Home to 80 per cent of on-water tourism in the Whitsundays and most awarded marina in Australia, Coral Sea Marina Resort is a beacon of light and the glimmering jewel of first impressions as visitors drive over the hill to Airlie Beach.
Over the past 10 years it has steadily been transformed from a run-down and dated port to now being known as the ‘Monaco of the South Pacific’ for visiting superyachts, having been crowned with a slew of superyacht awards in recent years.
This transformation has been the vision of one man who inspires a dedicated workforce to aim for the best and achieve only the highest of standards.
Avid boating enthusiast Paul Darrouzet had been visiting Airlie Beach for 26 years prior to purchasing the marina.
During that time, he noticed the deterioration of the physical infrastructure and service standard within Abell Point Marina.
When the marina went into receivership, he saw an opportunity to create not only a world-class marina but also an inspiring destination that global visitors would flock towards.
Within the first eighteen months of ownership, Paul invested in a complete visual overhaul – pouring 21,000 square meters of concrete, creating 305 car parks, and building a new arrival and departure plaza.
Buildings were demolished, new ones erected, the marina was dredged to allow access for larger vessels and the entire precinct underwent significant beautification.
Paul managed to create a bustling marina village feel and a hive of boating activity – the new standard of facility was quickly reflected in the quality of visitor, attracting a more discerning guest, while reinvigorating a sense of pride in current tenants.
The overall feel and vibe of the marina was transformed, but Paul did not wish to stop there.
Over the years he tackled the arduous task of addressing the muddy parkland which lay adjacent to the marina.
It had become an eyesore to passing motorists, reducing the stunning first impression of the marina that he was trying to create.
A labour of love, it took Paul and his team several years to revive the area which has now become a manicured grassland and garden space which has hosted several large-scale events.
Determined to create a smooth flow within the precinct and the ultimate destination offering for his guests, Paul made the astute business decision to purchase the adjacent Coral Sea Resort.
He invested substantially in completely renovating the dated accommodation facility, creating a flagship and a new benchmark in the local accommodation offering which continues to this day.
At the same time, he renamed the entire precinct to Coral Sea Marina Resort, a complete lifestyle destination where guests can stay, play, and explore.
With arguably the best views on the Australian coast, the lovingly developed marina precinct now has two marina villages, a dedicated superyacht arm, a 26-metre floating customer lounge, a relaxing on-shore lounge area, a luxury resort, and a diverse range of tourism and hospitality experiences.
This multi-million-dollar investment has not only transformed the marina, it has also raised the bar for tourism across the Whitsunday region.
“A rising tide lifts all boats” John F Kennedy
Attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to its vibrant precinct, Coral Sea Marina is a magnet for quality tourism and home to dozens of family-owned businesses that operate successfully and independently under its safe-haven.
The two marina villages offer a range of tourism and hospitality experiences and services, with many tenants and operators arguably the best in the business, boasting both Queensland and Australian Tourism Award winners amongst them.
Whether it be a relaxing poolside getaway, overnight sailing adventures, bareboat charters, scenic flights from the private helipads, jetboats or jetskis - Coral Sea Marina Resort acts as the gateway to the stunning Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef.
A camaraderie, loyalty and family feeling exist between everyone in the marina, each business complimenting the other and offering a service that directly supports the cohesion and overall success of the marina network.
Under the supportive guidance of the marina, this united community of family-owned businesses have proved to resiliently overcome challenges over the years, both in the immediate aftermath of the 2017 Cyclone Debbie and in the ongoing Covid-19 recovery.
In 2023 they are embarking on a new era of success, one where international tourism is kicking back into gear, the cruise ships are once again a common sight on the horizon and domestic tourism is fully engaged with visiting the region.
It is an exciting time to be operating at Coral Sea Marina.
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