Whatever brings people together, the Broadwater does it better than a function room ever could.
Hopo I & II
Private Boat Charter · Gold Coast
Two Ferries, Four Pick-Up Points, Your Own Drinks
- Two harbour ferries that go where your guests already are — Hopo I and Hopo II each carry up to 50 guests.
- Between them they collect from four points along the Broadwater: Southport, HOTA, Surfers Paradise and Main Beach.
- Hire one for a relaxed couple of hours on the water, or take both for a group of 100.
- Licensed bar onboard — and unlike the rest of our fleet, you’re welcome to bring your own drinks and catering.
What It's Best For
Work Drinks
Sundowner Cruises
Community & Club Groups
Milestone Birthdays
Pre/Post HOTA Event Transfers
Functions & Event Hire
50 Guests
Per Vessel
Duration
From 2 Hours
Licensed Bar
& BYO
4 Pick-up Points
Along the Broadwater
No other vessel in our fleet can pick your guests up from four different places — or let you bring your own drinks.
Two Ferries, Up To 100 Guests
A unique premium floating waterfront venue that delivers atmosphere, movement and skyline views.
The Deck
Up to 50 guests per ferry. Book one, or run both side by side for a group of 100. The deck is covered for year-round use, with seating for [xX]. There are no bathrooms onboard, however there are at each available stop. Ideal for shorter events, or for pre-dinner drinks en route to the final destination.
Capacity (per vessel): xX Seated | 50 Cocktail
Charter Packages & Pricing
Customise your event by changing the duration, catering and entertainment. Get an instant estimate with our Quote Builder.
Hopo is hired by the hour. You bring the plan, we bring the boat, the crew and the bar (or eskies!).
Charter
Duration
Includes
Per Person
One Ferry
50 Guests
2 Hours
Vessel, Crew, Licensed Bar
from $28pp
One Ferry
50 Guests
+ Cheeseboard
2 Hours
Vessel, Crew, Cheeseboard
from $48pp
One Ferry
50 Guests
+ Canapés
2 Hours
Vessel, Crew, Canapés
from $68pp
Both Ferries
100 Guests
+ Cheeseboards
2 Hours
Two Vessels, Crew, Cheeseboards
from $48pp
One Ferry
50 Guests
+ Longer Charter
3 Hours
Vessel, Crew, Licensed Bar
from $42pp
Why use the Hopo?
Bring your own
The only vessel in our fleet where BYO drinks and catering are welcome — bring your own, or add ours, the choice is yours.
Four pick-up points
Collect guests from Southport, HOTA, Surfers Paradise or Main Beach — nobody has to drive to one terminal.
No minimum guest count
Priced by the hour, not per person, so a smaller group is just as welcome as a full ferry.
Two vessels, double the group
Book one ferry for 50, or run both side by side for a group of 100.
Food
Bring Your Own, Or Let Us Cater
Catering is optional on Hopo. Bring your own, or add one of our chef-prepared options.
Gourmet Cheeseboard
$20pp
Canapés
$40pp
Bring Your Own Catering
No Charge*
*Clean up fee payable if [CONFIRM].
Drinks
Do It Either Way
Hopo is the only vessel in our fleet where you can do it either way.
Or Bring Your Own
Bring your own drinks aboard — the only vessel in the fleet where that’s an option. Corkage is $10 per person, including esky and ice.
Our Licensed Bar
A fully licensed bar onboard. Run a bar tab, or let guests pay their own way at the cash bar. The bar list features Pommery, Balter, Willie Smith’s, XXXX and Buderim, alongside made-to-order cocktails.
Entertainment & AV
Set the Tone Onboard
Connect your own playlist through the onboard system, or lift the room with a live guitarist or a DJ. Microphone, screen and AV on most vessels for speeches, presentations and product launches. Tell us what you need to run and we’ll have it ready.
Standard Audio, Mic & PA
Included
AV Onboard
Included
Live Musician
$750
Also possible: cinema screenings for product and campaign launches, plus photographers and videographers on request.
Charter Availability
Hopo I & II operate a timetabled ferry service from 9.15am to 6.05pm. Both boats are available from 7pm.
Hopo I available: prior to 8:30am, after 6pm
Hopo II available: prior to 9:30am, after 7pm
Locations
Where To Board
Free parking on site at Main Beach — no theme park ticket required. Paid parking is available near the Surfers Paradise pontoon at Circle on Cavill, Chevron Renaissance and Cypress Avenue. Pay-by-the-hour parking is available at HOTA and along the Southport Broadwater.
