This is your chance to be part of the famous annual Mooloolaba Christmas Boat Parade! Hurry, this trip sells out fast!

Every evening other than 20th of December 20 which is the Mooloolaba Boat Parade, Christmas day (25^th Dec), Boxing day (26^th Dec) and New years Eve (31^st Dec)!

Adults $89.00 & children under 14yrs of age just $69.00!

The Mooloolaba Christmas Boat Parade is a rare, once a year only, chance to have the ultimate Christmas cruise experience!

Why not get a group of friends, family or work colleagues together and make an evening of this inspiring and fun Christmas spectacular!

This Cruise departs at 6pm and returns at 8:30PM.
This Cruise has a 2.5 hour duration.

Every year, during the month of December, the waterfront properties of Mooloolaba, Minyama, and Buddina create a wonderful Christmas light spectacle. The reality is that this is viewable only from the water.

This is your opportunity to enjoy all of this as well as be a part of the now famous Mooloolaba Christmas Boats light parade! A parade in which up to 100 boats compete for the prize of best Christmas boat light display. Properties owners along the water’s edge compete for the prize of best presented display as well. Each year they clearly pull out all stops to have a shot at first prize!

And our vessel, Crusader 1, won this competition in 2020, 2021, 2023 & 2024!

2024’s date has now been confirmed as Saturday the 9th December 2024.

You will truly feel part of this fantastic event as you participate directly in this festival with the prime position to take in both the property Christmas lights and the many vessels, all dressed up amazingly!

From the moment you arrive we want you to feel like like VIP’s. It’s all about comfort and service. Just sign in and take a seat in the outdoor areas here at Tank Bathhouse, taking in the stunning views. A few minutes later we will have you boarding the boat and then we set off.

Enjoy a drink from the onboard bar and maybe even some food while you take in the sunset and then see the annual spectacle that is the Mooloolaba Christmas Boat Parade come to life all around us.

Both adults and children alike will marvel at the displays. And of course you can enjoy the comfort and still have the ability to move around the boat to get the best views.

Everyone at Sunshine Coast Afloat prides themselves on being extremely dedicated and caring towards our guests. Not only will we always provide you with an extremely safe, clean and well appointed vessel, we will, on all trips, try to limit vessel capacity to to the best suited numbers to ensure that you have a safe, comfortable and memorable experience.

Our highly qualified and trained crew are on board to assist in making sure every aspect of your cruise is executed with your enjoyment and safety the absolute focus at all times. From the moment you step aboard they will ensure you have nothing more to do than to sit back enjoy yourself.

No doubt this is why we have, for the last 12 years won the top Tripadvisor awards each year!

Some key points you can expect with Sunshine Coast Afloat on this tour;

We will have a wide range of drinks aboard for you to choose from at prices at or below those of the average tavern! (NO BYO)
2 on deck, modern marine toilets for your use.
Our modern marine (2000W) sound system will be adding to the festive feel by turning our Christmas songs from all eras.
Plenty of comfortable seating ranging from bean bags to lounges and more.

This Mooloolaba Christmas Boat Parade Cruise is fully booked well in advance each year. We strongly recommend booking as early as possible to avoid missing out on this once a year only experience!

We really look forward to seeing you aboard!
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COVID Safe cruising – for detailed information on how we’ve adjusted our tour to be COVID Safe as well as for our fully updated terms click here.

Wondering what the weather might be like? A great place to get an idea up to 7 days out is Seabreeze! or BOM or Willy Weather. Of course please remember that these sites are generalised and focused on the Beach conditions, and as such may not accurately reflect what is happening in the protected waters in the river and canals.

If you have questions relating to this or any of our other tour offerings, our FAQ’S PAGE might be able to assist as well. Of course you can always contact us by phone, email or text.

Please note that other impacts such as phone and agent bookings, weather and other unforeseen things could impact on the availability at the same time as you are requesting the charter online. Our Terms and conditions are available on this webpage ( Click here to view them now ) and will also be emailed to you as part of the booking confirmation.

Come and actually be part of the famous annual Mooloolaba Christmas Boat Parade.

Key Details:

DEPARTURE/RETURN LOCATION

The Pontoon at TANK Bathhouse, 209 Brisbane Road (Service Road), Mooloolaba( Sunshine Coast), Queensland. Australia

DEPARTURE AND RETURN TIMES

The departure time is 6:30 PM with a return anticipated at approx 8:30PM.

Due to the often much heavier traffic on the water the evening of the Boat Parade, the return time can extend up to 30 minutes.

DEPARTURE NOTE

Please arrive 30 minutes prior for a prompt departure. We cannot depart until EVERYONE has properly checked in.

WHAT TO WEAR & BRING

Comfortable clothing, easily removed shoes (PLEASE NOTE THAT NO SHOES ARE PERMITTED TO BE WORN ABOARD!). Bring a rain jacket just in case of a light unexpected sprinkle (Not totally uncommon in December in Qld).

