shelter in south‑easterlies but becomes exposed in northerlies. Coral bommies require careful anchoring.
Maureen’s Cove: A small, coral‑fringed bay on the northern side with 10–15 m of depth. The anchorage is scenic and popular for snorkelling but exposed in northerlies and fresh trades.
Manta Ray Bay: A narrow, coral‑lined bay on the northern side with 10–15 m of depth. The bay is primarily a daytime snorkelling stop and is not suitable for overnight anchoring.
Hook Island Sailing Guide
-Anchorages
Inside the protected bays, the water remains calm in south‑easterlies, and the anchorages provide reliable shelter. Nara and Macona offer deep, secure basins with strong holding and minimal swell. Stonehaven provides a mix of pockets with varying exposure, and the northern bays require careful anchoring due to coral bommies. The skipper must avoid edging too close to the reef edges, where depths decrease quickly and coral heads rise abruptly.
Keep a Bow Watch for Bommies
(Bomboras)
Bommies is a common cruising term (especially in the Pacific and Australia) referring to isolated coral heads that rise abruptly from the seabed, often from deep water to just below, or just above, the surface. Bommies are one of the biggest navigational hazards in reef environments because they can be hard to see in poor light, they are scattered unpredictably across lagoon floors, they are steep‑sided, rising from 20–30 m to 1 m in seconds, they are uncharted or inaccurately charted. A single bommie can ruin a keel, rudder, or prop.
Hook Island Sailing Guide
- Wind, Weather and Tide
Hook Island is well protected from south‑easterly trade winds on its western side, and the anchorages remain comfortable in these conditions. Northerlies expose the northern and eastern bays and can create short, steep chop that makes the anchorages uncomfortable or untenable. Tidal flow is noticeable around the northern and southern tips of the island and in Hook Passage. The vessel will lie mostly to the breeze in the protected bays and to the tide in the narrow passages.
Hook Island Sailing Guide
- Navigation Hazards
The primary hazards around Hook Island are coral bommies, fringing reefs, tidal flow and exposure to northerly winds. The skipper must maintain adequate distance from reef edges and avoid anchoring over coral. The northern bays require careful anchoring due to bommies rising abruptly from deeper water. Hook Passage experiences strong tidal flow, and the skipper must allow for set and drift when transiting the area.
Mechanical and Electrical Repairs
Resource
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Hook Island Sailing Guide
- Provisioning, Fuel and Water
Hook Island has no facilities of any kind, and the skipper must arrive fully self‑sufficient with all provisions, fuel, water and spares already onboard. There are no shops, fuel points, water access, marinas or landing services anywhere on the island. All resupply must be done at Airlie Beach, Shute Harbour or Hamilton Island before entering the Hook Island anchorages.
Hook Island Sailing Guide
– Summary
Hook Island is one of the central cruising areas of the Whitsundays, offering deep, protected anchorages, coral‑fringed bays and predictable shelter in south‑easterlies. The western side provides reliable protection, while the northern and eastern bays require careful weather selection. The approaches are straightforward, the anchorages are generous and the region provides some of the most scenic and sheltered waters in the Whitsundays. The Hook Island Sailing Guide for really great places to anchor.