Sun, Sports and Sahana: The Gold Coast 2018 Itinerary

This spring (4 to 15 April) the Commonwealth Games will be held at Gold Coast City in eastern Australia, presenting a unique opportunity to combine watching live sport with stretching out on golden beaches, diving wrecks and spotting dolphins. This itinerary by Captain Paul Busk, of the 37 metre Sahana, which is available to charter with Northrop & Johnson, incorporates the excitement of the Commonwealth Games as well as calm, sheltered cruising along Queensland’s iconic coastline.

Day 1: Marina Mirage

Arrive at Gold Coast Airport, which has daily international arrivals and can accommodate private jets. Take the coastal road past the skyscrapers that line the edge of the rolling sand beach to the Marina Mirage. Enjoy welcome cocktails and supper on board, prepared on the upper deck teppanyaki grill.

Head to the nearby Carrara Stadium to see thousands of performers, athletes and officials at the Opening Ceremony. After a day of sporting glory, Sahana will cruise 50nm overnight to Moreton Island.

Just 25km off Brisbane’s shore, Moreton Island is the third largest sand island in the world. In the morning snorkel the Tangalooma Wrecks. The 15 purposefully sunk ships are considered some of the best wreck dives in the world and are home to a wealth of reef fish and corals. At dusk head to the Tangalooma Island Resort and hand-feed the visiting dolphins.

Wake in the turquoise waters of Horseshoe Bay on Peel Island, a national park. Swim ashore to spot some of the 74 species of bird or grab your snorkel and look out for dugongs, turtles and dolphins.

Continue south to South Stradbroke Island, home to hundreds of wild wallabies. Enjoy a beach set up by the crew and spend the day playing with towables, underwater scooters and SUPs. Dine ashore on wood- red cuisine at The Fireplace, Sanctuary Cove.

Cruise back to Marina Mirage and hop ashore for a spot of retail therapy in the village, which has more than 70 boutiques. In the evening head to Carrara Stadium for an evening of exhilarating athletics including the finals of the men’s and women’s 100 metres and the men’s 10,000 metres.

Enjoy a final breakfast on board at Sahana’s dining table aft before departing for the airport. Or stay on in Gold Coast City to enjoy more of the Games, which end on 15 April.