Atkinson’s Specialist Shuttles, Hervey Bay Hat Co for sale as owners travel

A kind-hearted surfer turned shuttle driver, who brought a unique door-to-door service for travel between the Bay and Brisbane and his now wife, who opened a Noosa-style hat boutique on the beachfront, are selling up after falling in love and embarking on a sailing trip around the world.

He’s the smiling driver who picks up weary travellers and medical patients across the Fraser Coast, getting them safely to airports, cruise terminals and hospitals at all hours.

She’s the savvy Sunshine Coast style queen he fell in love with during surfing trips to Noosa before she moved to Hervey Bay too and opened a beachfront boutique.

Now, after investing in the region and marrying, loved up couple Steve and Tracy Atkinson are selling their businesses and setting sail for their next adventure.

Atkinson’s Specialist Shuttles has been servicing Maryborough, Hervey Bay and surrounds for almost a decade.

Originally from the Gold Coast, Steve moved to Hervey Bay to recuperate from an accident in Bali.

His parents had retired here and he quickly realised there was a hole in the market.

Fraser Coast locals needed the ability to travel to Brisbane and back in one day, without needing to catch trains, major bus lines or limousines.

Atkinson’s Specialist Shuttles has been servicing Maryborough, Hervey Bay and beyond for nine years.

From trips to the airport, hospitals and cruise ship transfers, Atkinson Shuttles does two to three runs to Brisbane per day, seven days a week.

Steve said his business grew quickly since its beginnings, and has continued to thrive even amid the Covid pandemic.

While the shuttle service, which gets passengers to Brisbane by early morning, were appealing for many locals, it was essential for pensioners and the older generation who could be picked up from their front door and taken straight to where they needed to be on time and without having to conquer city transit.

He hopes the business will be the right fit for the right person.

“The businesses aren’t going to go, they’ll probably just change ownership, or they probably won’t change branding and they won’t change the concept,” he said.

“It’s the people that shape the management …

“It’s a chance for somebody else to come in and have two very successful businesses.”

Tracy and Steve Atkinson are selling their businesses to prepare for a life at sea for the next few years.

Tracy is the owner of Hervey Bay Hat Co.

She started her business three and a half years ago from a “dream”.

“And it has just snowballed, it is a crazy little business, it’s become a shopping destination,” she said

The couple met around five years ago while Steve was surfing in Noosa – and the rest is history.

Tracy was a Noosa local and moved to Hervey Bay after the pair had been dating for a few years.

“She knew my dream was to live on a yacht and sail the world and in 2020 I bought a little sail boat and rebuilt that and she loved it so much so when we sold it she said ‘We need a bigger boat’,” he said.

“So we bought a bigger boat.”

Last year the pair became the proud owners of ‘Sunkissed ‘n’ Salty’.

They have been living on the yacht for two months, preparing for a life on the sea for the next four to five years.

“Tracy fell in love with the idea and in 2021 we sat down and crunched the numbers and decided to sell cause the market was right,” he said.

“A lot of people were showing a lot of interest and asking us about the businesses and stuff so we put them on the market …”

Steve and Tracy Atkinson will set sail on their yacht 'Sunkissed 'n' Salty' after the sales of their businesses. Photo Credit: Steve Atkinson.

As a project during Covid, Steve said he bought an old boat and refurbished it.

“Life is too short and that a pandemic can stop you and confine you to such a point, well, mental health you’ve still got to keep yourself mentally healthy,” he said.

“So during Covid, I rebuilt a boat.

“I bought an old boat, rebuilt it from the ground up …”

The project sparked the idea to buy Sunkissed ‘n’ Salty to fulfil the dream of sailing around the world.

The couple plans to set sail within a month or two of selling their businesses.

Tracy hopes the new owner of Hervey Bay Hat Co will continue with the idea of the shop, and perhaps expand the line.

“It’s just such a great, great shop, it’s a real niche that people love to come to and get that personal experience,” she said.

“It would be a real shame to kind of lose that …

“The world is your oyster with my business.”

She said the couple was excited to embark on their yacht journey, and had loved living on-board so far.

“It’s definitely a lifestyle change which I’ve really enjoyed, it’s very enlightening,” she said.

As for where they will travel, the sky was the limit.

“Wherever the wind takes us,” she said

“But we’d love to do the Whitsundays and south down to Pittwater.

“Our vision is to travel the world but I’m not sure where that’ll take us, life has many twists and turns.”