This Christmas,why not give someone special the unique and unforgettable experience of riding in a gorgeous, handcrafted mahogany classic power boat on the beautiful Noosa River?

There’s something simply captivating about the sight and throaty sound of a classic wooden powerboat.

And the experience of riding in one, as it skims along the water, is totally unique. You’re taken back to a golden era of boating when boats were designed to be sleek, speedy and beautiful.

Noosa Dreamboats offers unique classic boat cruise experiences on the Noosa River and lakes. In addition to cruises, there are pampering spa and cruise packages, indulgent restaurant and cruise packages and romantic catered sandbar picnic escapes.

Gift vouchers are available for all our cruise and package experiences.

Christmas 2011 gift vouchers can be redeemed until March 31 2013, which allows plenty of time for your lucky recipient to book their classic boat experience with us.

A Noosa Dreamboats Christmas 2011 gift voucher will provide someone special memories that will last a lifetime.

Contact us by email at info@noosadreamboats.com.au or use our contact form today to inquire about a gift voucher.

Cheers,

Michael and Sandy.

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Noosa’s annual celebration of classic and timber boats was held last Saturday at the Noosa Marina, Tewantin and was again a wonderful day out for us and fellow classic boat enthusiasts. It was a sparkling spring day, with some occasional cloud cover which made things not too unpleasant and we were greeted with some old favourites as well as some beautiful new or previously unshown craft.

One of the beauties was only 3 weeks completed, fresh from it’s maker Kevin’s shed, and it was a knockout. Miss Rose was 3 years in the making and is a stunning display of craftsmanship and attention to detail.

The very new and lovely Miss Rose, with Lulu behind

We also enjoyed seeing one of our favourite Noosa boats – Liberty – back again, especially as it’s owner nearly didn’t make the regatta, as he had just flown in from the US overnight and was without his boat keys. However, a strong will overcame  that problem and he hot wired the boat to make sure he didn’t miss the proceedings!  Liberty is a 1950′s Chris Craft Capri. Another boat we had not seen before was in attendance – a 1955 Chris Craft Riviera aptly called Fifties Chic. This lovely runabout has come to Australia from Lake Tahoe, and Saturday was her first run in salt water.

Fifties Chic, travelling beside Noosa Dream, on the way to Lake Cooroibah

Not all the boats on display were highly varnished mahogany boats. Some of the loveliest were very simple, elegant rowboats or pretty cruisers, including Marianne and Lady Pamela.

Lovely Row Boats at the Noosa Classic Boat Regatta 2011

Lovely classic cruisers including Lady Pamela

This year saw a change to the programme and after a couple of hours or so at the Marina, the boats headed upriver – with the fast boats reaching Lake Cooroibah, before heading back to Woods Bay in Noosa Sound for a BYO picnic for all crews. Noosa Journal photographer Andrew Seymour (thanks for the pic Andrew) snapped this shot of our happy crew on the Noosa Dream during this run up the river.

Noosa Dream at speed during the Noosa Classic Boat Regatta 2011

The picnic at Woods Bay was a lovely way to end the day – enjoying great food and wine and chatting with the other owners and crew. It also gave another opportunity for the boats to be on display to the public, at the beach.

A very pretty trio - Liberty, Noosa Dream & Fifties Chic at Woods Bay

If you missed this years Regatta, it is on the first Saturday of November every year…so make sure to put the 2012 date – Nov 3 – in your diary. If you love craftsmanship, beauty, the warmth of timber and the water, it really is a treat. Oh and a lot of men’s favourite part is the chance to see up close the powerful engines that are usually hidden behind those mahogany panels.

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With the advent of digital photography, many of us no longer get our photos printed. Instead we view them on our computers and possibly use some as screensavers. But that doesn’t work so well for sharing.

A very lovely friend of mine started a few years ago getting small photobooks printed of their holidays and special events and now has a lovely collection of mini books that just take you back to that special time or place. As the key models for us when we launched our business she also did a Noosa Dreamboats book, from the photos we supplied of them. And it is fantastic.

I loved this idea and always enjoy flicking through their books when visiting, so after much procrastination I started putting together some books of our own, starting with a book each for our two boys and then some photo books of amazing places we have been to including South America and Mexico. I also did a Noosa Dreamboats book featuring fantastic cruise photos and images we have taken in and around the Noosa River.

