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High occupancy rates and solid demand from superyacht owners have prompted Sanctuary Cove owner Mulpha to push ahead with its staged expansion of the Gold Coast residential-resort’s marina.
The project, which will add 13 new berths for boats ranging from 18 to 20 metres, is the third stage of an expansion that kicked off in 2020 when the marina grew to cater for vessels of up to 50 metres while also introducing undercover berths.
The expansion will boost Sanctuary Cove Marina to about 400 berths, of which 63 will cater for superyachts, which Mulpha says will enhance and support capacity at the annual Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show.
“The marina itself has been a great investment, but it also plays a crucial role in making Sanctuary Cove a world-class attraction and generating demand for our other facilities and developments,” says Mulpha CEO Greg Shaw.
“Occupancy rates across the marina remain high and we are seeing increasing demand for larger boats as evidenced at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show 2025 in May, which was also fully booked.
“As we rapidly approach the 2032 Olympics, we anticipate that demand, particularly for larger yachts, will continue to build.
“This makes it imperative that we continue to plan and build premium quality berths for the Australian and International market.”
The K Arm extension project at Sanctuary Cove Marina is located adjacent to the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort lagoon pool and beach club.
Construction, which is currently under way, is expected to be completed by the end of January next year.
“By expanding berthing capacity, Sanctuary Cove Marina continues to cater to increasing demand from larger vessels and superyachts visiting South-East Queensland’s waterways, thereby facilitating greater access for high-value marine tourism activities such as boat tours, fishing charters, and extended cruising itineraries along the Gold Coast and beyond,” says Steve Sammes, general manager of Mulpha Sanctuary Cove Marina.
“Together, these upgrades ensure Sanctuary Cove Marina remains a premium gateway for marine tourism, supporting a wide range of water-based experiences that align with Queensland’s key priority areas while strengthening the Gold Coast’s position as Australia’s leading marine tourism hub.
“With the 2032 Olympics approaching, the marina will be further well placed to cater for the demand increase anticipated from foreign-flagged vessel visitations to Queensland."
The expansion at Sanctuary Cove follows solid growth at The Boat Works marina facility further upstream from Sanctuary Cove on the Coomera River.
Staged expansion of The Boat Works by owner Tony Longhurst, including a purpose-built superyacht facility, has grown the business to cater for vessels of up to 80 metres on the Gold Coast’s largest industrial site of any sector.
The Boat Works currently supports more than 1,000 workers operating daily with more than 100 small to medium-sized businesses on the 22ha site.
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