The State Government has been forced to give up on its plans to increase Sydney’s capacity using Garden Island, but its Cruise Development Plan makes clear it has big ambitions for other ports.
While it investigates Port Botany as Sydney’s second terminal, the government is scoping the potential to improve cruise facilities like expanding terminals, adding parking lot and immigration infrastructure to encourage more cruise ships to visit regional areas.
The move would make tiny Eden (population: 3,151), the first port of call for ships sailing from New Zealand.
This will take the heat of Sydney’s lack of capacity and cruise lines like Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, Cunard, Oceania Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Holland America Line and P&O have started exploring the option of calling at ports like Eden, Newcastle as well as Port Kembla.
Historically, Royal Caribbean was the first line to send one of its iconic ships, Voyager of the Seas to Wollongong in 2016.
Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth visited Newcastle in 2016 – the first Cunard ship to visit the port since 1907.
And now, Eden is fast becoming a popular stop on cruise line itineraries for Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas and Norwegian Cruise Line, especially over the next 12 months.
The government has already invested in a $44 million extension of the existing Breakwater Wharf which will enable larger cruise ships to berth and it’s expected to open in 2019.
The report says that once its complete, Eden has the potential to become a hybrid port used for both cruise transit calls and as a potential transit port with immigration processing facilities for ships entering Australian waters from New Zealand.
Managing Director for CLIA Australiasia & Asia, Joel Katz said that the organisation would be welcome to the idea of utilising regional ports.
“As an industry we support the Cruise Development Plan action to grow emerging destinations, through education and training, and building their capability to cater to cruise passengers on transit calls. The Port of Eden, as an example, is already being used for transit calls.
“But developing their capacity to handle more ship calls, and potentially even clear ships into or out of Australia, would increase the number of cruise visitors. This would have a positive flow-on effect on local tour operators, shops, and restaurants”.
The government is also investigating a potential port at Coffs Harbour with other potential ports like Yamba, Port Stephens, Port Macquarie and South West Rocks.
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garden island is ideal 4 a cruise terminal
Cruising into Sydney harbour is fantastic
Coffs Harbour – stay outside the breakwater – tender them in!!
Port Stephens wide – But jetty to has to be to far out – Yamba ???
Port Macquarie to narrow even for big Riveria boats not 30.000 Toners
South West Rocks-caravans and holiday fisherman
Good-Bye to millions of $’s coming into Sydney
Don’t forget the bridge & opera house is the greatest attraction for tourists to Sydney — just pick any day of the week at the opera house area to visit
The Navy should move to Botany Bay, Newcastle or Jervis Bay. Sydney is the best port to cruise in or out. While other ports are nice to see, I would be annoyed to do a cruise to NSW and not include Sydney Harbour.
The Navy should have been moved to Newcastle and Garden Island turned into a major international cruise terminal. This a ridiculous decision!
those suggested ports would make a lot more interesting for lots of cruisers
As a tourist I visit all destinations with the hope of seeing the area including all wide life in its natural form. This is disgraceful that a wild Polar Bear is shot because we invade its own space. This is its home, we are the invaders. Its totally barbaric.