Noosa Dreamboats Photo Book

The latter (pictured above) has been a great tool for us showing people in the travel industry what we do and how much fun our customers have. And friends love flicking through the pages as it sits on our coffee table.

So….the obvious thing was to offer it as an option for our customers. We currently take a few photos and email them to customers after each cruise. But now, if we know before the cruise that you would like a personal  photo book we take more photos and add them to some of our best river photographs in a 20 page,  gorgeous high quality photo book. The front cover is an image wrap hard cover and can be of you as a couple or group in the Noosa Dream, or we can use our own boat photo for the cover.

We want this to be a lasting memento that will give you many hours and years of pleasure, so the photos are printed on premium lustre finish photo paper and the hard cover book is machine stitched. It comes in a landscape format  25cm wide by 20 cm high.

Noosa Dreamboats photo book - example page

If you would like to have your own photo book of your very special Noosa Dreamboats cruise please let Sandy or Michael know when booking your cruise, or let Michael know when he meets you at the jetty. The pricing details are on the river cruises and packages pages of the website.

Noosa Dreamboats photo book -page example (detail)

Happy Cruising,

Sandy

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One of the things I love about being skipper of the Noosa Dream is the opportunity to be in company with people who are really enjoying themselves and relishing their experience of riding in a classic boat while being surrounded by the beauty of the Noosa River and Lakes.

You just know that these are the moments in life that create special memories.

Recently some stunning days and evenings have showcased the Noosa River particularly well. I’ve had my camera handy to capture some of the special scenes that nature has provided.

Crossing Lake Cooroibah at speed. The hinterland views are great!

The reflections on the lake can be amazing too.

One of my favourite times on the river is the late afternoon. Noosa has amazing light which bathes everything in gold as the last hour or two of daylight unfolds.

We love heading out to the river mouth as the sky turns to gold

Sometimes there are thousands of birds out there.

Last week the clouds created a wonderful mood as the sun was setting. Often they can be vermillion. On this day, the grey clouds had their own beauty.

Sunset over Noosaville

Then as the dusk comes, the sky and river take on beautiful tones of purple, gold and blue. Sometimes the best shots are just before dark.

Noosa Dream heading home at Sunset.

And with the last of the light, the atmosphere can be amazing.

Sunset over Weyba Creek

These are just some of the wonderful views you can experience on the beautiful Noosa River.

Come out soon and have a look for yourself.

Cheers,

Michael

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Why not give Dad the unforgettable experience of zooming up the Noosa River in a gorgeous, handcrafted mahogany classic power boat as his Fathers’ Day gift.

There’s something simply captivating about the sight and throaty sound of a classic wooden powerboat.

And the experience of riding in one, as it skims along the water, is totally unique. You’re taken back to the golden era of boating when boats were designed to be sleek, speedy and beautiful.

Dads of all ages just love riding in classic boats !

Woo Hoo ... is this fast enough?

A Noosa Dreamboats gift voucher will give Dad ( and his fortunate guests ) memories that will last a lifetime. Gift Vouchers are available for all our different cruise options and for our special packages too. Call us on 0414 990 708 to discuss the different options.

Special Fathers’ Day offer

Purchase a Noosa Dreamboats Gift Voucher for Fathers’ Day and receive a complimentary Noosa Dreamboats classic boat T Shirt for Dad.

Note: This special offer is only available with gift vouchers purchased before Sunday 4 September 2011 and you must mention the T Shirt bonus when ordering to receive this gift.

Cheers for now,

Skipper Michael

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Hidden on the Noosa River lies Makepeace Island, the private Australian home of Sir Richard Branson.

Until now, this idyllic and remote Balinese inspired island retreat has been the private domain of Sir Richard Branson and his Australian business partner, Brett Godfrey. Only available for family and close friends.

Makepeace Island Noosa River *

Today it was announced that Makepeace Island will be available for private hire, on an exclusive “all of island” basis. Rates will start at AUD $7,900 per day and the inclusions are suitably extensive.

Will you be one of the first to hire this slice of paradise on the Noosa River?

