Coastal seagrass ecosystems along the north-east coast of Queensland were severely impacted by a series of La Nina and storm events between 2007 and 2011 that were characterized by excessive rainfall and flooding and a series of large tropical cyclones. Meadow-scale losses of seagrass throughout the region showed variable recovery in the following decade with some meadows completely lost with no natural recovery such as in Mourilyan Harbour while other areas took between 2 and 10 years to recover. These results highlighted the need to develop robust and fit for purpose seagrass restoration methods for tropical species and habitats. In response a partnership between researchers, recreational fishers and Traditional Owners was established to develop techniques suitable for the harsh environmental conditions of tropical estuaries such as Mourilyan Harbour (e.g. crocodiles, marine stinger and deep mud). This program has been conducting pilot studies over three years’ testing the effectiveness of different planting procedures for vegetative propagules of Zostera muelleri attached to steel or biodegradable frames or individual anchors (e.g. nails or nuts). We have now established methods to move forward with meadow-scale trials that have the potential to be applied for other meadows across the region.