Self drive · Sydney Harbour
Take the helm of your own boat on Sydney Harbour. No licence, no test and nothing to sit beforehand — just a proper briefing on the day, and then the harbour is yours.
The fleet
Day boat
Our easiest day on the water. Full shade canopy with sides, an inside cabin if the weather turns, two lunch tables and a swim ladder. Pet-friendly.
Timber cruiser
An 8-metre timber-trimmed classic that makes a very easy day out. Fully shaded from end to end, with a toilet on board, an electric anchor and room for eight.
BBQ pontoon
A 7-metre BBQ pontoon built for long lunches rather than getting anywhere quickly. Flat, stable deck, shade over three-quarters of it, an esky, and a BBQ with the gas supplied. No toilet on board.
Prices shown are our standard weekday rates. Weekends, the 19 December – 26 January peak and public holidays are higher, and the exact price for your date is shown before you pay. Marlow and Frankie run from Double Bay over the summer season and open for hire in October — get in touch and we’ll confirm the first available dates. Both boats are being refitted, so the images shown are indicative of how each will look once finished.
The question everyone asks
No. Every boat on this page can be hired without one. There’s no test, no paperwork and no prior experience needed — just a proper briefing before you go. If you’ve driven a car, you’ll be fine.
What actually happens on the day. You meet us at the boat. We run through the controls, the harbour map, the no-go zones and the safety gear, and we stay with you until you’re comfortable. Then it’s yours. We’re on the phone all day if you want to check anything while you’re out.
Included
Cruising grounds
The whole of Sydney Harbour is open to you — under the Harbour Bridge and past the Opera House, up to Manly and Store Beach, into Rose Bay and Watsons Bay, around Shark Island, or west up the Parramatta River. The one limit is that you can’t head outside Sydney Heads.
If the wind picks up we may ask you to stay inside Middle Harbour, which is sheltered on almost any day and holds some of the best swimming spots anyway.
Getting there
The Day Boat departs from Mosman, near the Spit Bridge. Paid parking is usually available close by, with free parking about a five-minute walk away on Pearl Bay Road. Buses run regularly to the reserve.
Marlow and Frankie depart from Double Bay from October, which has parking nearby and a ferry service if you’d rather not drive.
Good to know
No. Every boat on this page can be hired without a licence. You drive it yourself after a full briefing on the day — no test, no paperwork.
The Day Boat takes up to 6. Marlow and Frankie each take up to 8.
Yes, on all three boats, and there’s no BYO fee. Frankie has a BBQ on board with the gas supplied.
Every boat has shade, and the Day Boat has an inside cabin with seating. Light rain rarely stops a trip. If conditions are genuinely unsafe we’ll move you to another day.
Yes. The price includes fuel and all safety equipment — there’s no fuel surcharge at the end.
Yes. The Day Boat has a swim ladder, and there are dozens of sheltered spots around the harbour to anchor and get in.
Weekdays are our standard rate. Weekends, the 19 December – 26 January peak and public holidays cost more. The exact price for your date is shown before you pay.
Yes — a refundable $250 security hold on every hire, released after the boat comes back in good order.
The Day Boat is pet-friendly — just let us know when you book.
Ready when you are
Also see BBQ boat hire · fishing boat hire · licensed boat hire · pickup locations · full FAQs