GoBoat Australia
GoBoat Australia operates self-drive electric picnic boat hire at seven marina locations across Australia's major cities, serving families, tourists, and corporate groups with licence-free 8-person vessels built from recycled materials.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersSydney (The Spit, Mosman), Australia
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What GoBoat Australia does
GoBoat Australia operates a fleet of self-drive electric picnic boats for hourly hire across seven marina locations in Sydney (Mosman, Cabarita Point, Akuna Bay), Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Canberra. Each boat accommodates up to eight people including children and pets, requires no boat licence, and runs on quiet electric motors with zero tailpipe emissions. The vessels are Scandinavian-designed and Australian-built using 80% recycled PET bottles and reclaimed timber, with onboard features including shaded canopies, picnic tables, and a live interactive GPS map accessible via personal devices.
The company's revenue model combines per-booking boat hire (paid per boat, not per person, based on duration selected) with high-margin add-on upsells such as Bluetooth speaker hire, eskies, Captain's Packs, grazing boxes, and seasonal comfort packs. Premium-tier GoBoat+ experiences and corporate event packages (e.g., the $449 Balloon Spectacular sunrise cruise) further diversify revenue. Gift cards with 3-year validity serve as both consumer gifts and corporate gifting. Pricing ranges from $149 to $449 per booking depending on location, duration, and experience type, with $200-$500 refundable security deposits and $50-per-15-minute late return fees.
GoBoat Australia is privately held and operates through six legal entities (GoBoat Operations (AUS) Pty Ltd as the parent, with subsidiaries in Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Sydney Mosman, and Nautique Adventures Pty Ltd), led by founder and Managing Director Nick Tyrrell, who launched the first Australian location on Lake Burley Griffin in November 2017. The business has welcomed 350,000+ guests cumulatively and is pursuing expansion through both direct new location launches (most recently Mosman in April 2025) and a franchise model targeting partner-operated growth across additional Australian waterways.
GoBoat Australia firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GoBoat Australia
- Legal name
- GoBoat Operations (AUS) Pty Ltd
- Website
- https://goboat.com.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- GoBoat Australia operates self-drive electric picnic boat hire at seven marina locations across Australia's major cities, serving families, tourists, and corporate groups with licence-free 8-person vessels built from recycled materials.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GoBoat Australia industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Recreational Boat Hire
- NAICS
- Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721), Boat Building (336612), Marinas (71393)
- SIC
- Water Transportation (4400), Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bareboat Yacht Charters (Self-Skippered) (THAEAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Electric & Hybrid Leisure Craft Manufacturing (IMAJAEAK), Houseboats & Floating Stays (THAMADAG)
Keywords
Where GoBoat Australia is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sydney (The Spit, Mosman)
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices7 records
Markets served
GoBoat Australia business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Boat Hire Rental: Hourly/duration-based rental of electric picnic boats. Customers pay per booking (not per person) based on duration selected. Base boat hire with optional add-ons. Security deposit held and released after safe return.
- Add-on Products and Services: Supplementary revenue from Bluetooth speaker hire, esky hire, captain's hats, grazing boxes, food packages, cancellation protection. Upsell opportunities at booking.
- Gift Cards: Gift cards valid for 3 years with no blackout dates. Sold online, redeemable at any location for boat hire, add-ons.
- Corporate and Group Bookings: Special events including corporate sunrise cruises, balloon spectacular experiences, Australia Day packages. Premium pricing for exclusive experiences.
- Late Return Fees: $50 per 15 minutes overtime. Additional charges for damage, cleaning. Insurance excess of $1,000 for participant-caused damage.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Akuna Bay Sydney: 2-3 hour experiences |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gold Coast: 1-3 hour experiences with GoBoat+ option |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | The Spit Mosman: 1-3 hour experiences |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cabarita Point Sydney: 1-3 hour experiences on Parramatta River |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Melbourne: 1-3 hour Yarra River experiences |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Brisbane: 1-3 hour Brisbane River experiences |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Canberra: 1-3 hour Lake Burley Griffin experiences |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Corporate Sunrise Cruise - Balloon Spectacular |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Security Deposit |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
GoBoat Australia product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GoBoat Australia operates self-drive electric picnic boat hire services for up to 8 people across 7 marina locations in Australia, with no boat licence required. Boats are Scandinavian-designed, Australian-made from 80% recycled PET bottles and reclaimed timber, powered by zero-emission electric motors. Pricing is per-booking rather than per-person, with hourly/duration-based packages, optional add-ons (esky, speakers, grazing boxes), gift cards, and premium event packages.
