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Drift Flotel - Luxury Houseboat Experience

Photo gallery for Drift Flotel - Luxury Houseboat Experience

A bedroom with a large bed, a potted plant, and a view of a body of water through a sliding glass door.
A boat interior with a dining table, chairs, and a control panel.
A bedroom with a large bed, a framed picture of a coastal scene, a window with a view of the sea, a plant on a shelf, and a fire extinguisher.
A room with a view of the sea through a glass door, a bed, and a chair by the window.
A modern kitchen with a large island, bar stools, and a view of the water.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Bring your furry friends
    Top-rated for creating memorable stays with your pets.
  • On the beach
    A rare beachfront property in the area - enjoy direct access to the sand and sea.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
Sleeps 6•2 bedrooms•3 beds

Popular amenities

  • On beach
  • Onsite parking available
  • Dog-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue
  • Balcony

Explore the area

View map
Gold Coast, QLD
  • Place, Federation Walk Coastal Reserve
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Doug Jennings Park
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Sand Pumping Jetty
    ‪7 min walk‬
  • Airport, Gold Coast, QLD (OOL-Coolangatta)
    ‪42 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Double Sofa Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Dining area

About this property

Drift Flotel - Luxury Houseboat Experience

Step aboard the newly refurbished luxurious 3 storey, 12 metre, tri-hull boat featuring everything you would expect from a fully self-contained luxury home.

Accommodation includes 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, fully equipped kitchen, lounge with fold-out bed, dining, balconies, walkaround deck and a rooftop terrace. It can comfortably accommodate 6 people overnight or up to 12 people during the day.

Setting the Flotel apart from all other existing houseboats on the Coast is that guests don’t have to worry about operating the vessel, when you arrive it will be anchored in a picturesque location featuring 360 degree water and island views. You will arrive via a cruise on our Bowrider. You will be departing from the Jetty 300 Marine Parade, Labrador, opposite the Aqua building.

This is the perfect getaway for those who want the houseboat experience without the hassle and stress of operating the vessel and always having a designated driver. Step aboard to relax with friends and family, enjoy some fishing, swimming, take the supplied tender to shore and explore the nearby islands and all the Gold Coast has to offer or just soak in the sun.

During your stay the host will be close by to help with any issues, including getting more supplies or going on further cruises around the islands.

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House Rules

Check in after 2:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

Events allowed: family gatherings and birthday parties
No bucks parties.
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 10 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
Dogs are allowed up to 15kgs in weight.
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Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas
Smoking is allowed outside only.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 9672431
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events (including family gatherings and birthday parties) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 12
Note from host: No bucks parties.
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Gold Coast

Located in Main Beach, a neighbourhood in Gold Coast, this houseboat is near theme parks and on the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Surfers Paradise Beach and Broadbeach Beach, while Warner Bros. Movie World and Dreamworld are popular area attractions. Surfers Paradise Mini Golf and Gold Coast Aquatic Centre are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with ecotours and cycling.
View more Houseboats in Gold CoastOpens in a new window
Map
Gold Coast, QLD

What's nearby

  • Federation Walk Coastal Reserve - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Doug Jennings Park - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Sand Pumping Jetty - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • The Spit Beach - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Sea World - 3 min drive - 3.1 km

Getting around

  • Cypress Avenue Station - 12 min drive
  • Helensvale Station - 26 min drive
  • Gold Coast, QLD (OOL-Coolangatta) - 51 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Charis Seafood - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Shoreline Restaurant - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Melrose Cafe And Pizzeria - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Seaway Kiosk - ‬6 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Drift Flotel - Luxury Houseboat Experience pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 10 kg per pet.

How much does it cost to stay at Drift Flotel: luxury houseboat stay?

As of 29 July 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Drift Flotel: luxury houseboat stay on 30 July 2026 start from AU$1,247, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Drift Flotel - Luxury Houseboat Experience?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Drift Flotel - Luxury Houseboat Experience?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Drift Flotel - Luxury Houseboat Experience?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Drift Flotel - Luxury Houseboat Experience located?

