Mooloolaba Cruises,
the Saltwater Way
Sunset cruises with live music, Bushtucker dining and private charters aboard Spray of the Coral Coast, departing The Wharf Mooloolaba.
Calm waterways, a heritage-listed timber ketch, a native botanical cocktail in your hand and a local musician playing as the sky turns pink, orange and gold. Our Mooloolaba cruises won the 2024 and 2025 Best of Sunshine Coast ‘Experience’ Award, and more than 500 guests have left us five-star reviews.
We’re a family-owned, Indigenous-founded crew, and Mooloolaba is home. Every cruise is built around culture, community, live music and the stories of this coast, from Sunset Cruises with Live Music to the Bushtucker Cruise and private charters. A cruise with us isn’t just a boat ride. It’s how you meet Mooloolaba.
- Sunset Cruises with Live Music from local and touring artists, playing a full set at golden hour
- Signature Bushtucker Cruise with native-inspired seafood and cocktails infused with Australian botanicals
- Private charters for weddings, birthdays and corporate celebrations, up to 32 guests
- Aboard Spray of the Coral Coast, a heritage-listed timber sailing vessel more than a century old
- Departing The Wharf Mooloolaba, 123 Parkyn Parade
Check dates and
book your Mooloolaba cruise online
│ Or call 0447 085 521
Choose your Mooloolaba cruise
When you cruise Mooloolaba with us you’re choosing between four very different ways onto the water, from an 8am paddle through the mangroves to a golden-hour gig on deck. Getting on the water sits near the top of most lists of things to do in Mooloolaba, Queensland, so pick by how you want the day to feel.
A cruise with a story
Spray of the Coral Coast was built in 1908 to the plans of the original Spray, the yacht Joshua Slocum sailed alone around the world. She came through a Melbourne storm in the 1940s and the 2013 Bundaberg floods. After restoration she was relaunched in Mooloolaba and listed as a heritage vessel by the Australian National Maritime Museum in 2021. Step aboard and it’s timber decks, real rigging and a century of stories under the varnish.
Saltwater Eco Tours was founded by Simon Thornalley, a Torres Strait Islander man born on the Sunshine Coast and raised on timber boats by parents who were sailors and environmentalists. Alongside his partner Jenna, Kabi Kabi Traditional Owner Aunty Bridgette Chilli and a close-knit crew, Simon set out to connect culture to coast. Every Mooloolaba boat cruise celebrates this place through food, music, culture and conversation, and cares for the Country we share.
SAIL BACK IN TIME
Welcome aboard the “Spray of the Coral Coast”, a 118 year old, classic 58ft gaff-rigged Huon-pine ketch with a fascinating history of its own
Saltwater Eco Tours Blog
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Mooloolaba cruise should we pick?
For a first visit or a special evening, book the Sunset Cruise with Live Music. Food lovers should book the Bushtucker Cruise for the native-inspired menu and the stories of Country. Celebrating something? A private charter makes Spray of the Coral Coast yours for two to four hours. Early risers and families after a hands-on morning should look at our Accessible Guided Canoe Tours, which set off at 8am.
Are the cruises suitable for kids and older guests?
Yes. The cruises are relaxed and welcoming for all ages, and the calm waterways of the Mooloolah River mean gentle cruising rather than open-sea sailing. Infants aged 0 to 2 cruise free on the Sunset Cruise. If anyone in your group has mobility considerations, get in touch before booking and we’ll talk you through the best option.
What happens if the weather turns bad?
The sheltered waters of the Mooloolah River mean most conditions are comfortably cruisable. If weather makes a departure unsafe or unpleasant, we’ll be in touch to reschedule or resolve your booking in line with our booking terms. Call any time if the sky looks questionable and we’ll tell you where things stand.
Can we book the whole boat for a celebration?
Yes, and private charters are some of our favourite days on the water. Exclusive hire runs two to four hours with catering, live music and storytelling shaped to your occasion. Tell us what you’re celebrating and we’ll build the cruise around it.
Where do the Mooloolaba cruises depart from?
The Wharf Mooloolaba, 123 Parkyn Parade, in the heart of the Sunshine Coast. Head to the marina entrance behind Spero restaurant and follow the jetty to the blue tower. Spray of the Coral Coast is the one with the timber masts. There’s plenty of parking at The Wharf, mostly 4-hour limits, so allow extra time on weekends, and there’s a bus stop directly outside if you’d rather arrive the greener way.
Come aboard and experience Mooloolaba the Saltwater way.
Book your Mooloolaba canal cruise online, or call Saltwater Eco Tours on 0447 085 521
