We have lived aboard our KP44 for 9 years now, mostly migrating between
Queensland and Tasmania, with occasional voyages to
New Caledonia and
Vanuatu.
It used to be easier but
regulations involving
anchoring restrictions are causing itinerant liveaboards to "keep moving". For example, it used to be OK with the Maritime authorities to stay in
Sydney harbor for months, if not years. They are now enforcing new
regulations (although as yet unpublished, which seems wrong to me) that restrict
living aboard a vessel in
Sydney to "28 days every 3 months". I doubt they can legally enforce these rules until they clarify and publish what this means. If you move around the harbor I doubt they will hassle you. But it seems very clear that, from the authorities viewpoint, living on a
boat is a bad thing and should not be allowed. One Sydney
water cop explained to me they don't want it to become
Hong Kong harbor. This is hardly a realistic assessment.
Living on a
mooring is not allowed unless its a
commercial mooring and you keep quiet about it (NSW). I am fairly certain it is not allowed in QLD. Most marinas will not take liveaboards although some may look the other way, or have a fixed quota (e.g.10%). Marinas are very expensive in NSW and QLD. Tasmania, on the other hand, is still a place where nobody cares and nobody bothers you and marina
fees are low. Unfortunately it is quite cold in the
winter and often in the summer as well. The cruising is GREAT, though.
I keep trying to understand why a country like
Australia that ostensibly prizes independence and freedom should act this way? Perhaps their heritage is more jailor than convict.
"no
washing hanging on the
boat, no loud
music, no nuisance" is just good manners. "moving on" is what the lifestyle should be about.
There are quite a few people who live on
boats, but I guess that the number is in the low hundreds and I cannot understand the reaction against us; jealousy perhaps.