Nestled on the beach, this Main Beach houseboat is within 3 mi (5 km) of Sand Pumping Jetty, Main Beach and Mariner's Cove Marina. Broadwater Parklands and Marina Mirage Shopping Centre are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 17 out of 22 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 22 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 22 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 22 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 22 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Maree R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Had an incredible stay, so relaxing.Brett catered to your every need, just a wonderful get away.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Linda C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fabulous unique experience! Great host, very understanding, patient and professional. Staying at the beautiful “Flotel” was a unique experience to remember. Well presented, lots of space, convenience of an apartment (kitchen for cooking, beautiful bedrooms, Tv etc….Of course being out on the ocean was really special and the especially stunning at night. It Highly recommend, thank you!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Fraser M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a wonderful stay. The views of the Gold Coast and South Stradbroke Island were amazing, the accommodation was comfortable, and the location was perfect for a romantic getaway. Brett was a fantastic host and very helpful throughout our stay. Being able to bring our dog, Meela, made the experience even better. Highly recommended!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Suzanne W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The property was well equipped with everything we needed for a very relaxed long weekend stay. The dogs loved it as much as the humans and we all felt very welcome. This is a wonderful way to spend a relaxed holiday.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lindsay L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The Drify Flotel is a great place to go and chill in the beautiful Gold Coast Broadwater.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 13 Oct 2025
Very friendly guests, left the Flotel very clean.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Paul

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Great experience, Brett was fantastic, location A1. Family ejoyed the 4 days relaxing about the boat.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Julie I.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We stayed over Australia Day weekend and had a blast! The kids can't wait to stay again.The Drift Flotel was in a great location and swimming at the nearby sandbanks were easily accessible. We were pleasantly surprised to see the dry dock attached which made it so much easier to moor our own jetski and small boat. Brett was very friendly and easy to communicate with. He came out to us within 15 minutes when we had a minor issue.The kitchen was well stocked including little bits & peices that came in handy. Somethings were a little worn but overall a great stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Maria H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Holiday in paradise

Great experience from first communication with Brett (host) to back on land. Highly recommend if being on the water and accessing idyllic beaches with small or larger groups is for you - look no further than Drift Flotel
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sam

Liked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
We had an amazing stay at the Drift Flotel! The sunrise and sunsets where the boat is located are incredible and hanging out on the top deck is very relaxing. Brett is a very accommodating host and was happy to answer any questions we had. Can definitely recommend staying here!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tiabei H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Surprise weekend getaway

We had a lovely relaxing weekend on the drift flotel. Enjoyed the amazing sunsets and sunrises. There was plenty of space for our family and although there were a couple of maintenance issues during our stay it didn’t impact our experience. Everyone in the family loved it!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Wyn L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing stay

Excellent communication with Brett. Very quick at responding to questions etc.Relaxing time on the houseboat. Boat is very clean and neat. The only concern is abit maintenance issue but other then that was very enjoyable.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sylvia L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Unique and fun getaway

Brett was super helpful and communicative. The boat was well furnished and thoughtfully stocked with supplies any fishing enthusiast would appreciate. If you're looking to get away from the city, this is a fantastic option.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Kathy B.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location

Quiet time away

very different from the normal getaways. Great time together. Had our own little tinny to go exploring in. Just abit over priced
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Cassie M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Paradise

We had the pleasure of staying on the Flotel to celebrate our birthdays with our dogs. The place itself is beautiful, with modern touches and feels like you’re staying at a luxury hotel on the water. It was like a slice of heaven. Brett was a great host and made sure we had everything to make our stay wonderful. Can’t recommend this place or Brett enough!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Meaghan B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Birthday Trip!