Private Charter Calculator
Find out a pricing estimate, and submit an enquiry to secure your charter.
Choose Your Venue
Select the vessel for your private charter event.
Spirit of Elston
A purpose-built dining vessel with a climate-controlled floor below and an open-air sundeck above, low enough to slip beneath the bridges into the Broadwater's canals where the bigger boats can't follow.
Spirit of Migaloo II
A 160-guest vessel with three viewing levels and a fully licensed bar, built for open water and named after the Gold Coast's most famous visitor. Book for a cocktail evening year round, or exclusively yours to cruise up past South Stradbroke Island and Sanctuary Cove in the warmer months of November to May.
Spirit of Mulgumpin
A 160-guest charter vessel working both the Brisbane River and the Gold Coast seaway, built for evening cruising in the city or a full day's exclusive run to Moreton Island or Stradbroke Island.
Hopo I & II
Up to 50 guests per ferry. Book one, or run both side by side for a group of 100. The deck is covered for year round use, with seating for 50. There are no bathrooms onboard, however there are at each available stop. Ideal for shorter events, or for pre-dinner drinks onroute to the final destination.
Kaiala
Our smaller, more intimate vessel — two levels of Broadwater views, a licensed bar and a kiosk aboard. In the warmer months she'll run your group up to Tipplers or Sanctuary Cove; come winter, she's made for sunset drinks on the Broadwater.
Sunset Deck
Almost thirteen metres of west-facing waterfront at Main Beach — the best vantage point on the Broadwater for a sunset, and our only venue on dry land. Your exclusively with a Dinner Cruise charter, or reserve an area for your guests when your boat comes back to moor. Minimum spends apply for exclusive use.
Arro Jet + Sunset Deck Combo
The team day that doesn't need a function room. Half an hour of thrills out on the water, then burgers and beers (or nuggets + chips) at your reserved table on the deck. Up to 50 across two boats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our friendly crew is here to help
How many guests can Hopo hold?
Each ferry carries up to 50 guests. Book both Hopo I and Hopo II together and you can host up to 100 across the two vessels.
How much does it cost to charter Hopo?
Hopo is hired by the hour at $700 per vessel, with a two-hour minimum. For 50 guests that works out from $28 per person for a two-hour charter, before any catering.
Is there a minimum number of guests?
No. Hopo is priced by the hour rather than per person, so a smaller group is welcome, it simply costs more per head.
Where does Hopo pick up from?
Hopo can collect guests from four points along the Broadwater: Southport, HOTA, Surfers Paradise and Main Beach.
Can we bring our own drinks?
Yes. Hopo is the only vessel in our fleet where BYO is permitted. Corkage is $10 per person and includes the use of eskies and ice. There’s also a fully licensed bar onboard if you’d rather run a tab or let guests pay their own way.
Can we bring our own food?
Yes. Bring your own catering at no extra charge, or add a chef-prepared gourmet cheese board at $20 per person or canapés at $40 per person.
How long is a charter?
Charters run from a two-hour minimum, and you can book as long as you need beyond that providing it sits within our availability window.
Is there parking?
Parking is free on site at the Main Beach terminal, and you don’t need a Sea World theme park ticket to use it. Paid parking is available near the Surfers Paradise pontoon at Circle on Cavill, Chevron Renaissance and Cypress Avenue. Pay by the hour parking is available at HOTA and Southport Broadwater.
What happens if it rains?
The vessels are undercover, however in the event of rain xyz cancellation/rebook.
Is Hopo wheelchair accessible?
[ TO CONFIRM ]
Is there a toilet onboard?
A small toilet is available for emergency use only. Each of the departure points contains public bathrooms and may be utilitised by guests.
Can we have music?
Absolutely! Enjoy our playlist, or connect your own device to our sound system on board.
Are prices inclusive of GST?
All prices shown include GST.
What deposit is required, and when is the balance due?
A deposit of 20% confirms your date, with the balance due [X days] before departure.
How far in advance should we book?
December, and Friday and Saturday evenings year-round, book out furthest ahead. We’d recommend 4–6 months for those and 2–3 weeks for weekday charters.
Can we see the vessel before booking?
Yes — site inspections can be arranged. Contact our team on [phone].
Six Vessels, One Waterfront Venue
The Gold Coast’s biggest private event space. Find the one that fits your group.
