Frequently Asked Questions

No boating or fishing licences are required. We supply all information and training required.

You don’t need any boating experience, just a dash of common sense. We give you a complete briefing on operation and navigating your houseboat before you even leave the marina. Then one of our captains pilots you out from the marina and gives you practical driving instruction.

From singles, couples, to groups of up to 12 people, houseboating is suitable for all ages and is great value. Boat capacity varies from boat to boat and you can choose from budget to luxury, from 2 to 12 berth.

Yes! Houseboat holidays are a great family getaway. Some houseboats are more suitable for young children than others, so please check with us on the suitability of the houseboat of your choice, or we can help you choose the best boat for your holiday. Like anywhere else with water, small children on a boat do require adult supervision at all times. If you don’t have a life jackets for your children, we do have some children’s life jackets that you can borrow.

 We now have 5 pet friendly houseboats. Pets must be pre-approved before boarding. And pet fees apply. Please read our Pet Policy for more information.

With the exception of our pet friendly boats (Wanderer, Wavebreak, Marie Claire, JFS Rhyanna and Island Dream), we are unable to permit pets aboard due to health reasons.

We understand that your pet is a big part of your family life however we do need to consider other guests who may suffer from allergies.  If you need a pet-sitter, there are several good pet motels in the area if you would like contact details.

If you have a service/support pet, please notify us on enquiry.  You will need to forward the appropriate paperwork.

There is mobile phone coverage throughout the Tweed Valley. Depending upon your carrier and distances from their towers, you may find coverage a little patchy in some areas. If you particularly need to be in phone contact, please check your reception before anchoring and it may simply be a case of moving a few 100 metres.

All of the houseboats are provided with pillows and doonas. Aboard Runaway Bear, Wavebreak and Wanderer, you need to bring (or hire from us) sheets and towels. Aboard all other houseboats, you simply need to bring (or hire) towels. A floor mat, hand towel and a couple of face washers are provided for each bathroom, together with a couple of guest soaps.

Condong, a small town approximately 4hrs cruise from Tweed is the furthest point of travel along the river. Along the riverbank, you will find the Condong Sugar Mill and a low set bridge at Cane Road.  Houseboats are not permitted to pass under this bridge.

At Tumbulgum, the houseboats (except Pacific Blue, Ocean Spirit & Island Dream) can also travel up the Rous River to Cemetery Bay. In Tweed Heads, the houseboats can cruise up the Terranora Creek to Big Island or Womgin Island. Please advise our captains if you plan on travelling along the Terranora Creek – some rules apply for passing under Boyds Bay Bridge.  Over a 3 or 4 night houseboat booking we find most customers travel around 7 hours for their holiday – over a full week, generally around 10 hours.

Normal drink driving rules apply to people driving a houseboat. The driver may not exceed .05, the same as when driving a car. Apart from that, stay safe, respect your fellow boaties and locals and have fun.

No! Houseboats must not be driven after sunset. 

Like the houseboats, the tenders are not to be driven after sunset as they are not equipped with lights, and you would be in danger in the slow-moving boat. 

You can hire a set of lights for the tender and organise to pick your late arrivals up from the riverbank.  Lights and batteries are available to hire at our marina office.

Are you having trouble deciding what houseboat is best for you and your crew? Our team is dedicated to making sure that you are comfortable and happy with your holiday with us! If you need a hand in deciding which boat is best for you,  simply give our office a ring and we can help you choose the right boat for your needs. 

We have 2 options available for parking on the day of your arrival. You can either park your vehicle at the public carpark at the marina, or if you are not comfortable with a public carpark, we are able to provide off-street parking at our main office in Tweed Heads. It is located 1km from the marina, where your car or trailers will be locked behind a gate every afternoon once our office has been shut. This provides that extra security for your vehicle(s). If you are interested in off-street parking, please let our administration know, as spots are limited and additional costs apply.

Some of our boats are more wheelchair friendly than others. We do have a boat ramp available for wheelchair access. We can accomodate your needs by rearranging any furniture if required. Additional equipment such as commodes etc can be hired locally. We can also provide you with floor plans for each boat. 

Please contact us if you do require wheelchair access and we can find the best boat suited to your needs!

A $2000 security bond is required on the day of departure ($1500 for our smaller vessels). Payment of security bond on the day may be made by Pre-Authorisation on a credit card (Visa/Mastercard/Amex), EFT or cash. 

Upon return of your hire, once the vessel has been serviced and thoroughly inspected, we can process any additional costs (eg. fuel, bait, ice etc) to this card which should speed up the process of releasing the hold – this “check out” will replace the pending transaction. Your bank may take 1-3 days to process this
transaction. Alternatively we can cancel the pre-auth but keep in mind your bank may take up to 30 days to process the cancellation.

Our houseboat holidays go ahead rain or shine. Wet weather is a natural part of the experience and our houseboats are fully equipped to keep you dry and comfortable. It’s a great opportunity to relax, play games and enjoy the scenery. Please note that bookings are not cancelled or rescheduled due to rain, unless conditions become unsafe due to severe weather warnings issued by authorities. 

The houseboats are not permitted to dock at public jetties and wharfs. Use the tender/dinghy for transfers to shore.

You’re welcome to bring your coffee machine on the following boats: Pacific Blue, Ocean Spirit, Island Dream, Kalinda, Blue Bayou, Paradise ll (small coffee machine only) and JFS Rhyanna. 

Coffee machines cannot be used on the remaining boats in our fleet due to power consumption. 

A deposit is required at the time of booking to lock in your dates. The amount depends on the boat.

Runaway Bear Deposit: $250.

Ocean Spirit and Pacific Blue Deposit: $1000.

The deposit for the rest of the fleet is $500. 

The final payment is due 30 days before your departure date. 

For special holidays like Christmas and NYE, the final payment is due 90 days before your departure date.

Yes! Gift vouchers are available for any amount and make a fantastic gift. For houseboat gift vouchers please call us (07) 5524 3222. BBQ Boat gift vouchers can be purchased online. 

Houseboats: The hirer must be 21 years or older.

BBQ Boats: The hirer must be 18 years or older.

Yes. We provide a 24/7 on call number. We’re always one call away. Our team is available to assist with any issues during your trip and we’ll come to you on the river if needed.

No need, we’ve got you covered. All our houseboats are stocked with cleaning products for your stay.