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Hardy and Bait reef access update

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Created by 15to20 > 9 months ago, 1 Mar 2017
15to20
3 posts
1 Mar 2017 8:41AM
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Reposted at member request
Just been for a few great days out at the reefs out from the Whitsundays...

When i was researching this visit there wasn't a lot of info about access and what to expect as a novice....and in hindsight there was a lot of false and incorrect info offered as well......100 magic miles was helpful

I cant stress enough to have good polarized sunglasses and to take all the advise about the time of day to see the reefs with regard angle of sun

The entrance to Hardy's will fit a 8.6 m wide Cat ....just... on a neap tide with calm weather, no current and 5.5 feet of water measured at Kennedy reef tide station on Navionics.....this gave me 2 foot under the keels and about 3 feet either side.....i draw 5 feet.....inside the lagoon where i was anchored was 33 feet..... there was never a waterfall the 3 days i was there with a tide range once again referencing Kennedy reef of 4.3 to 6.1 feet

The 2 other gaps in the reef are not suitable unless you draw less than 3 feet on a big tide
The moorings at Bait reef are very good but there are plenty of obsacles once inside the stepping stones for those who just head for a distant mooring buoy as the pic shows.


Entry is well marked at present with a yellow cone you keep to Starboard on the way in

SandS
VIC, 5904 posts
1 Mar 2017 9:00PM
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Did you use a drone for the pics and to access the area ?

nswsailor
NSW, 1434 posts
1 Mar 2017 10:55PM
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Mooring 6 has 5m all the way in. Snorkel first to see twists.

Chris 249
NSW, 3350 posts
5 Mar 2017 10:30AM
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Those are places I've always wanted to go - thanks for the great info.

nswsailor
NSW, 1434 posts
5 Mar 2017 11:52PM
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If you go there you MUST have Polaroid glasses as that's the only way you will see the bommies...you have been warned!!!!!

stevesailing
9 posts
14 Jul 2017 9:04AM
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Hi 15to20, helpful information, thanks. Don't suppose you have the Lat/long for the entrance to hardy reef do you? Cheers, Steve

Sectorsteve
QLD, 2195 posts
14 Jul 2017 11:14AM
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awesome. off to get me polaroids...



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