Frequently Asked Questions

All our boats have protection from the elements, however, they are designed for open viewing and are best experienced in relatively dry and mild weather conditions. If it’s forecast for heavy, consistent rain or very strong winds we may cancel the tour and customers are entitled to credit with us or a full refund. However, it rarely rains for a sustained period of time in Sydney, so if it is forecast for some sporadic rain, we will likely go ahead with the tour.

Unfortunately, our boats are not wheelchair accessible. Both of our boats have ample room for moving about the deck. However, if you think mobility may be an issue on the boat, please contact us to discuss the suitability of our tours for you or your guests.

Both our boats have onboard toilet facilities, however, the toilet on the Beach Explorer is small and cramped, so we advise guests to only use this toilet if absolutely necessary. We are never in the boat for more than 45 minutes at a time.

No, smoking is prohibited on the boat.

You are welcome to bring your own alcoholic beverages. On Spectre, our VIP Sports Cruiser we have two small fridges for drinks. Our Beach Explorer boat is not equipped with a fridge or storage for cold drinks, however, on private charters, we provide a 90-litre esky with ice for food and drinks.

Our boats are equipped with Bluetooth audio systems and WiFi. You can learn more about our two boats here.

Don’t expect a big tour boat. Our Beach Explorer is 8.5m with 16 comfortable seats and a small front cabin/toilet. It was completely refurbished in late 2017 with new seating, flooring, roofing, electricals and a 300HP engine. It is the perfect boat for guests wanting a small-group, immersive experience on a vessel that can get ‘up close’ to the landmarks and go to places the big boats can’t, such as landing right on the beach. See our boat page for more information.

Our popular VIP private charter boat is Spectre. It seats a maximum of 10 guests.

We also offer our 16 seater Beach Explorer as a more affordable option. 

See more details here.

Our boats remain in enclosed waters at all times and we are never more than 5 minutes from land. We do not venture into the open sea (unless you’ve booked a private whale watching cruise), therefore conditions are usually very calm, however, due to the number of boats on Sydney Harbour, there are occasionally small waves or ‘boat wash’ that can rock the boat. However, our boats are very robust and designed to cope with any conditions on the harbour and meet strict Sydney Harbour Maritime safety regulations.

While the boats are mostly dry there can be occasional splashes of water due to strong wind or passing ferries. However, towels and wind jackets are provided should you need them. Guests may also step off the boat onto the beach in very shallow water and get their feet wet.

No, it is not permitted to bring a baby. All children must be able to take a seat due to safety requirements and remain seated on the boat for up to 45 minutes. We do have child lifejackets available.

The tour boat is not suitable for anyone with mobility issues because we have 3 beach stops and toilet facilities are for emergencies only. However, we have had guests in their 80s who are relatively fit and mobile who have had hugely enjoyable experiences. So age is not a barrier, just attitude and mobility.

Free bottled water is provided on all boats.

On our Private Charters it is BYO food and alcohol or we can provide catering.

On our tours, morning or afternoon is provided (tea, coffee, soft drinks, cake etc).

On our afternoon tour, a waterside pub lunch is included.

Yes, you are welcome to bring your own food and drinks and consume onboard, however, storage and refrigeration are only available on private charters.

No, there is no fishing on any of our boats or tours.

We recommend all guests bring sun protection, but also a jacket because it can get a bit chilly on the water, even in summer. Casual shoes or sandals are best because we land on beaches.

Everything is provided, however, there is a souvenir shop at Quarantine Station.

Gratuities are optional, but if you really enjoyed the day and felt the crew did a great job, a tip would be much appreciated.

Yes of course! Select the gift card option at checkout.

All our boats operate with $10 million public liability insurance. They are fully compliant and registered with the marine authorities AMSA and RMS to carry passengers commercially on Sydney Harbour. This includes annual tests by certified marine surveyors to check that all current commercial safety standards are in place. The boats also undergo twice-monthly mechanical checks. All our skippers are highly experienced and hold the appropriate commercial skipper qualifications.