Charter Charter

- Hervey Bay on Queensland’s Fraser Coast offers a host of adventure activities on the water with a little or a lot of adrenalin! Lessons are available in kite surfing, or hire a jetski after a thorough safety briefing. Also for hire are off the beach catamarans and seakarts, which are like a windsurfer but the driver reclines below the sail in a hammock with the controls at their fingertips.

Whale watching cruises are available from Hervey Bay from late July until early November, and in other months visitors enjoy dolphin watching tours, cruises to other natural attractions or try pearl harvesting. A 12.5 metre rigid inflatable conducts a speedy three hour cruise of the Great Sandy Straits or sail through on a purpose built day sailing catamaran on a half day sail to Big Woody Island. Queensland Holidays.com.au.

- Spirit of Tasmania is offering fifty per cent off selected fares when you book to travel between Melbourne and Devonport between 1 May and 31 August. Choose from a range of overnight accommodation options – twin, four berth, deluxe cabin or comfortable ocean recliner.

- Three councils have united to position Moreton Bay and Islands as one of Queensland’s premier coastal destinations. Moreton Bay and Islands is home to pristine sand islands, sparkling blue waters, a marine sanctuary, stunning hinterlands and coastal villages offering a myriad of adventure activities, all within 30 minutes travel time from Brisbane’s city centre.

- Captain Cook Cruises’ Fijian cruise vessel, MV Reef Endeavour, now offers a pick-up service for guests staying at Mamanuca Island resorts. The new service will see Endeavour moor off Honeymoon Island at 6pm every Saturday night, allowing guests who are staying on the island to take a small ship to transfer direct to the vessel for the commencement of their three or seven night Yasawa Islands cruise. As a result of the cruise line’s decision other islands are all now offering free boat transfers to the Endeavour.

- The International Maritime Organisation has banned the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil on ships which operate in Antarctic waters. The move effectively bans larger ships from visiting Antarctica. Smaller ships must use light marine gas oil which disperses quickly in water and minimises the environmental impact of any leaks. Check out Cruise Weekly.com.au for more details.

- Noosa Dreamboats offer personalised Noosa River cruises for up to five passengers aboard a six metre handcrafted mahogany runabout, Noosa Dream, built in the style of the classic 1940s and 1950s American powerboats. Cruise around Noosa Sound then pick up speed and head up river towards Tewantin and Lake Cooroibah.

- Whitsunday Rent a Yacht, located at Shute Harbour, was one of the businesses hardest hit by March's Cyclone Ului. But after days without power, phones, and email and a damage bill of more than $2 million, they're now back in business, albeit with a smaller fleet, but new boats are arriving in July.

- The latest edition to the Freedom Fast Cats Fleet is the Freedom Monarch, a new 305-seat luxury catamaran especially designed for cruising Keppel Bay off Central Queensland. Freedom Fast Cats offer transfers to Great Keppel Island from Yepoon, as well as scenic lunch cruises, coral cruises, fish feeding tours and boom netting. The new vessel features three decks, a top deck for sun-bathing, air-conditioning, wheelchair access, a kiosk, large tinted windows, seven LCD screens and extra wide walkways. 

Photograph: Jetski action on Hervey Bay