Queensland Yacht Charters
Queensland Yacht Charters
4
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
For over 30 years, Queensland Yacht Charters member of Dream Yacht Charter have been providing exceptional bareboat yacht charters in the tropical paradise of the Whitsundays. Our team take pride in providing an unparalleled charter experience; we seek quality in everything we do. Choose your own itinerary & have the holiday of a lifetime with Queensland Yacht Charters.
Airlie Beach, Queensland, Australia

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.0
39 reviews
Excellent
27
Very good
3
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
7

Peter Gibbs
Rome, Italy7 contributions
Jan. 2023
Unprofessional Operation – Plenty of Alternatives

A group of six of us chartered a five cabin Fountaine Pajot Saona 47 for seven days in January 2023 from Queensland Yacht Charter and encountered many boat problems along with unprofessional & hostile charter management.
1. Lost a day because the generator was faulty. Partly because of this, the boat briefing was spasmodic and disjointed (briefer claimed first time to brief on this boat) as he was also dealing with the tender’s fuel tank not being full, replacing the missing ice chest, filling the boats water tank and agreeing the BBQ was unclean but didn’t have the time to address it.
2. Rain leak in starboard saloon and the boat was delivered with tarpaulin that had to be rearranged to slow the leaks. (Cushions sodden wet, had to be stripped and dried over following 2 days)
3. Dead and live cockroaches in cabins, saloon, and cockpit (6 instances)
4. Main outhaul was chaffed, unsafe to the extent we stopped using the sail.
5. Forward port cabin hatch also taped up to prevent rain from entering.
6. Shore power leads (all three connectors) were full of water and tripped the dock relay. We had to disassemble, dried and taped with plastic. (QYC accuses we dropped in the water, we did not)
7. 2 x AC’s not working (stern port cabin front saloon unit) and both fail to cool air.
There were several other more debatable issues but given Dream Yacht Charter’s blameless responses and complete unwillingness to take any responsibility we let these issues speak for themselves.
We were offered a refund for 1 ½ days rental, which we declined in preference for sharing our experience in the hope others reconsider using such a shoddy operator as Dream Yacht Charter (their other brand) & Queensland Yacht Charters)
Written 26 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andrew R
Crescent Head, Australia15 contributions
Oct. 2022 • Friends
Well to start we were not greated by any one.had to find own boat.secondly the boat was in average to poor maintenance. Had mechanical failures during our trip.we were asked to return to the marina due to prop falling off.so three days were spent in airlie beach marina with no communication from company and when they decided to talk. They blamed the hole maintenance issue's on us.they refused to assist us in a distress call on three occasions. Have now reported them to the Australian marine safety authorities. On three breeches of safety.please beware of this company at airlie all they want is your money. No customer service.i will be reporting the general manager to the main company as he is totally to blame.
Written 31 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. Your feedback is important, and we rely on hearing from our guests to ensure we’re doing a great job. As you shared in your review, this was not the case for you and for this, we do apologize. Our customers are the heart of our business, and their experience is important to us. We understand you’re feeling disappointed about the loss of time on your Charter due to the damage to the vessel and damage to the prop incurred by the dragging of the anchor, from not enough chain being released, against the advice given to you by your Briefer in a 4 hour briefing prior to your Charter, which caused you to return early to the base for us to put the vessel on the hardstand to repair it, so the next Charter could proceed, and further Charter guests were not disappointed. Unfortunately, as the damage required that the vessel be put on the hardstand to be repaired you were not able to continue your Charter, we can understand your disappointment in this. As you know we have sent you an email regarding this matter and we have been in constant communication with you, during your Charter to assist with your concerns including prompt service from our Operations Team in sending a Yacht rigger to Hamilton Island to assist you with an issue you had with the rigging, as well as constant radio communication with you during your Charter with 2 daily Radio scheds. Despite you reporting your incorrect location, which we would have advised was unsuitable, had you given us your correct location, the damage to your vessel may have been avoided, however, we managed to assist you with several of our Operations Team members on your return. If you’d like to chat further , please do not hesitate to contact us, as you know our team is here at the Base 7 days a week, available to help you. Thank you, again, for taking the time to share a review with us.” Charter Manager Queensland Yacht Charters
Written 3 November 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

