Noosa Sunset Ferry Cruise with Kids

If you are in Noosa and looking for something family-friendly to do with kids, check out the Noosa Ferry Sunset Cruise.

To be fair, you do not need to have kids to go on the Noosa Ferry Sunset Cruise, it is fun for all ages.

The Noosa Sunset Ferry Cruise is a great way to spend an evening sightseeing and enjoying a boat ride along the beautiful Noosa River.

Scroll down to learn about the other sunset cruises offered on the Noosa River.

Noosa Ferry

The Noosa Ferry and Cruise Company offers cruises down the Noosa River with seven stops from Noosaville to Noosa Heads.

We took the Noosa Ferry Sunset Cruise which makes 4 stops, but we could not disembark.

The regular Noosa Ferry ride has a variety of price points available according to how many stops you want to get off at.

Getting on the Noosa Ferry Sunset Cruise Boat

We boarded in Tewantin, which was the first stop, so our ride was 2.5 hours long.

The boat is 2 stories. We opted for the lower level because I didn’t pack sweaters and thought it might get too cold on the top.

You can bring food and drinks on board. The boat provides glasses, ice, and ice buckets to keep your drinks cold.

The kids kept wanting to go upstairs and lucky for us, they had 2 grandparents and an aunt there to take them so they were able to walk up as many times as they wanted.

Bring a Picnic on the Noosa Ferry Sunset Cruise

Our Sunset Ferry Cruise in Noosa was on Christmas Eve.

My mother-in-law packed a picnic dinner with lots of cheeses, dips, and sandwiches plus wine and beer. We spent a good part of the cruise eating!

I saw others who had drinks with them, but not a full dinner. I didn’t check upstairs though, I imagine they also just packed drinks.

Our cruise was longer than most, so others could bring a drink and an appetizer and then get dinner afterward. Of course, that is not something I would do with kids due to the late hour of dinner, but Noosa has many nice restaurants to choose from.

Our Experience Onboard the Noosa Sunset Ferry Cruise Boat

The most surprising thing for me was there was just 1 staff member. He drove the boat and let everyone on and off. He also gave us information on the area and most importantly, he let my kids ring the bell.

We saw all kinds of different areas on the cruise from huge houses to a campground to houseboats to hotels, beaches to the forest, and lots in between. The river is very shallow, and we saw a lot of sand bars and what looked like people walking on water. The water was calm and some people were swimming near the shore.

We did not bring anything for the kids to do on the Noosa Sunset Ferry. Between the food and the view, plus walking up and down the stairs, they were happily occupied. If we didn’t have the extra people, I would have packed games, blocks, books, or whatever the favorite toy of the day happened to be.

More Sunset Cruises in Noosa

The Noosa Ferry is not the only option for sunset cruises in Noosa.

Noosa River and Canal Cruises have a 2-hour sunset cruise along the Noosa River. They provide glassware, you bring food and drinks. For an additional price, you can purchase snacks and meals in advance.

Noosa Queen has a value sunset cruise of Noosa, currently priced at $15/person. They have a bar on the boat where guests can purchase drinks. For those with a large group, up to 65 people can rent out the Noosa Queen Sunset Ferry Cruise for $475.

For those who want more luxury and a private experience, Gondolas of Noosa offers Noosa sunset cruises for up to 6 people. Their cruises are BYO, but they do provide ice and glasses.

Another small sunset cruise is Noosa Dreamboats which allow up to 5 guests on their 1.5-hour sunset cruise down the Noosa River. They provide glasses and an ice bucket, guests bring their own food and drinks. This tour includes digital photographs.

Catalina Noosa doesn’t have a sunset-specific ferry cruise, but they do have longer events that include the time that the sun sets in Noosa. These events are not for children. Friday nights are for the Friday Night Social, Saturday events are Tropical Beach Club-themed, and Sundays have a Saltwater Sunday vibe. Each night includes dinner and music.

What to Bring on a Noosa Sunset Ferry Cruise

• a jumper, even in summer
• drinks
• snacks or a meal
• camera
• raincoat or poncho, depending on the weather

Read about our Noosa Everglades boat ride and our visit to the Noosa National Park Fairy Pools.

Pin for Later: Sunset Cruises Noosa