Charter FAQs

Where do your Gold Coast boat charters depart from?

All of our charters depart from Marina Mirage in Main Beach, Gold Coast, approximately 10 minutes from Surfers Paradise and 15 minutes from Broadbeach.

For parking information, directions and a map, please visit our Contact Us page.

What’s included in a private charter?

All of our private boat charters include:

• Private use of your own sailing catamaran for 3–6 hours
• Friendly, professional skipper and crew member
• Complimentary activities on daytime charters, including stand-up paddleboards, splash mats, beach pickleball and more
• iPad with Spotify Premium and onboard sound system
• Use of a small marine BBQ if required
• Large eskies with ice supplied
• Photos and videos captured by our crew and sent to you after your charter

Our crew are friendly, laid-back and professional, and are a big part of what makes a day with us so much fun. You can meet the team on our About Us page.

Where can we go during our charter?

We cruise the calm, protected waters of the Gold Coast Broadwater, with your itinerary tailored to your group, charter length and the conditions on the day.

On a typical 3-hour daytime charter, guests often choose to stop at Wavebreak Island for a swim and to enjoy our complimentary beach and water activities.

Prefer to keep cruising? We can head further north along South Stradbroke Island and towards Sovereign Islands, taking in waterfront homes, natural scenery and beautiful Broadwater views along the way.

For longer charters, you'll have more time to combine sightseeing, swimming, island activities and a leisurely lunch on board.

Sunset and evening charters offer a completely different experience, with sunset over the hinterland followed by beautiful views of the city skyline after dark.

Your skipper knows the Broadwater well and will recommend the best itinerary based on the conditions and what your group would most like to do.

Will I get seasick?

Seasickness is extremely rare on our charters.

We operate exclusively within the calm, protected waters of the Gold Coast Broadwater and do not venture offshore into the open ocean, so we aren't exposed to large ocean swells.

Our sailing catamarans are also wide and stable, with dual hulls meaning significantly less side-to-side rocking than many single-hull boats, making them a comfortable option even for guests who are normally nervous about getting seasick.

What happens if it rains?

Our charters can operate comfortably in most conditions, including light to moderate rain, and each vessel has a covered area to keep guests protected.

Please see our Bookings & Cancellation Policy for full details on our weather policy.

How far in advance should we book?

We recommend booking as soon as you have a date and time finalised, particularly if you're planning a Saturday charter or booking during our busy spring and summer months. Popular dates and times can book out well in advance.

That said, we often have last-minute availability too, so it's always worth getting in touch or checking our availability if you're planning something spontaneous!

Is there a toilet on board?

Yes! All of our boats have a private marine toilet on board.

How many guests can I bring?

All of our commercial vessels are licensed for a set number of guests. To explore our boats and passenger limits please see our boats page. The limit set for each boat is a legal limit and cannot be exceeded by Australian Maritime law.

Can we BYO food and drinks?

Absolutely! You're welcome to bring your own food and drinks on board. We provide large eskies with ice, so there's no need to bring your own cooler.

Can we order catering and / or a drinks package? 

Yes! We have an amazing catering partner with a range of options. We can also assist with drinks packages. Please fill out an enquiry form or send us an email and one of our friendly team members will send the menu.

Can we use the BBQ on the boat?

Yes. Our boats have a small marine BBQ available for guests to use, and we provide BBQ utensils and oil. Just let us know in advance if you're planning to use the BBQ.

If cooking on board, we recommend booking a minimum 4-hour charter where possible, so you have sufficient time to cook, eat and enjoy the charter.

Quick-cooking options such as sausages and skewers work best. The BBQ is often only available for use when the vessel is stationery (beach or anchor).

What type of food do you recommend?

Pre-prepared platters, grazing boards and finger foods are perfect for boat charters.

Food that's ready to simply unwrap and place on the table means you can start relaxing and enjoying your charter straight away. Easy grazing-style options also work particularly well, as guests can mingle and eat without needing to sit down for a formal meal.

If you'd prefer something more substantial, that's absolutely possible too. Our team can recommend the best catering options based on your group size, charter length and vessel.

Is glass allowed on board?

Glass bottles such as champagne, wine and beer bottles are fine to bring on board.

For safety reasons, drinking glasses and cups (which can break easily) must be non-breakable.

Do you have speakers and music on board?

Yes! All of our vessels have built-in sound systems with speakers throughout the boat.

We also provide an iPad with Spotify Premium for guests to use, so you can choose your favourite music on the day or prepare a playlist beforehand.

Can we book a DJ?

Absolutely. DJs are welcome on board our vessels.

