Terms and conditions for boats and paddle craft hire.
Payment: Full payment will be required at the time of booking and it is not refundable.
Customer cancellation: If at least 24 hours notice is given by customers wishing to cancel their booking, any funds paid will become credit, able to be used at a later date to pay for any further hires within 12 months of the canceled booking.
If less than 24 hours notice is given by customers wishing to cancel their booking, then the following percentage of booking fees will be forfeited.
50% of hire fee any day, apart from Public Holidays.
100% of the hire fee for all public holiday bookings.
The full hire fee will still apply for any customers arriving late to their booking, or returning back from their booking early, though the time may be adjusted if adequate notice has been given.
Rescheduling:
The reschedule policy is the same as the cancellation policy, in which customers wishing to reschedule their booking must give 24 hours notice in order to not forfeit a percentage of their hire, as shown below.
If you try to reschedule your booking less than 24 hours prior to the hire, you will lose:
50% of hire fee any day, apart from Public Holidays.
100% of the hire fee for all public holiday bookings.
The reschedule policy still applies if the customer is rescheduling due to unfavorable weather on the day of hire. Please note: rain, wind or cool temperatures are not ‘unsafe conditions’ on their own. No refunds or free reschedules will be given for unfavorable weather, unless the conditions on (or forecast for) the local waterway are deemed to be unsafe for our hire boats, which will be determined by Swan Boat Hire staff at the time of hire.
Customers who have given 24 hours of notice are welcome to reschedule up to two times, within 12 months of the original booking.
Cancellations by Swan Boat Hire: If Swan Boat Hire determines that the weather conditions and/or forecast on the Maroochy River at the time of the hire are unsafe for our hire boats, customers will be able to reschedule at no charge, subject to availability. Local conditions are to be deemed as unsafe if necessary by Swan Boat Hire staff at the scheduled time of the hire.
Please note: rain, wind or cool temperatures are not ‘unsafe conditions’ on their own. No refunds or free reschedules will be given for unfavorable weather, unless the conditions on (or forecast for) the local waterway are deemed to be unsafe for our hire boats, which will be determined by Swan Boat Hire staff at the time of hire.
Once customers who have not given 24 hours of notice have forfeited their fee (as shown above) they are welcome to use the remainder of their credit to reschedule up to two times, within 12 months of the original booking.
Boat Problems: Although our fleet of boats is very well maintained, they are still subject to wear and tear which occasionally results in mechanical breakdown, furthermore, irresponsible actions of a previous hirer may also prompt the need for necessary repairs. In both of these unlikely scenarios, we will do our best to offer you an alternative solution, whether that be a free upgrade into a bigger boat, or a free reschedule to a later date. If we are unable to offer you an alternate solution to your satisfaction, we will cancel your booking and refund any monies paid.
Arrival: We require the driver of the boat to be here 30 minutes prior to their hire, in order to complete the necessary paperwork, attend the safety briefing and listen to complete run through of the map. Any customers arriving more than 30 minutes late to their hire must give adequate notice, or it will be assumed that the customer will not be coming. All boats must come back on time, or else pay compensation for the extra time spent out.
Conditions of Hire: The hirer is required to be at least 18 years of age for boats and paddle craft. They must provide photo ID and mobile phone number on the day of hire. On the day of hire you will be requested to complete our hire agreement which contains the conditions relating to the hire.
Tying boats together: Boats are not able to be rafted/tied up together with other vessels at any time.
Alcohol: Any person who arrives intoxicated or showing signs of substance abuse will not be permitted on boat.
BOAT HIRE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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8:00am-4:30pm for hire and 7:30-4:30pm for the shop 7 days (weather permitting)
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We are in a food/retail van parked in a car park opposite 71 Bradman Avenue Maroochydore, adjacent to the BBQ area and right next to the beach where the boats are moored.
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Anyone over the age of 18, who is under their blood alcohol level limit can hire our boats.
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A boating licence is not required as we provide detailed tuition on safe boating practice, navigation and observing speed limits. A car license or passport is required as a form of photo identification. We do not have any fast boats that require licenced drivers.
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We sell bait, tackle, ice, drinks, snack food, ice cream, hats and sunscreen.
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We hire fishing rods, buckets, knives and cutting boards and eskies.
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If you need to cancel, contact us as soon as possible on 0403601452 or via email: [email protected]. If 24 hours notice is given the hire fee will be held by Swan Boat Hire and you have 12 months to reschedule another hire. If 24 hours’ notice isn’t given a portion of your hire fee will be forfeited. 50% of the hire fee will be forfeited year-round, apart from public holidays where 100% will be forfeited.
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Yes we are pet friendly on all of our boats and paddle craft. We suggest bringing some water and a bowl for your pet to drink from. Please clean up any mess left by your pet on returning the hire craft.
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It is essential that the hirer brings photo identification for both boat and paddle craft hire. Payment in the form of cash, debit or credit card is available or you can book online. We recommend hirers bring clothing appropriate to the weather and sun protection.
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Paddle craft can be used between the river mouth and wetland sanctuary along with up the creeks and Maroochy Waters canal system. Talk to one of friendly staff members to determine what the wind and tides are predicted to be during your hire to determine the best route.
All boats can be operated between the river mouth and wetland sanctuary along with up the creeks and Maroochy Waters canal system.All boats can be operated between the river mouth and wetland sanctuary along with up the creeks and Maroochy Waters canal system.
Tides, wind and swell need to be taken into consideration on the day and may limit access to certain areas.
A Map of the Water system can be downloaded HERE
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Yes you can beach the paddle craft, small and bbq boats on plenty of beach and sand bank areas in the lower river for a picnic, swim, explore, fish and to let your children or animals run around. During our briefing we will outline the best beaches and sand banks to pull up to with regards to the prevailing conditions and tides.
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Yes there are several option:
- The Waterfront Hotel is in Eudlo Creek and has a jetty you pull up to.
- Rivershore Resort is in Petrie Creek and also has a jetty to moor at. This is a great location to pick up takeaway coffee.
- The Boat Shed restaurant at Cotton Tree near the public Swimming Pool have dine in and takeaway options.
- Pull into the boat ramp area adjacent to the jetty upstream of Bli Bli bridge and walk about 80m to the local shops which include IGA, bakery, Subway, cafe and sushi.
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Hirers are encouraged to book in advance to avoid disappointment on the day. Weekends, public holidays, school holidays and special occasions such as Father’s Day are our busiest times, particularly with the BBQ Pontoons and Cruisers. They can often be booked weeks and months in advance. You can check availability and book online at our website anytime.
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Australian Maritime Safety Authority Regulations prohibit all hire craft approaching the Maroochy River mouth or crossing the bar into the ocean; doing so would result in termination of hire. All craft at Swan Boat Hire are licensed and equipped for calm water use only – meaning rivers, canals or creeks. The area between the southern tip of North Shore and the northern end of Cotton Tree beach adjacent to the river mouth entrance is prohibited to cross between, due to shallow sand banks, strong current, wind and swell (please refer to map).
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Fuel and gas are included in the hire fee.
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All hire craft are hirable during daylight hours only and will be booked in around our operating hours at that time of the year.
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E.g. during a three hour hire, use two hours in the morning and one hour later in the afternoon?
Hirers must take the amount of time booked in one block. Splitting up a hire period is not permitted in any craft.