We acknowledge the marina plays a significant role in the local community, not only in terms of the number of visitors we attract as a destination, but also as the heart of marine tourism in the region.
We are committed to creating a community-focused recreation hub where marina guests and visitors can feel part of the local community and enjoy the many groups, activities and events available throughout the region. In turn, we are committed to supporting community projects, initiatives and activities that make the Whitsundays a better place for those who live here, including our marina team, commercial operators, tenants, contractors and suppliers.
We aim to consciously connect guests with the Whitsunday way of life, welcoming visitors to experience the Whitsundays as their home away from home.
Coral Sea Academy
Coral Sea Academy
Consciously connecting people to boating, the environment, and themselves...
The Coral Sea Academy is our EduTourism initiative that is designed to share engaging content and provide opportunities to consciously connect people to boating, the environment and themselves. The aim of the Coral Sea Academy is to take people on a journey that inspires them be to part of something bigger, to be changed and to make change happen.
The Coral Sea Academy was created to provide an experiential travel encounter that educates, engages and immerses guests with meaningful themes relevant to the Whitsunday region.
The Coral Sea Academy hosts a variety of events and information sessions, in collaboration with leading industry professionals and partner businesses, include Sustainable Boating, Protecting the Great Barrier Reef, Cruising the Whitsundays, and Women in Boating. The Better Boating series was also introduced to provide free and informal maritime training opportunities for guests and visitors.
To find out more about the Coral Sea Academy, click here.
Volunteer Marine Rescue Whitsundays
Volunteer Marine Rescue Whitsundays
Coral Sea Marina has committed to Platinum sponsorship of Volunteer Marine Rescue Whitsundays, an arrangement which includes providing premium berthing for their fleet vessels and a significant contribution to fuel used in their activations. Coral Sea Marina has been a major sponsor of VMR Whitsundays for over 6 years and as Platinum sponsor of the VMR Whitsundays (VMR), Coral Sea Marina was instrumental in the purchase of the VMR’s new rescue vessel Coral Sea Marina VMR1.
With our sponsorship, the committed team of volunteers have a state-of-the-art rescue vessel and premium berthing at their disposal. The volunteers are now able to respond quicker and more safely to incidents at sea.
In addition to monetary sponsorship, we work closely with VMR on training and education opportunities for the local boating community related to safety at sea, through our Coral Sea Academy.
As the on-water tourism and recreation hub of the Whitsundays, our commitment to this worthwhile organization is focused on ensuring the safety of local and visitors on our Whitsunday waters.
Coral Sea Marina Resort Airlie Beach Triathlon Festival
Coral Sea Marina Resort Airlie Beach Triathlon Festival
Coral Sea Marina Resort are major sponsors of the Airlie Beach Triathlon Festival.
With an enticer, a sprint and the flagship Standard distance, there is a race option for everyone including the first timer, age grouper, seasoned professional and teams.
By sponsoring this popular event, we are committed to promoting health and fitness in the local community, particular for children with the Junior Triathlon event.
This highly popular event is scheduled once again for July 2025.
Great Barrier Reef Festival
Great Barrier Reef Festival
As a proud sponsor of the Great Barrier Reef Festival, Coral Sea Marina is actively involved in the promotion and development of this regional community event.
As silver sponsor, Coral Sea Marina has naming rights to two key events in the festival calendar - Immersive Reef Trivia and the Coral Sea Marina Lantern Parade. The Coral Sea Marina Lantern Parade has grown in popularity in the last four years to become one of the highlights of the festival. Attendees, young and old, create beautiful lanterns (with sustainable materials) and light up the night as we parade from the marina along the waterfront into Airlie Beach for the fireworks.
The Great Barrier Reef Festival is all about the celebration of life of all things Great Barrier Reef. It is about education, conservation and celebration.
This is the region’s favourite festival and is a fun-filled combination of family time, all-night parties and celebrations, with live music, markets, carnival rides, food stalls and fireworks, to name a few. In addition to this, you can add art and environmental workshops to your itinerary, plus parades and galas and so much more! This is four action-packed days designed for anyone and everyone and invites you all to come and enjoy winter in the Whitsundays.
