GoBoat's Luxe New Premium Pet-Friendly Picnic Boats Are Sailing in Brisbane If You've Got a Mate with a Boat Licence

Call that friend who dreams of being a ship captain: if they have a boat licence, they can now take you cruising on the Brisbane River on one of GoBoat's picnic boats. The Denmark-born company has announced a new addition to its River City fleet, launching premium vessels that it's calling GoBoat+. They're faster, feature a ship's wheel and require that certification before anyone can start steering.

Since first getting sailing in Brisbane in 2021 — and hitting the water in Canberra, Melbourne, the Gold Coast and Sydney either before or around that time, too — GoBoat's whole angle has been electric picnic boats that anyone can operate. That's meant leisurely voyages for eight folks, and your dog, in slow-moving vessels that are easy to use and don't need a licence. Now, the company's range of experiences is expanding.

Brisbane has been chosen for GoBoat+'s debut due to "its connectivity to the city and its waterways, and the demand for unique experiences on the river," the company advises.

In an Australian first, GoBoat+'s boats are more powerful and cruise at three times the speed, all thanks to a six-kilowatt motor. The company notes that getting from its Breakfast Creek base to the Story Bridge will take around an hour.

Made in Brisbane by Cruise Craft Boats, and launching on Friday, December 1 to kick off summer, the new vessels can still seat eight — and pets also remain welcome. And the cost: $499 for a three-hour journey.

There'll also soon be a solution if you're keen on the new concept, with its levelled-up fitout, custom cushions, centre console steering and five-knots maximum speed, but you don't have a boat licence — or a mate with one. In 2024, GoBoat is starting training courses via the new GoBoat Academy, which'll operate at Breakfast Creek, delivering both boat and jet ski licensing.

"We are so proud to launch our new vessel GoBoat+ in time for the summer period, with more exciting additions to come in 2024," said GoBoat Owner and Managing Director Nick Tyrrell.

"We know there is strong appetite for locals and visitors to make use of the Brisbane River and, with a more powerful motor and the opportunity to travel from Breakfast Creek to the Story Bridge in around an hour, we are confident this offering will provide something special for those looking for a step up from the standard GoBoat experience," Tyrrell continued.

"Come early 2024 with the launch of GoBoat Academy, locals will have the chance to obtain their boat licence in the heart of the inner city, instead of travelling upwards of 30-minutes north or south of the river."

GoBoat+ launches in Brisbane on Friday, December 1 — for further details and to book, head to the company's website.