Bareboat Yacht Charters
Bareboat Hire on the Fraser Coast - Sailing & Power Vessels
Fraser Island Boat Charters offers self-drive bareboat hire from Hervey Bay - your gateway to K'gari (Fraser Island), the Great Sandy Strait, and one of Australia's most extraordinary stretches of coastline. Home to a globally recognised Whale Heritage Site, the waters of Hervey Bay are as remarkable as the destination itself. Choose your vessel, set your own itinerary, and go.
Award Winning Bareboat Operator - Eco Tourism Certified
Fraser Coast's Best New Business in 2021.
Winner of Marine Tourism - 2025 Fraser Coast Business and Tourism Awards.
Winner of Marine Tourism and Marketing - 2025 Fraser Coast Business and Tourism Awards.
New to bareboating?
Bareboating simply means hiring a vessel without a skipper - you're in chrage, you set the itinerary (with guidance from our team), and the adventure is entirely yours. No boating license is required to hire with us. Before you depart, our team provides a full vessel briefing, and of our qualified skippers will drive the vessel out of the marina so you can relax into your holiday from the moment you set off.
It's the most flexible and immersive way to see experience the Great Sandy Strait and with a range of vessels to choose from, there's an option for every group and size.
Choose Your Vessel
From intimate sailing catamaranas to our spacious power catamaran, every vessel in our fleet is fully equipped and ready for the west coast of K'gari Fraser Island.
Latitude Lady — Roger Hill 1035 · Sailing Catamaran · Up to 6 guests From $660/night (5 nights, low season)
The perfect starting point for your Great Sandy Strait adventure. Latitude Lady is our most accessible bareboat for beginners. A beautifully maintained 10-metre sailing catamaran with three double cabins, three bathrooms, and everything you need for a relaxed, unhurried charter. She's easy to handle, ideal for first-time bareboat hirers, and a firm favourite with couples and small families who want a genuine sailing experience without the complexity of a larger vessel. Simple, comfortable, and completely yours.
K'gari Breeze — Seawind 1200 · Sailing Catamaran · Up to 8-10 guests From $990/night (5 nights, low season)
Room for everyone and then some. K'gari Breeze is a spacious 12-metre sailing catamaran with four double cabins, generous living areas. She's the pick for a larger group or a family who wants comfort and space in equal measure while still being budget conscious. This vessel also has a drop down saloon table to allow for maximum 10 passengers on a bareboat hire. Pronounce it 'gurri' - the K is silent, just like the pace of life onboard.
Aqua Days — Leopard 44 · Sailing Catamaran · Up to 10 guests From $1,350/night (5 nights, low season)
The biggest sailing cat in the fleet and the one built for groups who want the ultimate creature comforts. Aqua Days is a Leopard 44 with four air-conditioned cabins sleeping up to ten (including saloon drop down), four bathrooms, a walk-through bow-to-stern layout that keeps the sea breeze flowing, and an impressive list of extras. If you're splitting the cost across a large group, Aqua Days offers exceptional value per person and an onboard experience that's hard to match.
Aliara - Leopard 42 · Sailing Catamaran · Up to 10 guests
From $1,175/night (5 nights, low season)
Aliara is a Leopard 42, perfectly suited to families or groups with generous deck space to spread out across, and sleeping for up to ten. She's stable, forgiving and straightforward to handle, which makes her an easy choice whether you've sailed for years or this is your first time taking the helm. If you want real room for a group without a lot of fuss, she's the one to look at.
Serenity - Helia 44 · Sailing Catamaran · Up to 10 guests
From $1,500/night (5 nights, low season)
Joining the fleet in November. Serenity is built for slowing right down - light pouring through oversized hull portholes, an open saloon flowing easily from galley to lounge to cockpit, and deck lounges made for reading through the afternoon or watching the sun drop behind K'gari. Air conditioning throughout keeps her comfortable in any season. She's a beautifully finished boat, and her first Fraser Coast summer is open for booking now.