Image credit: VAMPP photography
Big Aussie BBQ - PCFA
Big Aussie BBQ - PCFA
Coral Sea Marina fundraises for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia by throwing an annual BIG AUSSIE BBQ.Prostate cancer threatens the lives of 1 in 6 Australian men and Coral Sea Marina aim to raise money for research, nursing and support for those affected.The BIG AUSSIE BBQ is hosted in The Gardens in the south marina where all are welcome to grab a burger, listen to the music, and enjoy the sunset. This is a community event and all proceeds are donated to the PCFA. The combined 2022 and 2023 events raised over $10,000 for prostate cancer research.Throughout the year we also raise funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia through our donations box at the marina office. Guests who use our complimentary courtesy vehicles often leave a donation for one of our chosen charities, of which PCFA is one.SICYC – Prostate Cancer Foundation Australia
SICYC – Prostate Cancer Foundation Australia
Coral Sea Marina has been a proud sponsor of the Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club (SICYC) and their annual Whitsunday Rendezvous, which raises much needed funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA).
Donating considerable time, money and resources to this worthwhile cause and creating a welcoming atmosphere for the cruising fraternity each winter, is part of our commitment to community.
The Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club has over 6000 members and has raised more than $600,000 dollars for the PCFA.
Education & Youth
Education & Youth
The team at Coral Sea Marina are committed to the youth of the region and their education.
In the last 12 months, our marina team has attended careers days at the local high schools to promote Marine Jobs, we've hosted on-site school excursions from Cannonvale State School and participated in the Environmental Sustainability Forum held at St Catherine's Catholic College. We have hosted hospitality students from Tafe Queensland to showcase the diversity of the business and provided work experience opportunities for local high school students.
Coral Sea Marina also provides learning opportunities for all ages through the Coral Sea Academy.
Junior Sports - Sponsorship
Junior Sports - Sponsorship
We are committed to promoting fitness and wellness in the youth of the community and actively encourage our younger generations to become actively involved in sports.
Coral Sea Marina has a long history of supporting and sponsoring local junior sports clubs, including Whitsunday Netball Association, Cannonvale Cannons Swimming Club, Proserpine Pitbulls Cricket Association, Airlie Beach Football Club and Whitsunday Junior Rugby Union.
This year we provided reusable water bottles for all registrants for both Whitsunday Netball Association and Whitsunday United Football Club. In addition, we provided new signage for the Proserpine Tennis Club to help raise much needed funds for their junior program.
Sailability
Sailability
Coral Sea Marina are proud sponsors of Sailability Whitsunday.
The donation of the use of our start boat for the volunteers to use during their Sailability program is essential to the smooth running of their activities.
Sailability Whitsunday provides people with disabilities and disadvantages with the fantastic opportunity to get out on the water and enjoy this wonderful activity with support, regardless of age or ability. The Whitsundays is the sailing heart of Australia, where this sport and pastime is fully embedded to the Whitsundays way of life and we understand the importance of making sailing accessible to all.
Clipper Round the World Yacht Race
Clipper Round the World Yacht Race
Coral Sea Marina is a ongoing supporter of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race and the economic benefits a global race of this caliber brings to the region when using Airlie Beach a Host Port on the All Australian leg of the race.
In January 2018 and again in 2020, Coral Sea Marina, proudly hosted the Whitsunday Clipper Race Carnival. This event was delivered in conjunction with Tourism Whitsundays, Whitsunday Regional Council and Tourism Events Queensland. It was a two-week community event designed to coincide with the host port stay in Airlie Beach (Coral Sea Marina). With public open days, corporate race days and a range of ticketed events showcasing the region, sailors, locals and visitors alike got to experience the Whitsunday spirit. Attracting over 8000 visitors to the region and injecting over $1.4m into the local economy, Coral Sea Marina proudly sponsored these events and spearheaded the initial concept with local government.
In 2024, the Clipper Race returned to the Whitsundays and Coral Sea Marina as their last stop on the All-Australian Leg of the race. Once again, the marina connected the local community with this iconic race through open boat days, a Meet the Aussie Locals event and a Little Ripper Clipper Cup, hosted at the Whitsunday Sailing Club.
Airlie Beach Race Week
Airlie Beach Race Week
Coral Sea Marina is a supporter of Airlie Beach Race Week. This exciting and vibrant week of sailing-action is takes place each year just after the Great Barrier Reef Festival in August.
We donate one of our fleet vessels to be used as the start boat and we have, since the start of the race, accommodated hundreds of sailors every year with short term berthing.
This incredible week of off-shore racing, plus nights of socializing and entertainment, draws many to come and experience our incredible region and soak up all the Whitsundays has to offer – with both on-shore and off-shore activities, there is so much to enjoy and share in. Coral Sea Marina is passionate about the sailing industry within the Whitsundays as well as community events that not only locals can enjoy and be proud of, but that can draw others to the Whitsunday region and put Airlie Beach on the map as a must-see destination on the Queensland coast.
Border Watch
Border Watch
Coral Sea Marina supports the Border Watch program and is committed to helping protect Australia's border.
If you see anything which you feel needs reporting please contact the marina office.