Bald Head Island is a private island and luxury resort south of Carolina Beach and Fort Fisher. A ferry runs from Southport to the island on the hour and from the island to Southport on the half hour. The first ferry to the island departs at 6:00 a.m., and the last one returning to the mainland departs at 11:30 p.m. No cars are permitted on the island, only service vehicles. Residents typically travel by golf cart and bike. A cluster of retail spaces sits around a protected harbor on the island's western tip. I haven't called it a gated community, but do you really need a gate when you're on an island?
The marina is 3 miles over water from Southport. To the south-southwest is Frying Pan Shoals, which can be difficult to navigate.
