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Marinas in Australia that allow houseboat living.

by Nicole

Any marinas that allow houseboat living in Australia?

Any marinas that allow houseboat living in Australia?

Looking to find any marinas in Australia that allow houseboat living? I am hoping to find a list of Marina's in Australia that allow living aboard....


So far, with much difficulty speaking to different states, I have only been able to establish that this is allowed in Southern Australia....

Oh, and if there are any other aussie houseboat sites similar to this great site, can someone please let me know...

I appreciate any ideas for this complete novice wanting to escape the rat race and enjoy a much simpler life...

Cheers, Nicole.




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Reply - Answer
Well Nicole, congratulations on your decision to escape the "rat race" and decide to live on a houseboat in Australia. Sounds like a dream come true for a major lifestyle change. I guess you can tell that "my opinion is a little biased" :)

As to finding a list of marinas in Australia that allow houseboat living, I know that there are many that allow it, however unfortunately I don't have any names :(

However, I do have some great news, I know that Australian visitors represent a large percentage of our incoming traffic, so I am confident that many will leaving valuable comments and names for you. I have always found that many of the Australian boaters are a very friendly and helpful group.


Lastly, hopefully some of our readers will share and post comments about their houseboat living experiences in Australia. Feel free to use the "Click here to post comments." link found at the bottom of this page.


Thanks again for sharing, IAN from all-about-houseboats


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Comments for Marinas in Australia that allow houseboat living.

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Click here to add your own comments

Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Yes you can!
by: Anonymous

Mannum Waters Marina allows live aboard houseboats. The marina is a "Community Corporation" and has 155 individually owned berths. Many are available to rent but vacancies are few and far between. Fabulous place to live.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Houseboat
by: Anonymous

Hi I got a great houseboat to move from lake Eldon to Brisbane but unfortunately had to stop sale as there are no black water facilities on any of the Brisbane rivers we wanted to anchor. So before buying check out type of toilet n can you empty it also water is your other need a lot houseboats take their water straight from lake if wanted for Scarborough etc would have to install a water tank. The other thing I found nobody has mentioned is that to be in any of the marinas you will need a public liability insurance of 10m that what I was informed when calling marinas.i wanted a houseboat for of grid living and the peaceful lifestyle as well but Queensland says keep our waterways clean yet minute amount of facilities available.hope this has been helpful.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Houseboat fulltime living.
by: Anonymous

Blanchetown Marina, South Australia allows this. Expect to pay around seventy dollars per week, plus electricity on top of this figure.(At 2022)
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Love to rent a houseboat permanently
by: PamN

Rental houseboats seem very hard to find, but I see there is one on this page at Bribie which would be perfect.I am not sure where permanent boat moorings are at Bribie.....
I would very much like to know about any unfurnished houseboats (Would need fridge?) not too far from Brisbane.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		House boat
by: Anonymousdean

Hi is anyone looking for a house boat to rent my house boat is 12metres x 5 metres has two bedrooms the boat can be rented fully furnished I would be putting it in a marina around Bribie Island so if anyone looking for long term rent off houseboat give me a call 0428222232
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Permanent live aboard's in Australia
by: Trevor

You will find that there are lots of marina's in Australia that allow live aboard's. The best way to find them is to find an area where you would like to live and visit the marina's website.

My partner and I have just recently purchased an old houseboat to rebuild and live on and we are on the Sunshine Coast (old), where there are a few marina's around here who allow live aboard's.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Introducing THE PETERSEN MODULE...
by: Ed Petersen

Looking for a home on the water?... we'll get you afloat anywhere Australia wide! We are a Sydney based Architectural company and floating home builder that invented and constructs THE PETERSEN MODULE.

Floating homes are different from your average house-boat, our floating homes are actual houses that float on water on a sturdy, rotation molded, specially fused plastic hull that is 100% maintenance free in a permanent position, on a swing-mooring or berthed in a private marina. Yes, you read right, NO anti-fouling or cleaning of the hull needed.

The Modules are 100% self-sufficient, meaning they include solar power and on-board drinking water production that allows afloat living on any approved site, at your heart's desire; with no utility bills to pay. Yes you have read right once again, NO utility bills to pay.

We also specialize in sourcing live-aboard approved sites Australia wide; deliver and onsite assemble your brand new Petersen Module anywhere, within 6 weeks.