Do you have any specific questions or not sure which vessel suits your groups needs? Give our friendly team a call on 0488 413 210. We'd love to help you plan your self-drive boating holiday and make sure you're comfortable with the bareboating process.
What's Included In Every Charter
Also included: Swim ladder · Electric anchor · Outdoor shower · 12V & 240V power outlets · Cleaning equipment · Tea towels · Matches · Starlink wifi (included on some vessels, or as an add on for $200 - see individual vessels for more information)
Fuel and Additional Costs
Fuel is on the only additional cost on top of your charter fee (outside of any travel insurance which we recommend - see here for details)
For sail vessels fuel is charged by engine hour at end of your charter. Each vessel runs two engines, so the per-hour rate applies per engine:
- Latitude Lady — $10 per engine, per hour ($20/hr total)
- K'gari Breeze — $15 per engine, per hour ($30/hr total)
- Aqua Days — $15 per engine, per hour ($30/hr total)
Power vessels (Aquila Sunrise) is charged differently where the vessel departs with a full tank, and at the end of your charter you'll refuel her at the marina fuel facility and pay for what you've used directly at the pump.
As a general guide, how much you spend on fuel comes down to how much ground you cover. A relaxed charter where you sail more and motor less will use significantly less fuel than one where you're covering distance each day under power.
Why Book With Fraser Island Boat Charters?
We're a local, family-run business that has spent years on these waters and genuinely love sharing it with the world, which makes a difference to your experience.
- Local knowledge you can't Google. Scott (our lead skipper) and our team know the Great Sandy Strait intimately - the best anchorages, the fishing spots, the tide patterns, and the hidden corners that don't make it onto most itineraries. That knowledge is yours from the moment you enquire.
- Honest advice, always. We'll help you choose the right vessel for your group, your budget, and your experience level - even if that means recommending a smaller boat or a shorter trip. We're here for the long term, and that means giving you the right advice, not just closing a booking.
- Award-winning and accredited. Fraser Island Boat Charters is a Best of Queensland Experience operator, Tourism & Events Queensland recognised, winner of multiple Fraser Coast Business and Tourism Awards and Ecotourism certified. You're booking with an operation that takes these waters seriously.
- On the ground, not on a screen. When you book with us, there's a real person on the other end of the phone. Our team is available throughout your charter if you need guidance, reassurance, or just a local recommendation.
Why the Fraser Coast?
The Great Sandy Strait is one of Australia's best-kept bareboat secrets. Calmer, more forgiving waters than the Whitsundays make it ideal for first-time bareboat hirers — while the scenery, wildlife, and sheer scale of K'gari (Fraser Island) deliver an experience that rivals anything in the country.
- Beginner-friendly waters. The Great Sandy Strait's sheltered conditions are ideal for those new to bareboating or looking for a relaxed, low-stress charter experience.
- Less crowded. You'll share anchorages with dolphins and dugongs — not dozens of other charter boats. This is genuinely off-the-beaten-track Australia.
- A globally recognised Whale Heritage Site. Hervey Bay is one of only a handful of locations worldwide (and was the first recognised) as an official Whale Heritage Site. Recognition of the extraordinary quality of whale encounters in these waters. Between July and October, humpback whales gather in the bay to rest and play on their migration north, often approaching vessels out of curiosity.
- More affordable. A comparable charter in other bareboating destinations will cost you significantly more. The Fraser Coast delivers world-class experiences at a fraction of the price.
- K'gari on your doorstep. A UNESCO World Heritage listed island, Fraser Island is only accessible only by water or 4WD — and you'll wake up beside it every morning.
- Easy to get to from anywhere in Australia. Hervey Bay Airport has direct flights from Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, making the Fraser Coast one of the most accessible bareboat destinations in the country. You can be on the water within hours of landing. We are also situated just 3.5 hours drive north of Brisbane for those travelling by car.
