Just cruising...

Are Melbourne boaties low on quality locations where they can take their boats to lunch?

Boaties living in Sydney should consider themselves lucky, because not only is this beautiful city built on the world’s greatest deepwater harbour (Port Jackson), but it’s surrounded by magnificent waterways - all less than one hour’s drive from the CBD.

To the south is the wide expanse of Botany Bay - home to the landing site of Captain Cook - and the pristine waters of Port Hacking. To the north lies Pittwater, Broken Bay, Brisbane Waters and the incredibly beautiful Hawkesbury River system. Continue north for another 20 minutes, past numerous fantastic beaches and you’ll reach the Tuggerah Lakes and just a bit farther up the road Lake Macquarie. And that’s not to mention the 10, or so, river and creek systems that flow into these beautiful waterways. Yes, this part of NSW is truly a boating paradise… don’t you feel sorry for our fellow boaties living south of the border in Melbourne?

Well, actually no.

Sure, if some Melbournites haven’t got the time to travel farther afield to places like Westernport Bay and the Gippsland Lakes, all they’ll have to explore is Port Phillip Bay. But is that really that bad?

Following a recent guided tour with my old mate and fellow journo Geoff Middleton, the answer is an unequivocal… No! I was to find that within less than 15 minutes of the Melbourne CBD are numerous beautiful locations easily accessed by boaties. Then, remembering that Melbourne is considered by most as the coffee, café and dining capital of Australia, what a great place it is to “take your boat to lunch”. This is exactly what we did, at the magnificent new Sandringham Yacht Club, but more on that later.

PROS AND CONS

Our first stop on this flying visit was St Kilda, a city that was once the home of prostitutes and drug addicts, but is now back to its prime and is one of Melbourne’s most fashionable suburbs.

The St Kilda Marina boasts easy access to the bay and offers boat parking right in the hub of bustling St Kilda. The marina offers a variety of services including wet and dry berthing, trailer and jetski storage. There is a multi-lane boat ramp here, which is open to the public, but there’s a $10 launching fee. Fuel and ice are also available.

St Kilda Marina also has two fantastic restaurants - Riva and The Great Provider - which are also excellent places to “take your boat to lunch”. Simply phone (03) 9534 0448 to arrange a visitor’s berth and make a restaurant booking.

The St Kilda Pier and Kiosk are landmarks in Melbourne and have now reopened after being destroyed by fire in 2003. The Kiosk has become a symbol of St Kilda, a place of seaside fun, relaxation and romance. Pull up at the pier and take your time to look around and reflect. It’s worth the visit.

QUAINT BATHING BOXES

Leaving St Kilda Pier and cruising southeast, we enter the municipality of Bayside, which is still only 15 minutes from the CBD. It is home to many white sandy beaches and protected bays, the world-renowned colourful bathing boxes at Brighton, and the high red cliffs that offer spectacular views of the bay. We pass suburbs such as Elwood, Brighton, Hampton, and Sandringham, but it’s too early for lunch yet… we’ll be back. This beautiful section of coastline is pitted with numerous secluded moorings, anchorages and places of interest.

The majesty of the Bayside coast is inspirational. The red rocks that create the cliff-face at Red Bluff provide a striking contrast to the sea and what a sight it is. We explore the Marine Sanctuary at Ricketts Point and see rare marine animals and plants up close, before heading down to Black Rock to view the wreck of the HMAS Cerberus -- a 225ft ship sunk here as a breakwall in the 1930s. “Is it time for lunch yet?”

Not quite.

TRAILERBOAT ACCESS

For trailerboaties to access the Bayside coast, they can launch at one of five locations: Williamstown; St Kilda; Brighton; Mordialloc Creek; or farther around the bay at Patterson River. Then, it’s a simple matter of running up, or back, to the area you’re visiting. In our case it was back to Sandy and lunch at the exquisite Sandringham Yacht Club.

Built at a cost of $12.75 million, the new Sandringham Yacht Club is Melbourne’s premier sailing club, presenting world-class sporting and event facilities right on the water’s edge. While the stylish new building houses a members’ bar and lounge, it also has an enormous function room, meeting rooms, auditorium and - the good news for visiting trailerboaties - a fantastic open-to-the-public a la carte restaurant where we “took our boat to lunch”.

While bookings are required for the restaurant, it’s first come-first served for a visitor’s berth at the end of one of the marina’s arms. However, the phone call is more than worth it once you sit down to dine in the Harbour View restaurant. The wine, food and service are world-class and the views… well, they’re simply stunning.

Also, as you walk up the marina towards the club, check out the old WWI J-Class submarine (HMAS J7) that was sunk here as a breakwall in 1926. The rusting 200-odd-foot wreck is clearly visible in the clear water, smack bang in the middle of the marina.

Speaking of clear water, I don’t know whether the dredging of the shipping channels is the cause, or just the lack of good rain for more than 13 years down in Victoria, but the water in the bay is crystal clear.

LET’S EAT

For an entrée we share a plate of tastes for two: the Charcuterie plate -- duck liver pate, cured meats, Spanish chorizo with crusty Brown’s bread -- delicious!For mains, Geoff tries the pan-fried blue-eyed cod, chorizo, bortolotti beans and slow roasted tomato - washed down with a lovely bottle of Victorian white wine. But it’s the premium-grade 300 gram char-grilled aged eye fillet with roesti potato, creamed leeks and spinach, and a cold Crownie, of course, that gets my vote.

“Dessert? Should we? Why not?”

“Make that two chocolate soft-centred puddings, with vanilla-bean ice cream thanks waiter… and how about another Crownie?”

If you do go boating out on Port Phillip Bay in Melbourne, and you want to experience one of the best lunches I have had in years, do yourself a favour and take your boat to lunch at the Sandringham Yacht Club’s magnificent Harbour View restaurant. It’s a taste sensation.

“OK mate, what’s next? How ‘bout we head down to the Mornington Peninsula and check out a café at Sorrento for afternoon tea, or maybe hit a restaurant at Portsea for dinner - your shout.”

Are Melbournites hard-up for places to take their boats to lunch? I think not.

Just cruising...

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