Our service includes everything you need to make your dream of a floating home come true in a one, all inclusive package.

Contact us for a friendly chat about your new floating home project. Kindest regards, Ed Petersen
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Architect Designed Floating Homes
by: Ed Petersen

The Petersen Module has been featured over 2 pages in the Bow2Stern Boating Magazine and is an Australian invention that represents an alternative housing option for the person who'd love to live on the water.

We have allocated moorings in the North-shore area of Sydney where you can enjoy a pristine lifestyle for just under $120k.

We'll design and build for you within 6 weeks and provide the mooring for your brand new floating home all included. Google our website and ask questions, look for THE PETERSEN MODULE.

Looking forward hearing from you, Ed Petersen
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Houseboat dream busted
by: Anonymous

Would love once again to live on a houseboat. I tried several years ago but was told I had to go into a marina.

If I wished to move around the broad water I had only 21 days then I had to vacate the broad water. I would have loved the freedom, but not tied up in a marina.

Reg Bob
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Looking to permanently rent to buy a houseboat on the gold coast
by: Kim

You may think I am dreaming but I am hoping that you may be able to offer me some advice (assistance). I have always wanted to live on the water and after 7 years renting a property in Broadbeach I have to move.

I feel that now is the time to explore the options and follow my dream but don't have enough in the coffers to buy a houseboat on the gold coast qld outright immediately.

Do people permanently let/rent houseboats and if so who do I contact? A friend also suggested I offer to rent to buy, so I thought I'd give you a giggle and just ask!

Thank you, Kim
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Liveaboard Marinas
by: Jen

Hi, I am currently looking into liveaboard options for my husband and myself. This Christmas we travelled from 1770 in Qld to Noosa and found 3 places that might work for liveaboards. 1 was Agnes water/1770 itself.

A friendly guy at the 1770 Marina said that there were a few HB on the waters around 1770 and appeared to have liveaboards. 2ndly we found the Newport Marina, near Scarborough and the Scarborough Marina itself 1/2 an hour north of Brisbane welcome liveaboards (although their space is limited).

I hope this helps! I love this website and it is certainly progressing my plans with all your help and advice. Thank you

Jen
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Future marinas for full time living
by: Ed Petersen

We are Floatin House Designers and Builders and would like to introduce our MARK I and MARK II designs.

Although with our help you can look for your own mooring at a private marina anywhere in NSW for weekend living only.

We are working on an area called AQUATOWN where in the near future, moorings and berthings will be available for permanent living on our Floating Homes.

Kindest regards, Ed Petersen
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Floating Home, The Module
by: Anonymous

Just wanted to share with you our new Module (Floating Home). It is a fully self contained water home which is a fraction of the price of a water front house. Its best features include:

- Desalinization Water
- Solar panel Electricity
- Fully kitted modern house hold appliances
- Registerable as a vessel

Cheers, Lachlan Rogers
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Looking to Rent Houseboat in Australia
by: Amanda

I am looking for a houseboat to rent that I can live on through my year long stay in Australia. Is there any resources available?

Thank you, Amanda
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Houseboat Marinas
by: marnie

I'm based on the Gold Coast QLD there is a large houseboat community here and most of the marinas allow live aboard on houseboats.

We also have a local houseboat builder based here I believe they are called Havana Houseboats and have a number of boats around the area. Friends of ours living on one at Hope Harbour Marina and it costs them $8000 per year that also includes all of your water and power so it is a smart move your considering.

All the best with your sea change. Marnie
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Houseboat Living - finding marina's to live on
by: Jo

Hi Nicole, I can understand your frustration trying to find somewhere that you can live permanently on your houseboat. My husband and I decided to live on a houseboat in Western Australia and found that due to the laws on the Swan River that this was not allowed.

However this same law does not cover the Mandurah Estuary, so we started to ask at the marinas in this area and found that even though it was legal to live on the Estuary, the marina's didn't allow it.

Then when we were looking at a houseboat for sale we found at a private marina in Port Bouvard that allows permanent houseboat living and has several people already living permanently there.

The problem with Western Australia is that the houseboats here are few and expensive compared to what they're selling in South Australia, Victoria and Queensland, so these are things you need to weigh up.

My suggestion is to decide which state you want to live in, then check the laws on permanent houseboat living for each body of water there, then ring around the marina's especially the private ones because they set their own rules.