If you do, may we suggest complementing your island hire with a thrilling ride on the Noosa River and lakes on our gorgeous, hand crafted mahogany classic power boat, Noosa Dream. We would be delighted to collect you and drop you off at your private beach on Makepeace Island.

En route to Makepeace Island

If your holiday plans don’t quite extend to hiring your own private island, we can still give you a taste of that billionaire lifestyle with a private,exclusive classic boat cruise departing from the Sheraton wharf at Noosa Heads or other locations by arrangement.

On your chauffeured cruise you will experience the natural beauty of the Noosa River and its lakes, discover Makepeace Island (and perhaps see who is staying there) and enjoy the timelessness and glamour  of riding in a hand crafted 1940′s inspired mahogany powerboat.

Towards the Noosa river mouth on board Noosa Dream

The arrival of Makepeace Island as an exclusive and unique new tourism destination on the Sunshine Coast is wonderful news.

Cheers for now,

Michael

* Island photo sourced from Makepeace Island website.

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Noosa, at the northern end of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast is renowned for its beaches, the Noosa national park, Hastings Street  shopping and dining and the beautiful Noosa River. Of course there is also the stunning hinterland, which offers fantastic day trip possibilities and lots of fresh air and lovely views of the coast and country.

Less well known to many is the fact that Noosa is also surrounded by 6 wonderful lakes. These are Lake Weyba, Doonella Lake, Lake Cooroibah, Lake Cootharaba, Lake Cooloola and Lake Como.

Noosa Dream crosses Lake Cooroibah on the June long weekend 2011

Lake Weyba is a large, shallow and tidal lake that sits inland from Castaways Breach and Marcus Beach. It is joined to the Noosa River by Weyba Creek and the best way to visit the lake from Noosa Sound is by canoe or small boat, as the approaches are quite shallow at low tide.

Doonella Lake is a small and very shallow lake near Tewantin. Its entrance is immediately adjacent to the Noosa Marina, where there are restaurants, shops and a ferry stop.

Noosa River, Makepeace Island and Lake Cooroibah

Lake Cooroibah is a beautiful large lake to the north of Tewantin. It lies just beyond Makepeace Island, the private retreat of Sir Richard Branson.

Lake Cooroibah is shallow with a well marked channel crossing its Eastern section. The southern entrance to the lake is a favourite fishing spot for locals. Lake Cooroibah offers wonderful views of the hinterland and some of the mountains nearby, including Mt. Cooroy, Mt Tinbeerwah and Mt. Cooroora. At the Northern end of the lake there is also a small island which reveals a sandbar that is just perfect for picnics at low tide.

Reflections crossing Lake Cooroibah - June long weekend 2011

To the North of Lake Cooroibah lies Lake Cootharaba, the largest of the Noosa lakes. Lake Cootharaba lies within the Cooloola National Park and is home to Boreen Point. It’s also the gateway to the Noosa Everglades. Beyond Cootharaba, lies Lake Como which is accessible by boat and Lake Cooloola, which is a freshwater lake that is land locked.

Noosa Dream entering Lake Cootharaba on a Noosa Dreamboats cruise

So when you are next visiting the Noosa region, consider allowing some time to see some of Noosa’s great lakes.

It doesn’t take long to travel up the river on a fast boat like the Noosa Dream and if you appreciate natural beauty, views and solitude you will surely enjoy exploring this less well known dimension of Noosa.

Cheers for now,

Michael

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Recently we received some exciting news! Noosa Dreamboats has just been awarded a 2011 Certificate of Excellence by the leading travel website, TripAdvisor. The accolade is awarded to attractions that consistently receive excellent ratings from travelers.

To qualify for the Award, businesses must maintain an average rating of four or higher out of a possible five, as reviewed by travelers on TripAdvisor. Additional criteria include volume of reviews and how recently they have been submitted.

Noosa Dreamboats  received the maximum possible rating of five out of five in all the reviews placed by customers on the TripAdvisor website.

Sandy and I love sharing the experience of riding in a handmade, mahogany classic American powerboat surrounded by the natural beauty of the Noosa River and lakes.

One of the best things about what we do is helping people celebrate special occasions in their lives in a really memorable way.

When we learned that we had been awarded the 2011 Certificate of Excellence based on reviews by our customers, we were absolutely thrilled.