Alcohol can be purchased aboard. NO BYO DRINKS OF ANY KIND! We reserve the right to check bags and other items to ensure drinks are not brought aboard.

no BYO alcohol explanatory sign You are welcome to bring a light snack with you as we do not supply food!

Please note that Crusader 1 is a NON-SMOKING vessel.

No Smoking

INCLUDED

Professional and experienced crew.

Self serve Iced water on arrival.

Self Serve Iced Water aboard.

Bar available for purchases.

Christmas Songs will be playing during the cruise

Crusader 1 will be draped in Christmas lights as well to add to the festive atmosphere.

BYO Light Snacks

NOT INCLUDED

FOOD

BYO DRINKS

What to expect;

Every year, during the month of December only, a large number of the people living in the the waterfront properties of Mooloolaba, Minyama, and Buddina create a wonderful Christmas lights spectacle. And it is designed to be viewable only from the water.

All properties actually compete for the prize of best presented display. And to win the award, each year they clearly pull out all stops to have a shot at first prize! The atmosphere it creates truly brings Christmas to the Sunshine Coast!

To add to the festive feel, many boats operating on the Mooloolah river and canals are also adorned with Christmas lights during this time. But… for the boat parade not only the commercial operators but also many recreational boat owners pull out all stops and create an on-water spectacle that has to be seen to be believed! With up to 100 boats draped in all manner of Christmas lights and decorations, they parade for up to 2 hours in the local waters and are judged on their displays by the local waterfront home owners!

You can not only enjoy but be an actual part of this parade aboard Crusader 1. Crusader 1 actually won the best display in 2020 and in 2021!

Each year we try to outdo the previous year with new light displays designed to impress and delight. 2023 will be no exception!

Come relax and have fun on this fun, gentle cruise, which takes you through the river and main canals of Mooloolaba, Minyama and Buddina. You will experience firsthand the wonderful Christmas Lights on offer by many of the waterfront properties as well as all the other vessels up close firsthand! All while you relax in a fun and comfortable atmosphere aboard one of the largest river cruise vessels on the Sunshine Coast.

With no more than 45 passengers at any time, you will always enjoy total visibility of the lights. This trip last approximately 2 1/2 hours! and sets off just before sunset so that we can all get into the allocated positions in the parade before we head off to take part in the lights spectacle.

This cruise really does offer a very special and personal experience on the protected, and always calm, inland waters. With perfect views of the absolutely amazing efforts made by the property owners, we guarantee you will enjoy a delightful and fun time. This cruise is also ideal for families with young children!

This year food can be brought on a BYO basis, and drinks available from our onboard fully licenced bar.

This cruise continues to grow in popularity each year and is always fully booked well in advance, so please book early to avoid missing out! Come and join us for a wonderful evening of Christmas fun and cheer!

Once we have finished the tour, we will make our way back to our departure point. When we do arrive back at the dock it’s time to disembark and make your way back home (or to another party!?). Luckily our home dock is on the outskirts of Mooloolaba so if you are needing an Uber or taxi, it’s usually not a long wait for one!

Why we think you should join us;

Well frankly, we can think of no better way to enjoy taking in the Christmas lights as well as being an actual part of the boat parade anywhere else! Who wouldn’t like to be looked after, like royalty, on a large quality boat. And while you are taking in the sights and sounds of the festive season (It really does get you into the Christmas mood!) you are assured the best vantage point from which to get the complete visual experience. With awesome music playing, plenty of beer, wine and bubbles (even cocktails!) and of course soft drinks for the little ones or those driving afterward, it is hard to imagine this cruise would do anything other than be an awesome way to spend an evening.

We look forward to having you onboard and celebrating the festive season in style. The Sunshine Coast way! It’s simply the perfect way to celebrate all things Christmas!

Additional Key Details to note:

This tour operates once a year only on the date set by the Mooloolaba Yacht club during the month of December only!

Discounted rates for Children UNDER the age of 14 for this cruise are available.

NO BYO of DRINKS is permitted on these cruises (light snacks are ok).

COVID Safe Cruising – for detailed information on how we’ve adjusted our tour to be COVID Safe and for updated terms click here.

Sunshine Coast Afloat is located within Tank Bathhouse, and operates from the Pontoon located at the rear of the premises at 209 Brisbane Road Mooloolaba Qld.

For a GPS use “Sunshine Coast Afloat” or “209 Brisbane Road Mooloolaba Qld”. In iPhone Maps “Sunshine Coast Afloat” is far more accurate.

Please DO NOT park your car here on the service Road, but rather in the FREE public car-park next to the BP service station across the road.

The location is the corner of Incana Court and Brisbane Road. This parking is free and unlimited in time, and only a 2 minute stroll (100m) from the departure point.

Once parked please wait near the top of the ramp until instructed by the skipper that it is safe to come down the ramp and board the vessel.

Experience the magic of the Mooloolaba Christmas Boat Parade on board Crusader 1.

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BE PART OF THE MOOLOOLABA CHRISTMAS BOAT PARADE