emma
Brisbane, Australia2 contributions
Oct. 2022 • Family
We have had a great trip with QYC on Sunquest. The briefing we were given by Gary was very thorough and informative for some rookies. We managed to go without any incidents and had spectacular weather. Thank you QYC for making this a memorable holiday
Written 2 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for Review, we are glad you enjoyed your holiday on Sunquest. We will pass on your thanks to Gary, and we look forward to welcoming you back as seasoned sailors, with a new experience under your belt. Remember to use your repeat Charter discount, when you book your next Charter with us. It makes our day to hear that we have contributed to a memorable holiday experience here in the Whitsundays. The QYC Team.
Written 2 November 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

MarieMarieMarieD
Mornington Peninsula, Australia9 contributions
Aug. 2022 • Friends
Elysian: navigational equipment not updated so had to use our phones, one engine had an issue, bad water leak 4th cabin, wet mattress and linen. Blocked toilet in one bathroom, fuel stench in one cabin. Chartered a sailing vessel, we were informed last minute that we could only use the head sail. Non transparency when asked why pre and post charter, Still don’t know why and asked for a return phone call - still waiting. Disappointed and did not meet our expectations. Will not be sailing with this company again.
Written 28 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for sharing your insights with us. It’s hard for us to hear that you had a negative experience, as we always do our best to provide our customers with the best support possible. We endeavor to address your issues promptly and are working to remedy any issues you had. We generally advise to only use the headsail when our Briefer's advise us that the Charterer's lack experience. I apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you and sincerely appreciate you taking the time to offer helpful suggestions. Please reach out if you have any further questions or concerns. The QYC TEAM.
Written 2 November 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

nicholas w
Melbourne, Australia1 contribution
Jul. 2022 • Family
The advice and help from the QYC was second to none from the beginning with booking the right boat, communication, the whole way through.We would absolutely recommend them to family and friends.

Every day was an adventure, we would wake up and go exploring.
Written 24 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kerrie F
Queensland, Australia2 contributions
Mar. 2022 • Couples
Best honeymoon ever. After a the whirl of wedding week it was great to have time for our selves. Friendly helpf staff from the start and right through to the end. Great fun and memories galore! Thankyou for the gift cheers Mark & Kerrie
Written 18 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

