The essential marine navigation guide for Queensland's coastal and inland waterways — from Tweed Heads to Yeppoon

The Beacon to Beacon Guide – 16th Edition, released in July 2023, is the most comprehensive and up-to-date boating directory available for navigating South East Queensland’s coastal and inland waterways. Used by recreational mariners, professional skippers, rescue services, and sailing schools, this trusted resource is regarded as the “street directory” of Queensland’s marine environment.

From the border waters at Tweed Heads to the northern limits of Yeppoon, this guide charts the bays, rivers, creeks, islands, and channels that make up one of Australia’s most popular and diverse marine regions. Whether you’re heading out into Moreton Bay, cruising through the Gold Coast Broadwater, or navigating the Fraser Coast, the Beacon to Beacon Guide offers precise, user-friendly navigation support.

🧭 Key Features of the 16th Edition

📌 Expanded Coverage

• Covers coastal and inland waterways from Yeppoon to Currumbin

• Includes major marine regions:

  • Moreton Bay

  • Gold Coast & Broadwater

  • Bribie Island

  • Sunshine Coast

  • Wide Bay–Burnett region

  • Capricorn Coast

🗺️ Marine Charts Designed Like Street Maps

• Chart-style maps with a layout similar to a road directory — intuitive and easy to follow

• Shows beacons, buoys, channels, sandbanks, anchorages, and key navigation markers

• Extensive aerial photos of difficult or dangerous entrances, bar crossings, and marinas

• Includes boat ramps, pontoons, public moorings, and depth contours

✅ Regulatory & Safety Zones

• Green Zones, Yellow Zones, and Marine National Park boundaries clearly marked

• Supports compliance with Marine Park regulations and sustainable fishing practices

📡 Marine Radio & Safety Information

• Includes up-to-date guidance on VHF marine radio use, call signs, channel allocations, and coverage areas

• Detailed contact information for Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) and Coast Guard stations

📖 User-Friendly Format

• A4 spiral-bound book — easy to use and lies flat on any chart table

• Organised by region with page references and map numbers for seamless navigation

• Indexed directory of all marine infrastructure, landmarks, and reference points

📘 Technical Specifications

• Title: Beacon to Beacon Guide – 16th Edition

• Published: July 2023

• Publisher: Maritime Safety Queensland (via Gold Coast Boat Hire)

• Format: A4, spiral-bound softcover

• Pages: Approx. 200

• Weight: Approx. 1.02 kg

• ISBN: 9780992587079

• Printed in Australia

🎯 Who It’s For:

• Boaties & yachties cruising Queensland’s east coast

• Fishing enthusiasts needing accurate location and zone data

• Maritime educators and sailing schools

• Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) crews and local authorities

• Recreational skippers, jet ski users, and weekend cruisers

• New boat owners needing easy-to-follow maps and local knowledge

• Anyone seeking a reliable, compact companion to electronic GPS/chartplotters

🛟 Why Every Boat in Queensland Needs One:

Unlike purely electronic systems, the Beacon to Beacon Guide is not dependent on power or signal and gives immediate visual context of complex waterways. It’s the ideal backup to onboard GPS systems, a training reference, and a trusted companion for navigation, anchorage planning, and marine safety.

Whether you're navigating your home waters or exploring new territory, this guide will help you find your way, avoid hazards, and comply with marine regulations with confidence.

🌐 Digital Companion

• Free digital versions and online updates available through Maritime Safety Queensland

• Ideal for pre-trip planning, classroom teaching, or accessing the guide on your tablet before hitting the water

Clear. Reliable. Queensland’s most trusted marine guide.
From river mouths to reef channels, bar crossings to boat ramps, the Beacon to Beacon Guide – 16th Edition remains the gold standard for marine navigation in Queensland.

Don't leave the marina without it.