GoBoat Brisbane
Self-drive electric picnic boat hire on the Brisbane River, departing the Breakfast Creek Lifestyle Precinct at Newstead. No boat licence needed, up to eight people per boat, BYO food and drink.
- Big group
- Date night
- With the kids
- Long lunch
- Special occasion
Weather, in the operator's words: "You can reschedule your booking for any reason without penalty up to 24 hours before departure, so we encourage all guests to keep an eye on the forecast leading up to their booking. If the weather is unsafe at the time of sailing, you will also be offered the opportunity to reschedule." Optional Cancellation Protection allows rescheduling or a refund up to 4 hours before departure. No boat licence or previous boating experience is needed — crew give instructions and a demonstration on arrival. BYO food and drink is welcome; "you can bring up to 2 standard drinks per person onboard. The nominated skipper must remain sober for the duration of your booking." Swimming and fishing from the boats are not permitted. A pre-authorisation hold of up to $200 is placed on a debit or credit card as a security deposit.
Booking via direct · checked 2026-08-25
The story
GoBoat's pitch is "Be your own captain. No boat licence required!" — "Our custom picnic boats are designed in Europe, made in Australia, and powered by state-of-the-art electric motors for an environmentally responsible experience." Boats set sail from the Breakfast Creek Lifestyle Precinct next to Rise Newstead and head out past Newstead Park and Newstead House ("Brisbane's oldest surviving residence, built in 1846"), the Teneriffe Woolstores, Capricorn Wharf ("which served as a US submarine base in WWII"), New Farm Park and the Brisbane Powerhouse. There's a large table in the middle of the boat, shade over the top, and a new live interactive map with GPS tracking, points of interest and shallow or restricted areas marked.
In their words, from their site· checked 2026-08-25
What you can do a sample
- The Quick Dip$149 per group
- 60 min
- up to 8 players
1 hour. "Just getting started? This bite-sized cruise is perfect for first-timers. Drift through Brisbane's heart and get a taste of life on the river." Listed "from $149" for the boat. "The maximum capacity on each boat is 8 people. This limit includes children and is a legal requirement for our boats." Dogs and other pets do not count towards the 8 person capacity limit.
- The Powerhouse Cruise$249 per group
- 120 min
- up to 8 players
2 hours. "Set sail a little further and glide past New Farm Park and the iconic Brisbane Powerhouse. Plenty of time for snacks, chats, and photos!" Listed "from $249" for the boat.
- The Story Bridge Voyage$349 per group
- 180 min
- up to 8 players
3 hours. "The ultimate Brisbane River adventure! Cruise all the way to the Story Bridge and soak up Brisbane's best skyline views. This one is a must for locals and tourists alike (Includes speaker hire + esky hire)." Listed "from $349" for the boat.
- Food and drink add-ons
Optional picnic packs published for the Brisbane location: Voyager's Picnic for 2 $45, Voyager's Picnic for 4 $85, Sail & Graze for 2 $60, Sail & Graze for 4 $115. Vegetarian and gluten-free options vary by pack and are arranged by replying to the confirmation email; each pack is non-refundable within 24 hours of booking.
Prices as at 2026-08-25. They change —the venue's own pricing is the authority.
Good to know
- BYO
- Outdoor seating
- Dog friendly
- Parking on site
"There is a small undercover car park inside the Mercedes building (access from Durong Street), with free parking available for GoBoat guests. There is also paid street parking available on surrounding streets. Please allow additional time for parking, particularly on weekends and public holidays."
"If you are taking public transport, the closest stop is Breakfast Creek Rd at Newstead House, stop 12 (approx. 300m walk)."
Only what the venue states itself. Anything not listed here we haven't verified — worth a call if it matters.