onthewater55
Brisbane, Australia1 contribution
Nov. 2021
Our charter was through an agent in the November 2021, and the boat was operated and supplied by Queensland Yacht Charters; here is a list of some of the issues we had:
• The waste holding tanks filled much more quickly than referenced in the boats operating manual. The manual suggested they had the capacity for a duration of 24 hours between “dumps”. In reality it was 12 hours, and once full, the effluent would bypass the tanks and into the ocean. Unfortunately, the overflow outlets are located midships on each side of the vessel, and high on the topsides just below the toe rail. As you can imagine, it would run down the topsides and leave a foul - smelling stain. As the gauge for the waste tank was inoperable, I had no warning when the tanks were reaching their capacity.
• All hatches and vents in the cabins leaked in heavy rain, leaving the bed linen and bedding soaked. We encountered two downpours on our charter. This is not unusual in the tropics at this time of year. After one storm, I had no alternative but to head into Hamilton Island for the night, to dry out our bedding in the laundry. When I advised QYC about the situation on the afternoon sked, I was told it was “seasonal” and that boat structures move during the change of season, and leaks develop. That has to be the biggest porky I’ve heard in a long time. The marina manager was not impressed by the waste discharging from the overflow, as described above.
• There was also a leak in the main saloon, when it rained. We had to buy a mop at Hamilton to dry out the galley and saloon.
• The outboard for the dinghy spluttered to a stand-still on nearly every occasion we used it to go ashore. It seemed to me that the plugs were fouling. As a result, we were confined to using it to go ashore directly upwind of the mother ship, so it could blow back and be retrieved. This was very disconcerting to my inexperienced crew members.
• The deck light was inoperable.
• The foredeck speakers were inoperable.
• Four ceiling lights in the aft saloon area were inoperable. We purchased a string of battery powered fairy lights to eat our evening meals.
• The touch screen multi - function control panel in the nav station was useless. The person conducting the pre-charter briefing couldn’t even bring that to life.
• The aft end of the mainsail turtle (bag) was shredded and did not adequately contain the bottom third of the leach of the main. The sail started to blow out at one stage, and I had to climb along the boom and lash it down. A fairly challenging experience in a thunder storm.
• The boat was infested with cockroaches’, and two of our crew awoke on the last morning to find a couple of them in their bed.
• The sliding doors to the heads often fell off their tracks.
• We were supplied a broom with a broken handle to sweep the boat. Yet QYC expected the vessel returned in a clean and tidy state, which it was after considerable effort.
I’ve been sailing, and around boats for 56 years. I have competed in 6 x Sydney to Hobart races and many other renowned ocean racing regattas worldwide.
The boat we were supplied is called Rinaldo and is advertised on the QYC website as 2015 vintage. I would estimate it to be at least 10 years old, or alternatively, it has been very poorly maintained. That was my 10th charter in the Whitsundays, and Rinaldo is by far the worst boat I have been supplied. Some of the issues I have highlighted above are reasonably serious health and safety issues, and the concerning thing for me is: would the safety equipment have properly functioned if we had the need to use it. My name is John Casey.
Written 24 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi John Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to hear you did not enjoy your charter with us. Unfortunately the vessel you originally booked was joining our fleet from an overseas base, however due to COVID related delays with the shipping company she did not arrive in time for your charter. We were pleased to be able to provide another vessel so your holiday could still proceed and although this was communicated to the agent you booked through along with a partial refund, it would seem this important information was not passed on to you. Rinaldo is no longer in our fleet, however all our vessels are maintained to a high standard including a full check before each charter. Occasionally mechanical or electrical failures can happen whilst the vessel is on charter and we endeavour to resolve these issues as soon as possible. I note your concern with Rinaldo’s holding tanks, however there has never been any mention of this by any other charterers. The advice you received by our Operations Manager regarding hatches leaking is correct. Catamarans do flex and move and although we run fire hoses over our hatches, it is not until there is a heavy down pour that rain will actually ingress. Regards
Written 31 January 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jeanine L
1 contribution
May 2021
We saved for a while to go on this trip, when we arrived at the office we were greeted with” we are so busy” not a good start. We stayed the night in the marina, the briefing we got was inadequate, it turns out that fridge was a a very good freezer and everything that we put in the fridge froze overnight, this became a issue later on, also the stink from the head was unbearable, we ended up mounting a fan in the sky light and blowing as much of the smell as we could.. it was awful for the rest of the trip..the boat was beyond tired, it should of been retired 4 years ago, there is no signs of maintenance of any kind, things were falling apart, damp was rising in the bulk heads and in general the boat was not worth the money we saved and spent. The staff were overworked and kept telling us that the boat was tired...... but my money was not....... when we got the briefing the next day the Epirb was missing and only after asking a few times did we eventually get a brand new one..... they also replaced the anchor as it was rusted through the blade, thanks to the insistence of the briefer, surely the previous renter told them this !!! All in all a disappointing charter, Dream yacht charters should be embarrassed as it seems other boats from this company had major issues on the water as well, never again with this company.