An easy way to find the marina's is to look around the waterways on the map, the marina's are quite distinctive looking. Find the name of it on the map, then ring directory assistance for the phone number or Google it.

Another way to find marina's to live on is to look at houseboats for sale that say you can live aboard and find out where they are moored. Lake Eildon seems to be popular for this and some parts of the Murray River in South Australia.

I hope I've been some help. Jo

Reply - Answer
Jo, I appreciate that you took the time to answer the original poster, as this information will help many houseboaters.

IAN from www.all-about-houseboats.com
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Australian marinas for houseboat living
by: Anonymous

HI Nicole, there is a marina guide online which lists contacts for every marina in Australia. Might be of use to you if you want to work the phones and start calling them to find out which ones allow liveaboards. www.marinasguide.com.au
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Aussie House Boat Marinas [gold Coast]
by: Nafa

Hi Nicole, there are a number of Marinas on the waterways in and around what we call the Broadwater, that cater to house boats.

The Moreton Bay Marine park encompasses a massive area of safe anchorages especially for slower moving vessels with shallow draft.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife or Tourism qld will only be too pleased to answer any questions you may have. I have found them very helpful I also live on my houseboat in this area.

Hope this helps, Nafa
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Murray River Marinas
by: Mark

Not sure if my last post made it, so I'll try again.

If you are interested in marinas on the Murray River that allow permanent residents, try this link http://www.planning.sa.gov.au/go/river-murray-marinas

Look for a link to the "River Murray Marinas - Supply and Demand Study (2005)". At this rear of this document it lists the marinas, their location and the number of permanents. There are also location maps.

Don't worry about what the Draft Marina Strategy says, it has been sent back to be re-drafted after the public savaged it.

The primary private houseboat/cruiser association in SA is the River Murray Boat Owners Association http://www.rmboa.org.au


Reply - Answer
Well Mark, thanks for the great information.

IAN from www.all-about-houseboats.com
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		South Australian Housboat Living
by: Mark

There are quite a few marinas on the Murray River in South Australia that allow live-aboards.

The question would be whether they have vacancies and if they are below Lock 1 (Blanchetown) whether they have enough water because of the drought.

In South Australia, you can currently be an itinerant, that is, moving up and down the river. I have met a few people doing this. Some have a small car on the back deck, others drive the car to the next town and then catch a bus back to their boat.

If you want a list of marinas along the river, Try this link http://www.planning.sa.gov.au/go/river-murray-marinas and look for the "Supply and Demand Study" as it provides details about the marinas along the river in 2005. It is still pretty current, although some of the marinas below Lock 1 (Blanchetown) are effectively closed due to low river levels caused by the drought.

The major private houseboat/cruiser association in South Australia is the River Murray Boat Owners Association (RMBOA) and their website is http://www.rmboa.org.au/

Reply - Answer
Well Mark, thanks for the great information.

IAN from www.all-about-houseboats.com
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Australia houseboat information
by: Dave

Nicole, I have been searching for information for ages on the houseboat scene in Australia - alas with no luck. Even trying to get info on builders for coastal houseboats is hard.

I live in the topend and we have 4 marinas. Two are available for live aboards - Tipperwary and Bayview. The other two are either commercial (with large private boat overflow) and cullen bay.

Tipperwary and Bayview have minimal berths available, inparticular in the wet as people want the shore power for aircons. You have to book 4-6 months in advance.

During the dry there are places to anchor without entering a marina as long as you are careful with the tides - your houseboat will be high and dry or you wont be able to go ashore because a 7mt tide has taken the water away and left mud.

If you find an Aussie houseboat site please send details.

Cheers, Dave
Rating
starstarstarstar 		Relevant information to prospective house boat purchasers
by: Ian

We are considering buying a house boat as our primary residence. It is very difficult to access relevant information and associated costs to live on a house boat. It is unclear what the breakdown expenses are in terms of power water, eliminating effluent. Survey or accredited requirements that apply. Do you register the house boat. What determines if you can take your house boat to sea treating and pump out effluent at sea or the cost to pump out the effluent.

The internet information is vague, I have no illusion as to what living on a house boat presents as challenges. Can anyone indicate what the largest house boat you can Moore and how much per kilometre it costs to transfer to NSW and where IN NSW can you be able to Moore the house boat.

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