Product overview
GoBoat Australia operates a fleet of electric picnic boat hire services across Australia. The core product is the GoBoat Standard Electric Picnic Boat, a self-drive vessel accommodating up to 8 people with no boat licence required. The product portfolio includes a premium tier (GoBoat+) with enhanced features and complimentary accessories, as well as a range of add-ons including Captain's Hats, Bluetooth speakers, esky hires, grazing boxes, and seasonal comfort packs. The company also offers corporate packages such as sunrise cruises during the Canberra Balloon Spectacular and special event packages for Australia Day. Gift cards are available in physical or digital formats. All boats are custom-designed in Europe and made in Australia, powered by state-of-the-art electric motors for environmentally responsible operation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- GoBoat+: Premium upgrade experience featuring luxury finishes, smooth centre console steering, extra power, complimentary Bluetooth speaker hire and esky hire. Currently available at Gold Coast and coming soon to Akuna Bay.
Products and services
- GoBoat Standard Electric Picnic Boat Hire Self-drive electric picnic boat hire for up to 8 people (including pets and children). No boat licence required. Features a shaded canopy, picnic table with built-in cupholders, and quiet zero-emission electric motors. Available across all 7 Australian locations with 1-hour, 2-hour, and 3-hour durations.
- GoBoat+ Premium Experience Premium on-water offering with luxury finishes, cushioned seating, smooth centre console steering and extra power for an effortless cruise. On the Gold Coast, the upgrade also includes complimentary Bluetooth speaker hire and esky hire with ice. Currently available at Gold Coast with Akuna Bay coming soon.
- GoBoat Gift Cards Experience gift cards available in physical or digital formats, valid for 3 years with no blackout dates. Redeemable at any GoBoat location for boat hire and add-ons. Sold online and used for personal gifting and corporate gifting.
- Grazing Boxes Handcrafted grazing boxes filled with fresh pastries, artisan cheeses, seasonal fruit, and gourmet treats. Available in morning, afternoon, and gluten-free varieties for pre-order with GoBoat bookings.
- Corporate Sunrise Cruise Package Premium corporate experience during the Canberra Balloon Spectacular. Includes barista-made coffee, fresh pastry breakfast box, bottle of chilled sparkling, safety equipment and 3-hour boat hire for up to 8 people, priced at $449 per boat.
- Australia Day Drone Light Show Package Special Australia Day experience with a 2.5-hour evening cruise from Kingston, with grazing boxes available for pre-order. Includes viewing of the drone light show at 9pm.
- Winter Comfort Pack Winter package featuring 2 heated blankets, Bluetooth speaker, captain's hat, comfy cushions, and heated gloves for the skipper, designed for cold-weather boating.
- Little Skipper's Kit Activity kit for children including GoBox activities and a bucket hat, designed to keep kids entertained on the water.
- Captain's Hat (recycled PET) Captain's hats made from recycled PET bottles, available for purchase at all GoBoat locations as merchandise or as part of bundled packs.
Quantifiable outcome
- 350,000+ guests welcomed since 2017
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use GoBoat Australia
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
GoBoat Australia technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
GoBoat Australia partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Parks VictoriacoreGoBoat Melbourne won a 10-year overnight berthing license from Parks Victoria in July, enabling relocation to Banana Alley berth on Yarra River. Strategic positioning near CBD and Southbank.
- Rye Cafe BraddonminorPartnered with Scandinavian-influenced cafe owned by Danish co-owner Jacob Hoffmeyer to create food and drink options for Canberra bookings.
- National Capital AuthoritycoreSupported GoBoat Canberra concept for Lake Burley Griffin operations. Assisted in navigating regulatory requirements for boat operations.
- d'Albora MarinascorePartnership with d'Albora Marinas for marina berthing and operations at multiple Sydney locations (Akuna Bay, The Spit Mosman, Cabarita Point). Marina provides infrastructure, parking, and facilities for GoBoat operations.
