How do I get my boat licence in the ACT?

While the land-locked Australian Capital Territory offers limited boating opportunities compared to other Australian states and territories, you can still get out on a boat in the ACT in places like Yarralumla Bay, Lake Ginninderra, Lake Tuggeranong, Kingston Harbour, Gungahlin Pond, Yerrabi Pond, and the Molonglo River.

You can also go boating on Lake Burley Griffin, in the heart of the nation’s capital, but powered boats must only use an electric engine – such as Canberra boat rental company, GoBoat – and a permit must be obtained first (see below).

Related: GoBoat gets gonged

Yes and no – let us explain… There is no boating licence or registration scheme in the ACT, and you don’t actually need a boat licence of any kind to pilot a boat at a speed of under 10 knots. However, if you want to go faster than 10 knots, you will have to have a valid boat licence issued by any other Australian state or territory, and you must comply with any condition or restriction that the licence stipulates.

Powerboat registration follows a similar course – to operate a power boat on an ACT waterway, the boat must be registered with another state or territory and any condition or restriction must be observed when the boat is used in the ACT.

For more information on boating usage in the ACT visit the ACT Government’s Access Canberra’s Boating on Canberra Lakes.

For more information on how to get your boat licence in other Australian states and territories, click the relevant link below:

While non-powered craft like sailing boats and canoes or kayaks are permitted on Lake Burley Griffin, powered boats are subject to strict conditions, as set out and administered by the National Capital Authority (NCA).

In the first instance, powered boats may only use electric motors while on Lake Burley Griffin. In this case, any petrol or diesel-powered outboard does not need to be removed but must not be used while on the lake.

The NCA issues permits for powered boats to use Lake Burley Griffin across four categories:

Category 1
Conventional powered boats used as rescue, coaching or judging boats in support of aquatic sports

Category 2
Electrically powered and solar-powered boats and trailerable yachts with auxiliary power (including those power boats which will be using auxiliary power while on Lake Burley Griffin)

Category 3
Boats used for Lake management, special interest boats (such as ‘traditional boats’)

Category 4
Commercial tourist use (e.g. ferries)

For more information on the powered boat permit scheme for Lake Burley Griffin, visit the NCA boat permit web page.