NEWS

Get Into the Spirit with
Relaxing Cruise to Boat Show

16 May 2008

Boat lovers can travel to this year's Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show in luxury on a new ferry service from Marina Mirage.

A former Sydney vessel arrived on the Gold Coast this week to provide stylish rides to the four-day show which starts next Thursday.

The project is the brainchild of Tall Ship managing director Bruce Nicholls who will run two boats, the former Sydney ferry Silver Spirit and his whale-watching vessel MV2000, up to seven times a day to and from the event.

Thousands of boat buffs turn up each year to the event that has become known as the highlight in Australia's recreational boating calendar.

This year the show will celebrate its 20th anniversary with the largest on-water display ever in Australia, with more than 5.1km of on-water boating exhibitors.

Parking is limited at Sanctuary Cove during the show but park-and-ride shuttles will run from Parklands. Water taxis and small ferries will leave from Cleveland, Coomera Waters, Hope Harbour and Runaway Bay.

The vessels leaving from Marina Mirage are able to carry more than 200 passengers on the 50-minute journey and will be fully licensed and stocked with nibbles.

"It will get people in the mood to be browsing at the boat show and they'll get a tour of the waterways as well," said Mr Nicholls. They will skip all the traffic and parking problems and get dropped right in the middle of the show at Sanctuary Cove."

Mr Nicholls plans to start a regular budget ferry service within two months. It will run from Surfers Paradise to Marina Mirage and South Stradbroke Island including Couran Cove.

Read more about Austcorp's Coomera Waters.
Go to Coomera Waters website at www.coomerawaters.com.au.