A Brisbane River boat hire guide for parties, from budget to mega-luxe

By Adam Bub | Posted 7 May, 2021

Look, we may not be able to swim in the Brisbane River but we sure can party on it.

Think cocktail hour with the glittering Brisbane city skyline as your backdrop. Or maybe a BBQ boat hire from Brisbane to the secluded beaches and islands of Moreton Bay. And perhaps a luxury superyacht hire in Brisbane with deck dance floors and DJ decks for epic sunset sessions…

OK, we’re getting a little carried away here. But Brisbane River boat hire is just that good. Here at Floatspace, we want to show you just how easy, accessible and flexible an on-water celebration can be.

Birthday parties, Christmas parties, corporate functions, wedding receptions, hens parties, bucks parties, New Year’s Eve cruises – you’d be surprised what you can do for different budgets.

Shhh, it’s an exclusive party: Small boat rental in Brisbane

If we’re talking smaller parties with family, friends or colleagues, you can choose a great-value Brisbane adventure boat like Cobia and have a brilliant half-day or full day trip on the water.

Cobia hosts brewery tours, trips to Moreton Island and fast adventure rides that give you the full ‘wind in your hair’ feeling. With a captain and crew included, they can take you wherever you want to go, whether you want to stop for a picnic at Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park or sail under the sparkling Story Bridge at night.

It starts from $487.50 per hour, with room for up to 20 guests on board. So if you work that out, it’s under $25 per hour per guest if you have 20 guests coming – pretty sweet, huh?

If your group size goes up to 38, Leatherback is a similar fast boat with more space for those sea legs (from $650 an hour).

These boats are BYO food and drink so bring an esky along for the ride.

Big crowd but not big budget? That’s OK for party boat hire in Brisbane

If your guest list is anywhere from 40 to 100, choosing private boat hire in Brisbane doesn’t have to blow your budget out of the water. In fact, compare it to hiring a venue on land and you might find it’s not only cost-effective, but a whole lot more memorable and flexible to your needs.

Now, ‘big budget’ will mean different things to different people. A 21st birthday party with beer and nibbles will differ a lot from a corporate function or wedding reception with sit-down catering and onboard entertainment.

So let’s talk about boat hire cost first. Floatspace boats Mirimar II and James Cavill offer exceptional, affordable spaces for larger groups – Mirimar II from $400 per hour for up to 70 guests, James Cavill from $500 per hour for up to 130 guests. So, for a four-hour party on the Brisbane River, you might pay from $1600 to $2000 for the boat hire.

What do you get? A great value catamaran hire in Brisbane, Mirimar II has both indoor and outdoor spaces, table seating and a bar. As with all Floatspace boats, captain and crew are included. For an added cost, the boat owners offer onboard catering packages including buffets, BBQ menus and finger food. Just set off from the Cultural Centre Pontoon on South Bank and enjoy the views.

For a larger boat party, James Cavill is a wide-bodied cruiser with everything you need for a special on-water event. This Brisbane favourite has an expansive top deck with a retractable roof – not that the weather really gets too bad in Brissie. The lower deck runs the whole length of the boat, with a huge dance floor, a great sound system and party lighting.

No expenses spared: Luxury yacht hire in Brisbane

Budget not an issue? Go to town! The first option we can recommend is Floatspace’s 27m catamaran Pure Adrenalin. This luxury charter is best for cocktail functions, Christmas parties, corporate events and major celebrations with up to 76 guests allowed on board.

From $1320 an hour, Pure Adrenalin has it all: two massive teak decks with 360-degree views, three guest cabins, modern stainless steel appliances and premium food and beverage packages (at an additional cost). They can pick you up at a number of locations including New Farm Park River Hub, Mowbray Park, Newstead House, Riverlife and West End.

For a taste of the Versace lifestyle, PATRIOT 1 is a luxury superyacht for groups of up to 47 guests who like the finer things in life. From $2375 an hour, you can cruise Brisbane River in the height of luxury with Versace cushions, opulent French interiors and a stunning sky lounge for panoramic views.

Need a high-end event space with capacity for up to 400 people? YOT Club, dubbed the “world’s first superyacht entertainment venue”, operates from both Brisbane and the Gold Coast. In Brisbane, it sets off from the City Botanical Gardens River Hub.

Sprawled out over two levels, this 40m luxury superyacht features two fully stocked cocktail bars, a cool room that can house 45 kegs of beer, a private dining room and a mega 8m stage with the best sound and special effect lighting.

For sit-down events, there’s room for more than 200 guests and they offer top-class catering packages too. Yep, YOT Club is like a floating resort for Richard Branson and his billionaire mates – but for your big bash it’s available from $4900 an hour.