After taking over The Yarra River in Melbourne and Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, renowned picnic boat operator GoBoat Australia is set to make its foray into Gold Coast waterways with a fleet of picnic boats at Isle of Capri from May 5. The Scandinavian-designed Australian-made eight-person boats are available for the general public to hire without needing a boat licence or any previous boating experience. The captain and crew (aka you and your pals) can board the picnic boats from the marina at Isle of Capri and are free to cruise around the surrounding waterways at leisure.

The whisper-quiet electric motor and user-friendly design means there’s no dizzying petrol fumes or pollution, and it’s safe for kids and dogs. “Our boats are designed to ensure we do not have a negative impact on the environment. We have zero operating emissions, zero noise pollution and don’t contribute to waterway erosion,” owner and managing director of GoBoat, Nick Tyrrell says. All you need to do is pack your snacks and you’re good to go! Originally from Denmark, the GoBoat concept made its way across Europe before launching in Canberra in 2017. Experiences start from $129 per private boat, which can seat eight people at a time.

Ready to set sail? For more information or to make a booking, head to the GoBoat website.