RIVER REVELRY
- Donna Rishton
- Sep 2
- 4 min read
Spring signals the unofficial start of river season on the east coast. The days are longer, the tides friendlier, and the waterways are calling. With rivers like the Brunswick and Tweed winding through landscapes both lush and laid-back, there’s no better way to enjoy the region than from the waterline. From floating cocktail bars and houseboat holidays, to feasts of wild flavours and eco-adventures with heart, the river is your springtime playground. So, trade your winter boots for boat shoes, gather your crew, and dive into something new.
WRITTEN BY DONNA RISHTON-POTTER
ALL THINGS GOLDEN
It’s not often something completely new hits the Northern Rivers’
hospitality scene, but MV Jasmine feels like the missing piece of
the puzzle. Anchored on the sparkling Brunswick River, this elegant,
custom-built, Mediterranean-inspired vessel is the region’s first and
only floating cocktail bar and dining experience. Two levels and
18-metres of refined design and curated detail, this adults-only
playground is equal parts private yacht and boutique bar, with a
mood that’s all slow pleasure and sun-dappled sophistication.
Everything on board is considered, from the soulful low-fi beats
drifting through the sound system, to the small-batch spirits and
handcrafted cocktails infused with locally foraged botanicals. The
evolving seasonal menu, designed by onboard chefs, completes
the picture. MV Jasmine isn’t just a cruise. It’s a scene.
Launching this spring, she’s available for private charter or select
ticketed events, including the standout Linger Longer Lunch
Cruise, a languid, golden-hour affair. For $120 per person, guests
enjoy three hours of uninterrupted views, polished service, and
exceptional food. Expect a set-menu lunch showcasing local
flavours, a curated cocktail and wine list, and a playlist of soulful,
low-key tunes.
Salty air, sun-kissed, and set to make waves as the go-to for
birthdays, sunset soirees or entertaining out-of-towners, this pretty
flower of the sea is as sensory as she is sublime.
Set your course for golden hour. MV Jasmine is waiting.
A FLOATING FEAST OF FLAVOURS
If you like your river revelry with a side of storytelling, Tweed
Escapes delivers more than just a cruise. This eco-conscious tour
and charter operator specialises in immersive adventures across
the Tweed and Gold Coast, weaving sustainability, local food, and
cultural insight into one unforgettable day on the water.
Hop aboard The Spirit of Wollumbin for the new Wild Food
Experience, a six-course floating feast that brings the essence
of the region to your plate. Think unshucked barbecued oysters
kissed with Manuka honey and sea salt flakes, fingerlime-cured
kingfish and prawn with pops of pineapple and native pigface,
and flaky sand crab mornay with macadamia butter. From saltbush
damper with Davidson plum reduction to brown butter toffee
cream, each dish celebrates the river’s rich bounty and Australia’s
native ingredients.
Add a 2.5-hour cruise, live music and Indigenous storytelling,
and you’ve got a flavour-first journey on Bundjalung Country;
one that floats, feasts, connects and inspires. This is the Tweed,
told beautifully.
PURPOSE MEETS WONDER
For those who prefer their cruising slow, scenic and soul-nourishing,
Tweed Eco Cruises has been setting the standard since 1988.
With an ethos rooted in environmental stewardship and regional
storytelling, this long-standing local business offers nature-first
cruising with heart and purpose.
Operating a fleet of three, each cruise offers a different way to
experience the region’s natural beauty, flavours and stories.
From the serene River and Rainforest Lunch Cruise — a three-hour
journey through lush mangroves and scenic river landscapes,
paired with a fresh, locally sourced meal — to the Bushtucker and
Crab Catching Adventure, perfect for families keen to get hands-on,
there’s something for every explorer.
Prefer a mellow start? The Fisherman’s Friend Morning Tea Cruise
serves baked treats, lemon myrtle tea and a dose of early morning
magic. And, when the sun dips low, the Sunset Cruise brings
cocktails, tunes and sweeping hinterland views.
Eco-accredited and community-focused, Tweed Eco Cruises
collaborates with schools and regional producers to deliver
meaningful experiences that blend education, entertainment and
the effortless beauty of the river.
FLOAT YOUR BOAT
If your idea of river revelry involves full immersion and a touch of
freedom, Berger Houseboats might just be your dream spring
escape. Moored on the sparkling waters of the Tweed, this
family-run operation has been helping guests captain their own
cruising holidays for over 30 years. No boat licence required.
With the largest and most modern houseboat fleet on the river,
you can choose from 14 spacious vessels. Each comes with full
kitchens, roomy lounges and generous outdoor decks made for
fishing, feasting or doing absolutely nothing. Travelling with a
crew? Opt for a multi-boat hire and turn the Tweed into your
own floating neighbourhood.
Only got a day? Their BBQ boats, which fit up to 12 people, are
perfect for all kinds of get-togethers, from spring birthdays
and pre-wedding parties to those “let’s do something fun” Saturdays.
Whether you're casting a line, swimming off the deck or just here
to cruise, it’s all about whatever floats your boat.
SHIP YES!
Keen to set sail beyond the Northern Rivers? Point your compass
to the Gold Coast, where Holy Ship is moored an waiting to wow.
Anchored at Marina Mirage, this one-of-a-kind floating bar and
restaurant delivers big on character and even more on style.
Set aboard two beautifully restored 1970s timber trawlers, FV Havana
and Austral Eagle, Holy Ship blends laid-back luxury with a coastal
cool factor that’s hard to beat.
While the vessels no longer roam open waters, you can still enjoy
panoramic views of the Broadwater, trawler-fresh seafood and
flowing cocktails. The vibe is informal yet elevated, ideal for long
lunches, golden hour drinks or private celebrations with a nautical
twist. From oysters and trawler bugs to tap wines and local beers,
the menu salutes the ships’ salty past while serving up plenty of
modern polish.
Fresh eats and waterfront seats? Right this way, me hearties. Drop
anchor, settle in and raise a glass to the
sea gods.
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