Sanctuary Cove Marina has commenced the next stage of its expansion to cater to increasing demand from larger vessels visiting Southeast Queensland waterways in the lead up to the Brisbane Olympics in 2032. Development of the K Arm Extension project at Sanctuary Cove Marina will see the addition of 13 new berths, each catering for vessels 18 to 20 metres in length and associated facility upgrades. Located adjacent to the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort lagoon pool and beach club, construction will commence in the first week of November 2025, with completion expected in late January 2026. Once complete, Sanctuary Cove Marina will have four hundred berths in total, of which sixty-three will cater for the rapidly increasing local and international demand from Superyachts, to enhance and support capacity at Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS).
Mulpha, master developer of the Sanctuary Cove community and owner of Sanctuary Cove Marina, InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort, Sanctuary Cove Marine Village and Country Club sees the Marina as key to its broader investment strategy in Sanctuary Cove.
Mulpha Chief Executive Officer Greg Shaw said: “Our ongoing investment in the Marina is crucial to our strategy to cater for the growing demand for world class berthing, leisure and hospitality facilities that make Sanctuary Cove Southeast Queensland’s premier lifestyle and leisure destination.
“Providing our yachting clients with great marina facilities and direct access to on-site world class retail, 5-star hotel, fitness, golf and leisure facilities has been a winning formula. The marina itself has been a great investment, but it also plays a crucial role in making Sanctuary Cove a world-class attraction and generating demand for our other facilities and developments.
“Occupancy rates across the marina remain high and we are seeing increasing demand for larger boats as evidenced at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show 2025 in May, which was also fully booked. “As we rapidly approach the 2032 Olympics, we anticipate that demand, particularly for larger yachts, will continue to build. This makes it imperative that we continue to plan and build premium quality berths for the Australian and International market.”
Steve Sammes, General Manager of Mulpha Sanctuary Cove Marina, said: “By expanding berthing capacity, Sanctuary Cove Marina continues to cater to increasing demand from larger vessels and superyachts visiting Southeast Queensland’s waterways, thereby facilitating greater access for high-value marine tourism activities such as boat tours, fishing charters, and extended cruising itineraries along the Gold Coast and beyond.
“Together, these upgrades ensure Sanctuary Cove Marina remains a premium gateway for marine tourism, supporting a wide range of water-based experiences that align with Queensland’s key priority areas while strengthening the Gold Coast’s position as Australia’s leading marine tourism hub.
“With the 2032 Olympics approaching, the marina will be further well placed to cater for the demand increase anticipated from foreign-flagged vessel visitations to Queensland." Sanctuary Cove Marina is an accredited Platinum Five Gold Anchor Marina. This accolade is globally recognised, and Sanctuary Cove is one of only two marinas in Queensland that have achieved this award. Sanctuary Cove Marina continues to be one of Australia’s premier maritime lifestyle destinations, providing crucial tourism infrastructure for the maritime industry and leisure sector on the Gold Coast. The Gold Coast Marine Industry is firmly established as an economic powerhouse for Queensland. It creates thousands of highly skilled jobs across the state and contributes hundreds of millions of dollars to the state’s economy.
