Boat Hire in Brisbane

With more than 280 days of sunshine on average each year, Brisbane could just rely on the idyllic subtropical climate of South East Queensland. Or perhaps the friendliness of the locals.

But there’s so much more to the River City than meets the eye. It’s one of the world’s greenest cities, with more than 2000 parks to discover. In recent years, five-star hotels and urban resorts have popped up all around the city. The restaurants, bars, art galleries and nightlife are world class, as are the day trip opportunities to places like Moreton Bay, North Stradbroke Island and even the Gold Coast. There’s truly something for everyone of all ages.

At Floatspace, we believe boat hire in Brisbane is the best way to fully make the most of one of Australia’s most beautiful and diverse cities.

Boat hire in Brisbane for any budget, for any occasion

Boat rental in Brisbane is a natural choice for everything from intimate sunset cruises along the Brisbane CBD skyline to luxury yacht charters for special events or island exploring.

Floatspace offers a range of boats that can be tailored to all kinds of occasions on the water. Bookings include birthday party cruises, Christmas party cruises, team building sailing days, family day trips, hens and bucks parties, engagements, weddings, corporate events - all kinds of memorable experiences.

Hiring a boat is easy, flexible and can be done on all kinds of budgets. For example, Floatspace has exciting luxury yacht charter options like Curlew Escape, based in Moreton Bay. From $350 an hour, this boat has capacity for 14 guests, making it an affordable way to experience the magnificent islands if you’re up for sailing adventure, swimming, snorkelling or bushwalking. Perfect for small groups.

For birthday or business event boat hire, Pure Adrenalin is a 'wow factor' catamaran with two huge decks for entertaining. From $350 per hour, you can fit up to 76 guests for cocktail functions, Christmas parties or any other exclusive event.

When you hire a yacht in Brisbane with Floatspace, you can choose to BYO food and drink, book BBQ boat hire or even select a fully catered food and drink package in advance (catering to various dietary requirements).

Every Floatspace boat has a qualified captain and crew on board to help make that experience perfect and stress-free.

Things to do in Brisbane by boat

Let’s start with the Brisbane River. Few cities are as lucky as Brisbane to have weaving waterways providing a diverse array of backdrops, including the City Botanic Gardens, the Kangaroo Point Cliffs and South Bank Parklands.

Hop on at South Bank and sail under the Story Bridge during cocktail hour, followed by dinner at the trendy Howard Smith Wharves converted shipyard-turned-dining precinct.

Every September, the Brisbane Festival lights up the city with arts and cultural experiences. One of the highlights to see by boat is the Brisbane Riverfire, the spectacular fireworks show from Story Bridge to Goodwill Bridge and across the city’s skyscrapers.

For coastal adventures, sail along Brisbane’s Bayside. On the north side, the laidback seaside towns of Sandgate, Brighton and Shorncliffe are perfect for lazy days on the water or more revved-up watersports action. Boat hire in Redcliffe is a great way to explore the waters of Moreton Bay, with views of Bribie Island and Moreton Island.

On Brisbane’s southern coast, visit Manly Boat Harbour, the largest boat harbour facility in the southern hemisphere, and enjoy the local village’s bounty of seafood. The nearby Redlands Coast, including charming Redland Bay, is a stunning gateway to North Stradbroke Island and the secluded Southern Moreton Bay Islands.

North Stradbroke Island ('Straddie') is a local favourite. With kangaroos, kookaburras and koalas around you, and whale watching from May to November, it’s a wildlife paradise. Visit Brown Lake and Blue Lake, two stunning waterways sacred to the Quandamooka people.

Moreton Island is a must-see with its stretches of sandy beach, lush bushwalks and native wildlife of the Moreton Bay Marine Park. Float around the waters of Tangalooma Beach on an inflatable toy or go underwater for a diving or snorkelling adventure around the colourful corals of the world-famous Tangalooma Wrecks. Dolphins, dugongs and sea turtles call these fine waters their home.

Going all out? Take a private Brisbane to Gold Coast cruise around remote islands, white sandy beaches and those epic multimillion-dollar homes. Visit our Gold Coast boat hire page for more.

View Floatspace's full range of boats for hire in Brisbane and use the live pricing tool to plan your next event.

Lead image: Tourism and Events Queensland.