Reaching Paradise: New Australia InDepth Streaming Now

Watch Australia InDepth Series 2 Episode 4, ‘Reaching Paradise’, on Superyachts.com now.

The growing number of superyachts planning a voyage to Australia has been spurred on by the passing of new charter legislation in 2019, and more recently by the announcement of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.

An independent study on the Australian superyacht industry by AEC Group projects that by hosting the world’s most prominent event in 202, Australia will welcome at least 200 of the world’s largest superyachts. This projection would generate A$1.8 bn in economic value and 7,657 for the domestic superyacht industry. This is almost a third of the current cost estimates for hosting the Olympics at A$5 bn.

With the all-year-round cruising grounds and world-class facilities well established, ‘Reaching Paradise’focuses on advice for captains and owners considering bringing their vessel to Australia.

With such a plethora of adventurous cruising grounds to discover throughout the Southern Hemisphere, the Episode first turns to the incredible experience of the voyage down to Australia.

“It’s not just coming to Australia and being here, but the voyage itself,” explains Richard Morris, Managing Director of Australian Superyacht Services. “I believe that most captains and owners at least once in their career have the desire to complete a circumnavigation and Australia is the pitstop on the other side of the world here in the South Pacific.

“The information is there, the services are there, the infrastructure is there, and it’s a unique experience to do it.”

Captain Matt Stafford of M/Y Perle Bleue speaks from his experiences of superyacht cruising in the region. “I think Australia is ideally built as a base to. You’ve got all the facilities and logistic support here in Australia, and then very close on your doorstep is New Zealand, the beautiful cruising grounds of New Caledonia, Fiji, Vanuatu. You can use any of the main ports as a base to go to Papua New Guinea and of course the Asian ports to the north.”

Even should yachts not be able to take the time to complete a circumnavigation, owners and captains have a more direct route to Australia through major global yacht transport services such as Sevenstar.

“We look after everything from start to finish,” says Lachlan Taylor of Sevensar Australia. “We try and cover all facets and assist those superyacht captains or owners to get in touch with the right people who can help them on their way.

“The amount of vessels coming into Australia has increased in volume as well as average size… We have a lot of repeat clients that decide to come back to Australia, whether it be for fishing tournaments or purely for expedition purposes… It’s growth for everybody, and it shows there is a growing interest for people to come here to explore.”

The development of the superyacht industry has attracted not only owners and captains, but renowned manufacturers like Benetti who are responding to client demand.

“The Asia Pacific market has always been important for Benetti,” highlights Peter Mahony, General Manager of Benetti Yachts Asia. “We’ve been delighted to have had some strong sales in recent years and the challenge now is to maintain that momentum.

“The requirements of an Australian owner, particularly for a yacht in Australia, is quite demanding because they need a very versatile yacht. They need a yacht with durability and range, but with a lifestyle feel to the yacht, somewhere they can relax and enjoy time with family and friends.”

The potential of superyacht cruising in Australia and the surrounding South Pacific and South East Asian regions is astonishing. With new charter opportunities, burgeoning marine infrastructure, and a wealth of experts to guide you on your way, the time to discover Australia by superyacht is now.