- Clean Up Australia DayminorParticipates annually in Clean Up Australia Day with staff volunteering time to conduct waterway clean-ups using GoBoat hire boats.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
GoBoat Australia competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- GetMyBoat: Global boat rental marketplace with operations in 184 countries, including Australia. Comparable to GoBoat as a booking platform for water-based leisure experiences, with a similar self-serve online booking model.
- Sailo: Online marketplace for sailing and motorboat charters and rentals in the US and Mediterranean. Comparable direct peer offering a self-serve booking experience for non-ownership boat access, mirroring GoBoat's platform-led customer journey.
- Boatsetter: Peer-to-peer boat rental marketplace operating across the US and internationally, connecting boat owners with renters for hourly and daily hires. Comparable to GoBoat in the boat-rental intermediary category, though Boatsetter serves licensed boaters rather than a no-licence market.
- GoBoat (Copenhagen / Denmark): The original GoBoat concept founded in Copenhagen in 2014, offering self-drive electric picnic boats for hire. The Australian operation is explicitly an outgrowth of this Danish brand, using the same Scandinavian-designed boats, electric motors, and licence-free self-skipper model.
Others
- Tourism Australia: National tourism marketing body that has featured GoBoat in official international campaigns. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than competitor, but its endorsement amplifies GoBoat's brand reach and qualifies GoBoat as a partner rather than a peer.
Broad incumbents
- SeaLink (Kelsian Group): Large Australian marine and tourism operator providing ferry services, island transfers, and cruises. Comparable broad incumbent in Australian on-water experiences with overlapping passenger leisure demand, though operating scheduled services rather than self-drive hire.
- Captain Cook Cruises: Established Australian cruise operator offering harbour and river cruises, whale watching, and dinner cruises in Sydney and Perth. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the Australian on-water leisure category, though Captain Cook operates crewed vessels rather than self-drive boats.
Emerging players
- Houseboat Holidays: Australian houseboat rental operator across multiple waterways (Murray River, Hawkesbury). Comparable in the boat-based leisure hire category and overlapping target customers (families, groups seeking unique on-water experiences), but operating larger multi-day vessels.
- Pirate Party Cruises (Sydney): Sydney-based themed boat cruise operator offering self-skippered and crewed party boat hire for groups. Closest Australian competitor in the small-vessel group-hire category targeting celebrations, with overlapping customer segments but different brand positioning.
Regional players
- Sydney Harbour Tall Ships: Operator of sailing experiences on Sydney Harbour including tall ships and smaller vessels. Comparable as a regional Sydney-based on-water leisure operator targeting tourists and special occasions, though not a self-drive hire model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
GoBoat Australia social profiles
Digital presenceGoBoat Australia compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
GoBoat Australia financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GoBoat Australia leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
GoBoat Australia subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
GoBoat Australia funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GoBoat Australia M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GoBoat Australia
What does GoBoat Australia do?
GoBoat Australia operates self-drive electric picnic boat hire services for up to 8 people across 7 marina locations in Australia, with no boat licence required. Boats are Scandinavian-designed, Australian-made from 80% recycled PET bottles and reclaimed timber, powered by zero-emission electric motors. Pricing is per-booking rather than per-person, with hourly/duration-based packages, optional add-ons (esky, speakers, grazing boxes), gift cards, and premium event packages.
Is GoBoat Australia a public or private company?
GoBoat Australia is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was GoBoat Australia founded?
GoBoat Australia was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is GoBoat Australia based?
GoBoat Australia is headquartered in Sydney (The Spit, Mosman), Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does GoBoat Australia make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Boat Hire Rental is the primary driver. The others are add-on Products and Services, gift Cards, corporate and Group Bookings and late Return Fees.
Who are GoBoat Australia's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are GetMyBoat, Sailo, Boatsetter and GoBoat (Copenhagen / Denmark). Tourism Australia is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are SeaLink (Kelsian Group) and Captain Cook Cruises. Emerging players are Houseboat Holidays and Pirate Party Cruises (Sydney). Sydney Harbour Tall Ships is listed as a regional player.
Does GoBoat Australia have an API?
No public API is recorded for GoBoat Australia.
What industry is GoBoat Australia in?
GoBoat Australia's product category is Recreational Boat Hire. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAEAEAB, Bareboat Yacht Charters (Self-Skippered), with a secondary code of IMAJAEAK, Electric & Hybrid Leisure Craft Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 48721 and its SIC code is 4400.