Written 15 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Queensland Yacht Charters (owner) Dear Sir/Madam, thank you for your review. We appreciate all feedback. Might I say that there is a lot more to this issue and there are always 2 sides, it's very easy to post anonymously and vent and not give the whole side of events. We have a process here to investigate what happens and if there is a failure with the vessel, with our team or if it is the Charterer's negligence or inexperience, ( if they are not boat people or have very little experience on boats issues can be overwhelming - we understand, its not an apartment, its a boat and we listen to you and help as much as we can) we investigate and act accordingly to resolve the issue. If something is not reported promptly or not at all until after the Charter, by a Charter guest, or if there is a mechanical issue requiring a replacement part, we can only do what we can do, to assist with the information provided. This can take a little time, as you can surely understand and as you can understand, we do our best to rectify a situation promptly, which was done. We have been in constant communication with you, to resolve your issues, your issues were resolved, in a very prompt manner and we are very disappointed that after all of the time energy and work put in by us to accommodate you, instead of a thank you, you choose to vent publicly, with one side of your story. Regarding the smell, for people not used to boats and toilets on boats, the smell from the bilge is not something that people are used to, and for some people who are sensitive to smell it can be unpleasant, however, we have products in each bathroom for the toilets that can be used to minimise this as instructed in your Briefing. Regarding the Briefing not being adequate, our briefings are 4 hours, and extremely comprehensive, the briefer goes over the whole boat with you, including the fridges and the systems on board, you are given very clear instructions on how things work and whether a fridge is a freezer or not. I can understand that some of the information may not be "taken in" all at once and things like mistaking a freezer for a fridge can happen, however, as a Charter client, it's up to you to ask questions during your briefing and be very clear that you understand the instructions as when you are on your Charter you are in charge of the vessel. As you know we have 2 Radio Scheds per day in which you can ask any questions you may have and receive support, you can also call the Base outside of the Scheds on the radio or if in range on your phone - you are instructed about this during your briefing. We are in constant contact with you and its important that you let us know promptly during your Charter that you have issues so we can help you. Sometimes issues happen with boats, as with cars or any other piece of machinery - that is unforeseen and not in anyone's control, its a fact of working with boats, cars or anything else with an engine and moving parts, especially on the water - we do our best to fix it promptly, if we can't, we do our best to offer an alternative for you, so you can enjoy your holiday in the Whitsundays. As a team we all work very hard, including upper management, who are very hands on, we have to be, we have a really great team who are dedicated to looking after you the Charter Guest and that comes from us working together, there is no "upper management hierarchy here". We have over 34 boats going out every day, every year - comparatively, we have very few issues, when there is an issue we resolve it. This is the problem with these review platforms, the reviewer can be anonymous, can say whatever they like, with impunity, we as a business are bound to do the right thing, we have a duty of care to our clients to act appropriately - which we did, to the satisfaction of the client. To be honest it upsets us greatly that people choose to post a bad review rather than speaking to us, we understand that a Charter is not a cheap holiday, and we are here every day 7 days a week looking after people, it's what we do. Our aim is always to make sure that your holiday with us is an enjoyable carefree experience and we do this every day, as a team working together, we have many very happy Charter Guest's and we are very disappointed that despite our very best efforts, sometimes we cannot please everyone. Regards The QYC TEAM
Written 15 June 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Expedition396769
3 contributions
Apr. 2021 • Family
DO NOT CHARTER WITH THIS COMPANY - an absolutely disappointing experience from start to end - our second charter with QYC and both times the auto pilot was not working and we were not advised prior to arriving from Melbourne . The boat Neko was very poorly maintained with cable ties holding broken sails and nets together - the mainsail came off the mast on first use. The company was largely uncontactable even at scheduled check in times. They made no effort to contact us even after a lengthy email listing our concerns and dissatisfaction. Our charter was delayed due to covid and they doubled the price for the rebook. We were told our preferred boat was booked and yet it was being taken out for the week by staff and their family while we were there. They are yet to communicate with us on any of it. DO NOT CHARTER with this company is our advice - there are many better options .
