Launching 2027 · Register your interest
Slow, skippered cruises on the Gold Coast Broadwater — sandbar picnics near Wave Break Island, golden-hour canal cruises and intimate celebrations. The boat is yours alone.
Tortuga Cruises is a new Gold Coast charter. Before we welcome our first guests, our boat must pass an AMSA commercial survey and we must complete our commercial skipper (Coxswain) qualifications. We can’t take bookings or payments until then — you’re welcome to register your interest, and we’ll be in touch when reservations open.
Experiences
Every cruise is a private charter: the boat is yours, with your own skipper. These are our planned experiences; routes depend on tides, weather and where we berth.
Prices to be confirmed · per boat · AUD incl. GST
Golden hour through the canals around the Sovereign Islands and Sanctuary Cove, past architect-designed waterfront homes. Bring a charcuterie board and watch the light go gold.
Cross the Broadwater to Wave Break Island and South Stradbroke for a beach stop, a swim and a picnic on the sand. Keep an eye out for dolphins (wildlife is never guaranteed).
Birthdays, proposals, elopements and small corporate get-togethers: a private 2.5-hour charter, reserved just for your occasion.
A gentle, sheltered cruise with time on a sandbar to splash and build sandcastles. We go at the kids’ pace, and the whole family wears a lifejacket.
Prices will be confirmed when bookings open, per boat, in AUD including GST.
Have something else in mind? We’re planning custom private charters too. Tell us in your enquiry.
The boat
Our boat will be called Tortuga. We’ve chosen a modern pontoon because its wide, flat deck makes for a relaxed lounge, and a bow gate means we can nose gently onto a sandbar so you can step straight off onto the sand.
We’re still choosing the right boat for Tortuga. The picture is illustrative.
Where we go
The Broadwater is the Gold Coast’s sheltered inland waterway, between the mainland and South Stradbroke Island. Typical stops on our planned routes:
We’ll leave from the northern Gold Coast. The marina and parking details will be published before we launch.
About us
We’re Sebastien and Mathilde Arrue, a French couple who have called Australia home for about thirteen years, and who now live in Helensvale on the Gold Coast. Tortuga Cruises is our business, and we’re building it together.
Every cruise will be skippered by one of us, not by casual crew. That’s why we’re both training for our commercial skipper qualifications (Coxswain Grade 2 Near Coastal), with first aid and marine radio certificates. We don’t want to cancel on anyone, least of all our first guests.
Tortuga means turtle: unhurried, at home in the water, and in no rush to get anywhere. That’s the pace we want for every cruise.
On parle français : French-speaking visitors are very welcome, and the whole cruise can be in French.
FAQ
Not yet. We plan to open in 2027, once our boat passes its commercial survey and we hold our skipper qualifications. Register your interest below and we’ll contact you when bookings open. We don’t take any payment before then.
A hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, swimwear, a towel, a water bottle and shoes that won’t slip on a wet deck. Bring a light jumper for sunset cruises, because it cools down quickly on the water.
Yes, you’re welcome to bring your own platter, picnic or celebration cake. We’ll confirm our policy on bringing alcohol once the boat is surveyed, and share it with you before bookings open.
Your skipper makes the safety call. Summer afternoon storms (roughly November to February) are common on the Gold Coast, so we watch the forecast closely. If we cancel for weather, we’ll offer another date or a refund. Full terms will be set out when bookings open.
Yes, families are very welcome. Children wear a correctly sized lifejacket and must be supervised by an adult at all times. We’ll share lifejacket sizes and any age guidance before we launch.
Pontoon boats usually have a flat, open deck, but boarding depends on the marina and the boat. Tell us about any mobility needs in your enquiry, and we’ll be honest about what’s possible.
Every cruise is a private charter for your group only. We keep groups small and unhurried; the exact guest limit will be set by the boat’s commercial survey and published before bookings open.
We’ll leave from the northern Gold Coast. The marina and parking details will be published before we launch.
Not yet, because we aren’t operating yet. Before our first paying guest, Tortuga must pass an AMSA commercial survey, our skippers must hold Coxswain qualifications, and we’ll have commercial insurance in place. We’ll publish those details here once they’re confirmed.
Oui ! We’re both native French speakers. There’s a French version of this site too.
Register your interest
No payment and no commitment. Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll get back to you when bookings open in 2027.