GoBoat to launch eco picnic boats in Brisbane River

A fleet of eco picnic boats that allow pets and eight passengers have cleared council red tape and are set to ply the Brisbane River.

A fun new way to experience the Brisbane River is set to launch in May.

A fleet of six eco-friendly “picnic boats’’ will start plying the waters from their base at Breakfast Creek.

The boats aremade from eco-friendly recycled materials and have an electric engine. Picture: Lean Timms

The 5.5-metre long vessels, made from recycled timber and bottles, are shaded and have a central table big enough for eight passengers.

They’re quiet and free of fumes too, humming along thanks to a German electric engine.

The picnic boats, already in Melbourne, are coming to Brisbane. Picture: Tony Gough

Perhaps best of all, patrons don’t require a boating licence and can BYO all their own food and alcohol.

Even pets are allowed on board. What could possibly go wrong?

Patrons will be able to bring their own food, drink and pets. Picture: Lean Timms

The company behind the venture, GoBoat, originally launched in Copenhagen in 2014 and has spread out across Europe since then.

It kicked off operations Down Under in 2017 and has already established a foothold at Sanctuary Cove, as well as Melbourne’s Yarra River and Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin.

All up there are 36 of the nifty little vessels across Australia and more are on the way.

GoBoat will launch in May. Picture: Lean Timms

The head of the Brisbane operation, Nick Tyrrell, hoped to be up and running already but a wicked combination of the pandemic and a bit of Brisbane City Council red tape set back the timetable.

In a good omen, some days have already sold out ahead of the launch.

Prices start at $109 for one hour, which is not bad if split eight ways.

Two hours will set you back $189 and three hours costs $229.