Portland RoadsReviews 355

All I can say is WOW! What an unbelievable holiday. If your thinking of holidaying in the Whitsundays and trying to choose a charter company, then look no further than John and his team at Portland Roads. We have just returned from a week of sailing on 'Lucy' in the beautiful Whitsundays and from the moment we stepped aboard Lucy we knew we had chosen the right company. The kids got a real kick out of meeting with John and learning about the Nagro people and how the islands were formed millions of years ago. Followed up with meeting our briefer Deano, who showed us the ins and outs of the boat and putting our minds at ease on where to go and to moor for the evenings. Deano even organised the best place for us to watch the fireworks for the reopening of Hayman Island (although we did miss them as we were sitting on the back of the boat enjoying a glass or two of red wine). The only thing that Deano couldn't organise was to get the fish to bite our hooks. Make sure that you get Whitsunday Provisioning to do the food as well. It maybe a little more expensive than Coles or Woolies, but the quality was outstanding and they deliver directly to the boat.We'll definitely be back

What an experience, we had the most amazing time on Portland Roads! Whitsundays are an incredible part of Australia and what better way to explore them on such an awesome boat. The beautiful boat was equipped with everything we could have possibly needed from a Nespresso coffee machine to comfy beds to board games. John and Mike were so friendly and helpful! They made sure we had a safe and enjoyable trip and offered their knowledge. I already want to do it again! Thanks Portland Roads!

Our dream trip to sail the Whitsundays began in early May 2019 and we had a magical two weeks on Portland Roads a 420 Lagoon catamaran, with two other couples over our two weeks of sailing, around this amazing environment. The Portland Roads team that supported our holiday was professional, well organised and friendly and made us feel we were very well looked after. We received great hospitality and advice from Johnathon, the principal of the company. Mike inducted us the use of the boat and kept us on track. In the last 4 days of our trip when there was just two of us on board, we had Deano as our sail guide, an experience we highly recommend. As this was our first trip of bare boat sailing we received great advice from Johnathon who drew up a proposed itinerary for our trip around the Whitsunday Islands, including a visit to the lovely Palm Bay resort on Long Island, which we will definitely visit again on our next sail with Portland Roads. One of the great features of Portland Roads was access to the œOcean Club at Abell wharf, which provided full bathroom, laundry and BBQ facilities when were docked overnight at the marina. This facility, which was right next door to our mooring, allowed us to have a refreshing shower and access to washing machines, free coffee, a beautiful deck and BBQ facilities. We will certainly be re-booking over the next few years to re-visit some of our favourite places and explore some of the new places we just did not have time to visit on our first trip. Based on our experience, as a relatively new skipper, I would certainly recommend engaging a sail guide for at least first few days of a bare boat at experience. For us, this would provide us with a reinforcement for all the operations on the boat, but it also provides everyone on board the excitement of the full sailing experience. We can also get an update on the best spots in the Whitsundays where you might be able to swim with turtles, find the best coral reefs and fishing spots. We totally recommend Portland Roads for sailing adventures in the Whitsundays. Ian and Maryanne

What a magical experience it was, sailing the beautiful Whitsunday Islands with Portland Roads! The boat was luxurious, comfortable and very well equipped. Visiting the cave in Nara Inlet (Hook Island) allowed us to trace the footsteps of the Ngaro people, which I found very spiritual. Snorkeling with the Maori Wrasse was mesmerising (a real 'bucket list' activity). Mooring overnight in secluded and tranquil bays, toasting the sunset after the day's adventures are memories I will cherish always. John's knowledge about the area, including the local Indigenous history and culture, meant that I not only had tons of fun but also learnt a lot along the way. Thank you to John and the rest of the team, who went above and beyond to make sure our holiday was one we will never forget. I highly recommend Portland Roads. While this was my first time sailing with them, it will certainly not be my last!

Seriously cannot recommend this company enough. Had an unforgettable time sailing around the Whitsundays on Portland Roads. Truly a beautiful boat and experience for myself and my friends. Super spacious and clean, felt like a home away from home. Not to mention John and Mike are just bloody legends. Theyre so knowledgeable and helpful, completely takes the ease off being an amateur. A beyond perfect getaway was had. Thank you Portland Roads.

Absolutely Amazing! This was our second stay on Due West and it was just as good as the first time! The boat is so well equipped we didnt need to look for anything. Deano was fantastic and was very organised and was easy to contact at anytime. We chose the early boarding Late checkout which avoids all stress of hurrying. We felt completely as at ease and safe and I cannot fault Portland Roads. Any questions we had were answered promptly, and John and Deano were so friendly. I will definitely using Portland Roads again this is the one holiday where you totally get to unwind and escape. We will be back! I cant wait!

Our week on Ruby Sunday was incredible. Ive not spent much time on boats in the past so was a bit hesitant but from the moment we arrived we couldnt have asked for a better experience. Mike welcomes us and showed us the ropes before we relaxed in the Marina before setting sail the next day. While the weather wasnt ideal the first few days, sailing the boat was still no issue. Being a catamaran it was really stable and easy to operate. The islands and ocean around Airlie are spectacular. We had a great time exploring islands and snorkeling even seeing a manta ray. At night you have endless stars shining. The facilities on the boat were perfect. A huge ice chest, bbq, microwave, pod coffee machine and even a blender! Theyd thought of everything. The beds were really comfortable and easily slept a couple. It was surprising how much storage they could fit everywhere around the boat and it easily accommodated our group of 7. Having the seating and table at the back, front deck and inside table and seats meant you could spread out and relax depending on your mood. Cant recommend a sailing trip in the Whitsundays highly enough and youd do very well to go with Portland roads and Ruby Sunday - a dream holiday.

From the first contact with Portland Roads to the completion of the boarding process everything was easy and well organized. Due West performed faultlessly and was extremely well equipped and comfortable. We were lucky enough to see Humpback Whales along with Green Turtles and so many fish it was hard to remember them all. The Coral we saw while snorkeling on the reefs was unforgettable. At the end of each day as I was watching the sunset I thought to myself 'does it get any better than this', only to find out the next day was actually better. Thanks Portland Roads and we can't wait to spend another week sailing the Whitsundays with you. Mark.