Surfers Paradise, with its shimmering ocean, beautiful people and gleaming skyscrapers, is probably the perfect setting for a WHAM film clip. But I’m not here to make music, I’m here for the boats: decadent yachts, sleek catamarans, private sail boats and public ferries that all glide along at a relaxing crawl.
That’s why one of them really stands out from the crowd. Ocean Jet is a sleek black and red dream machine that looks like a cross between a race car and a catamaran. And it is fast. Very, very fast*.
Oh yeah!
We arrive at the Ocean Jet dock, where we are greeted and shown to the boat. The gull-wing doors (yes, I did just learn that term) open upwards to allow us to climb into the air-conditioned interior; even when closed they still allow perfect views of the pristine harbour. The seats are straight out of a race car and come complete with harness. We strap ourselves in as the skipper gives us a brief safety rundown and tells us about the boat. His enthusiasm is catching and we’re all excited when the engines start with an impressive roar.
Feel the power!
The boat purrs along on our way out to open ocean. From here Surfers Paradise puts on its best show, with a picturesque vista of the beach and impressive skyline. However, the real fun starts when we reach the Pacific proper. The boat races towards the waves, then comes to an abrupt stop, allowing the crest to crash over us. There are 360-degree spins galore, eliciting shrieks of delight, and we crash through wave after wave with speed and power that’s truly awesome.
And you don’t even need a wetsuit
The fun continues through the Broadwater and as we slow down to head back to shore our skipper points out the sights. We cruise past the opulent Palazzo Versace and the bright colours of Sea World, then towards the marina. The boat comes to a smooth stop at its moor and we step out grinning and, best of all, dry. The Gold Coast may be known for its thrills but there are none quite like this. It’s one hell of a ride!
*For those of you interested in the technical aspects, the boat has 880HP with twin 5.8L, 640kg turbocharged Yanmar engines, making it capable of speeds up to 90km/h in the open ocean. YEOWZA!
Book an Ocean Jet ride for yourself here.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve done on the Gold Coast? Tell us about it in the comments!