Cheers,
Michael and Sandy

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Well it’s  the end of a long Easter and ANZAC Day holiday weekend and what a fantastic time it has been in Noosa !

For the most part the weather was just brilliant with several of those amazing, blue sky days for which Queensland is world renowned.

Noosa was busier than we have seen in a long time and it was wonderful to see the streets, shops, restaurants, beach and the river teeming with people enjoying themselves. I can’t recall seeing so many boats full of people on the water in ages.

We  had Noosa Dream out amidst the amazing conditions over the weekend, and had the pleasure of hosting some family groups as they explored the river and lakes on our lovely classic boat.

Family fun on the Noosa Dream

Our guests are often couples or groups of adults celebrating a special occasion, which is fantastic to be part of.

Having children on board often adds an element of spontaneity and fun that’s really delightful and that was the case again this weekend as we raced up the river with 3 young boys from country Queensland in the back, while Dad kept me company up front.

It was also our pleasure this weekend to host a lovely family from Victoria on a private picnic cruise on the Noosa River. This was a surprise trip, organised by Mum for Dad and 2 lovely teenage daughters.

Family picnic cruise on the Noosa River

We all had a great time, and it was a lovely surprise to receive this message from Mum after the experience:

Cheers for now,

Michael

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A few weeks ago we had a call from Tourism Queensland, on behalf of Tourism Australia. They were letting us know that Tourism Australia was sponsoring the second annual YouTube Symphony Orchestra, which was culminating in a huge concert at the Sydney Opera House on the 20th of March  2011. Tourism Australia had seen images of our Noosa Dreamboats cruises and asked if we would take a couple of the 2011 YouTube musicians out on the Noosa Dream, as they travelled the Fraser Coast and Sunshine Coast gaining inspiration for a songwriting and musical collaboration. Not a typical cruise for us – but with film crew in tow to record the event, one we couldn’t say no to.

I recalled seeing stories about a year ago on ABC TV about the inaugural YouTube Symphony Orchestra, which flew classical musicians from all around the world to New York City for a concert. Aspiring musicians post audition tapes on YouTube and a panel of professional musicians wade their way through the thousands of submissions to select an extremely talented and dedicated group of classical artists keen to showcase their talents to the world.

This year, four of the selected musicians had the additional privilege of traveling to Australia a few weeks before the Grand Finale and working with local musicians to produce an original piece of music, inspired in some way by their travels. We were lucky enough to have YouTube Orchestra member Samuel Blair (a Bassoonist) and Australian Indie pop musician Stu Cullen join us for some fun on the Noosa River.

Samuel Blair and Stu Cullen on the Noosa Dream

The weather could not have been more perfect for the two young musicians who were loving their travels in this beautiful part of the world and really enjoying making music together. Noosa was sparkling and Samuel and Stu seemed very relaxed with both local photographers popping by and the film crew following their journey.

Lots of media attention for the YouTube Symphony Orchestra travel of Sam and Stu

It was great to show off our beautiful Noosa river and waterways and judging by the grins on their faces, the boys really enjoyed themselves, especially when we picked up speed.

Samuel Blair and Stu Cullen enjoying the Noosa river with Noosa Dreamboats

Stu and Samuel’s journey to Canberra, Fraser Island, The Glasshouse Mountains, Noosa and Coolum were beautifully recorded by Grainger Productions and the resulting video is a gorgeous showcase of both their talent and the stunning places they visited. Judging from the comments from those who have watched the video so far (more than 240,000 views as I write), everyone is loving both their music and the scenery. Check it out for yourself at:

Samuel Blair and Stu Cullen: YouTube Symphony Orchestra 2011 Making Tracks in Queensland and ACT

Since we got to spend some time with Stu and Samuel, they have travelled to Sydney and after a week of rehearsals the YouTube Symphony Orchestra performed for a packed crowd at the Opera House last Sunday night.

You can see the Grand Finale concert here:

YouTube Symphony Orchestra 2011 Grand Finale – Sydney, Australia

Great to see such innovation and brilliant use of the technology of today to bring together such talent. We wish all the participants a wonderful career in their chosen musical fields and hope they return to see more of Australia some day.

Thanks for the opportunity to be a part of a fantastic event.

Sandy and Michael.

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