We provide access to a 240V power outlet and an RCA connection for DJ decks to connect to the boat's sound system. We recommend DJs also bring a compact Bluetooth speaker as a backup in case of any technical issues on the day.

DJs generally set up on the central table, so please keep in mind that this will reduce the amount of table space available for food and drinks so equipment should be kept to a minimum. Please share the vessel page (with photos and videos) to allow your DJ to plan their setup for the day.

Your DJ must also be included in your total guest count and cannot take the vessel above its maximum capacity.

Can I decorate the boat?

Of course! You're welcome to bring some decorations on board, although with a beautiful boat and the Gold Coast Broadwater as your backdrop, you definitely don't need to go overboard.

You're welcome to bring:

• Tablecloths and table decorations
• Small sign board or easel
• Banners
• 1–2 foil balloons
• 1–2 small birthday candles for a cake

Please don't bring:

• Confetti of any kind, including confetti-filled balloons
• Party poppers
• Sparklers
• Feather boas
• Paper or foil streamers
• Latex balloons
• Anything that will block the skipper's view
• Anything that may stain, leak ink, burn or damage the boat
• Anything that may blow away and end up in the water
• Red wine
• Brightly coloured jelly shots

These guidelines help us keep our boats looking beautiful while also protecting the Gold Coast's marine environment.

What activities are included?

Our daytime charters include a range of complimentary beach and water activities, which may include:

• Stand-up paddleboards
• Splash mats
• Beach pickleball
• Beach cricket
• Fishing rods
• Buckets and spades for the little ones

Activities are available to use during your island stop at no additional charge.

Can we swim during our charter?

Absolutely! If you're booking a daytime charter, we can usually include an island stop where you can swim and enjoy our complimentary water and beach activities. Don't forget your swimmers and towel!

Swimming is subject to the conditions and itinerary on the day, and your skipper will choose the best location for your group.

We don't include swimming stops on sunset or evening charters, as it gets dark towards the end of the sail.

Do you actually sail?

Yes! Conditions permitting, our crew love to get the sails up and will usually sail for at least part of your charter.

As sailing relies on the wind and conditions on the day, we can't guarantee how much of your charter will be under sail. If sailing is particularly important to you, just let us know when booking so we can brief your crew.

Can we go whale watching?

Whales rarely enter the Gold Coast Broadwater (our calm, protected

area of operation) however we do regularly see the local bottlenose dolphins, rays, pelicans, seabirds and occasionally wallabies (on the island shores) and if we are extremely lucky the elusive Dugong.

Are your charters suitable for children?

Absolutely! We love welcoming families on board.

Our spacious catamarans are a great option for groups with children, and our crew are often able to get little sailors involved with activities such as helping to hoist the sails or having a turn at the helm under supervision.

For daytime charters, we also carry a range of activities suitable for children, including beach games, buckets and spades.

If you're travelling with babies or young children, feel free to contact our team and we can recommend the boat and charter option best suited to your family.

Are your charters suitable for guests with limited mobility?

We have welcomed many guests with limited mobility, however suitability depends on each guest's individual requirements.

Boarding our vessels can involve a significant step up or down depending on the marina and tide, and assistance may be required.

We recommend viewing the 360° virtual tours on our Our Boats page to get a better understanding of each vessel's layout.

Please contact our team before booking to discuss your guest's specific mobility requirements. We'll be happy to talk you through the boarding process and send accessibility photos or arrange an inspection where possible.

Where do I park?

With the current redevelopment works on The Spit parking at the marina is fairly limited. We recommend considering rideshare for a stress-free arrival to your charter.

See our 'Map' page for full details on current parking options.

What time should we arrive?

You may board from 10 minutes before your scheduled departure time.

Our charters run to scheduled departure and return times, so arriving 10 minsearly means we can get everyone on board and make the most of your time on the water. Please do not arrive prior to this as our crew may not yet be ready to board your group.

If you're organising a group, we recommend meeting in a central location and walking onto the marina jetty as a group where possible.

Can I wear shoes on board?

Our boats are a shoes-off zone, so get ready to embrace the barefoot sailing life!

Guests are asked to remove their shoes before boarding. This helps protect the vessel's decks while also reducing the risk of slips and trips on board.

If you have a medical or mobility requirement that means you need to wear shoes, please contact our team before your charter so we can discuss suitable footwear options and brief your crew.

Can I smoke or vape on board?

Smoking is not permitted on board our vessels.

If you have smokers in your group, please let your crew know and, where possible, they can arrange an opportunity to smoke during an island, beach or jetty stop.

Vaping is permitted on board, but we ask guests to be considerate of others.