I could go on .... broken, old and dirty kitchen utensils . Interior is old and worn out . Fridge door broken. Doors are stiff with age. Safety rails are loose and move. Bedroom door handle came off in my hand. No support at all during the sail . All training done by contractors who do not take responsibility at all for the state of the boat . No one at all of the staff have a care factor for providing any sort of customer service. Very very dismayed with the whole experience. Much better boats and service available- use it !!
Written 11 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Sir/Madam, thank you for your review. We appreciate all feedback. It is very difficult for us when an anonymous review is posted that we cannot address. We have a process here to investigate what happens and if there is a failure with the vessel, with our team or if it is the Charterer's negligence or inexperience, ( if they are not boat people or have very little experience on boats issues can be overwhelming - we understand, its not an apartment, its a boat and we listen to you and help as much as we can) we investigate and act accordingly to resolve the issue. If something is not reported promptly or not at all until after the Charter, by a Charter guest, or if there is a mechanical issue requiring a replacement part, we can only do what we can do, to assist with the information provided. This can take a little time, as you can surely understand and as you can understand, we do our best to rectify a situation promptly, which was done. We have been in constant communication with you, to resolve your issues, your issues were resolved, in a very prompt manner and we are very disappointed that after all of the time energy and work put in by us to accommodate you, instead of a thank you, you choose to vent publicly, with one side of your story. Regarding the Briefing not being adequate, our briefings are 4 hours, and extremely comprehensive, the briefer goes over the whole boat with you, including the fridges and the systems on board, you are given very clear instructions on how things work. I can understand that some of the information may not be "taken in" all at once, however, as a Charter client, it's your responsibility ask questions during your briefing and to be very clear that you understand the instructions - as when you are on your Charter you are in charge of the vessel. It's your responsibility as a Charter Client to identify any issues you have at the time of the briefing, and during your Charter and communicate with us so we can help you. Regarding being largely uncontactable - As you know we have 2 Radio Scheds per day in which you can ask any questions you may have and receive support, you can also call the Base outside of the Scheds on the radio or if in range on your phone - you are instructed about this during your briefing. We also have a chase boat which we can send our OPs staff to assist you to manage any urgent issues that cannot be dealt with by phone instruction. We are in constant contact with you and its important that you let us know promptly during your Charter that you have issues so we can help you. Sometimes issues happen with boats, as with cars or any other piece of machinery - that is unforeseen and not in anyone's control, its a fact of working with boats, cars or anything else with an engine and moving parts, especially on the water - we do our best to fix it promptly, if we can't, we do our best to offer an alternative for you, so you can enjoy your holiday in the Whitsundays. As a team we all work very hard, including upper management, who are very hands on, we have to be, we have a really great team who are dedicated to looking after you the Charter Guest and that comes from us working together, there is no "upper management hierarchy here". We have over 34 boats going out every day, every year - comparatively, we have very few issues, when there is an issue we resolve it. This is the problem with these review platforms, the reviewer can be anonymous, can say whatever they like, with impunity, we as a business are bound to do the right thing, we have a duty of care to our clients to act appropriately - which we did. To be honest it upsets us greatly that people choose to post a bad review rather than speaking to us directly, we understand that a Charter is not a cheap holiday, and we are here every day 7 days a week looking after people, it's what we do. Please do not hesitate to email us or call us to resolve any further issues that you have, and let us know who you are. We are happy to listen to you and to assist you, we understand we don't always get things right, however, we take your feedback on board and our aim is to remedy that situation. Our aim is always to make sure that your holiday with us is an enjoyable carefree experience and we do this every day, as a team working together, we have many very happy Charter Guest's and we are very disappointed that despite our very best efforts, sometimes we cannot please everyone. Regards The QYC TEAM
Written 15 June 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

David h
Terrigal, Australia16 contributions
Feb. 2021
Amazing charter of the Lagoon 500.
We have just returned from having a week on board this amazing vessel.
QYC were so professional and could not do enough to assist us. Nothing was to much trouble. From the fist contact via email to the last contact on return they treated us like Family. On a large vessel minor things are always requiring attention. QYC even came out to our vessel to fix a minor issue with the tender motor.
The attention to detail including a three hour briefing
Written 8 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Queensland Yacht Charters: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)