Flotel was PERFECT for our group to enjoy the houseboat experience without any hassle of manoeuvring the boat! Brett was approachable, accommodating and friendly, providing us with a boat tour and answering our questions both prior to and during the trip. The decor was stunning. The location was great. The top deck and kitchen/dining area were brilliant - if only we had lucked out with better weather! We're looking to book again - it's not an if, but a when! Thanks for hosting, Brett!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Aimee and Evan P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Paradise and seclusion

First - Brett the host is a great guy. Easy to communicate with, honest and on time with everything. The Flotel - wow! Spacious, clean, the views!!, no neighbours, and better decked out than most hotels. We had three little kids and the safety was great. There was no chance of kids falling overboard. Life jackets available, use of power boat was appreciated. Would stay again and would definitely recommend. Thanks Brett.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Bethany S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Christmas Getaway!

We stayed on the Drift Flotel over Christmas and it was such an awesome experience. The weather was perfect and the vibes were pumping. The views to the Gold Coast were spectacular and the sunrises and sunsets were amazing! Brett contacted us a couple of days before to organise where to meet and was available for any questions during our stay. The boat was more spacious than we were expecting and was the perfect size for the 4 adults and our Cavoodle who came too. The tender came in handy for picking up one of our guests who arrived a bit later and for taking our dog to the shore for toilet stops. We enjoyed the sound system and TV in the upstairs bedroom which was easy to connect to. We loved our floating home away from home and highly recommend to anyone looking for a unique holiday experience!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Delilah J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Stormy Sensation

First time on a Houseboat and hubby and I had the best time ever fishing from the ground deck and then relaxing on the third floor deck with a glass of wine, watching the sunset and then snoozing through the storm on our third nite. Brett was so easy to communicate with and Bailey was so friendly and they have the cutest book of instructions in the houseboat. If you have never been on a houseboat, you should try it. You never know, you might catch Blue Swimmer and Mud Crabs like we did, or Sting Ray like I did on our last morning!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023
Verified

6/10 Okay

Heather D.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great and Not So Great

Amazing location and set up for the houseboat. Views are amazing. Host was friendly and a great communicator. We had our own boat so didn’t need host to transport us or take us anywhere. We had pretty good weather while we were there. Loved the top deck. Arrived after it had been raining so carpet on the second level was saturated. The first 24 hours we could not get our feet dry. The lounge where our son was going to sleep was on that carpet and the throw on it was wet from the floor. It also smelled strongly of dog. That area was pretty much unusable so my son and daughter had to top and tail in one of the beds. This really shouldn’t be listed as ‘sleeps 6’. All carpet smelled like wet dog. We bought food that we couldn’t cook because the facilities did not allow it. No oven, cooktop didn’t work, cooking appliances caused the battery to beep. There is a BBQ, which we used.Overall we made do and had a nice time. I think if the ad was more realistic, our expectations wouldn’t have been so high. It’s a great concept and was a great experience but it was not luxury.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 26 July 2025
Thanks for the kind words. I'm sorry your stay was not completely up to expectations. Unfortunately my previous guests had left the upstairs door open when there was a heavy downfall, which had saturated the carpet, and on a quick turn around I had no option to get the carpet dry. I've taken action on the wet dog smell, which was exasperated by the rain getting in, by using a disinfectant spray. There is an oven provided, which I show my guests during check in, one hot plate was working at the time, I was waiting on parts, all three gas hotplates now work. The battery will beep when multiple appliances are used, however, does not affect there usage. I'm sorry these issues effected your stay. I appreciate your feedback, I would of tried to remedy some of these issues if you had contacted me duryour stay. Thanks, Brett
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sharna B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had the best time on the Drift Flotel! It was such a unique and relaxing experience, with everything we needed onboard. The peaceful water, beautiful views, and slow pace made it the perfect getaway. Watching the SeaFire fireworks from the water was an incredible bonus, and being able to bring our Frenchie along made it even more special. Highly recommend for anyone wanting to unwind and make unforgettable memories with the whole family!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Martinique

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, communication
Beautiful place to relax and enjoy a peaceful holiday. Everything you need and a great accomodating host. Kids and fur kid absolutely loved the experience, fishing, boating, exploring. We actually relaxed. Just wonderful.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gugy H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Aug 2025
Friendly guests, left the Flotel clean

About the host

Hosted by Brett griffin

Host profile image
I grew up in Brisbane and the Gold Coast and love everything boating and outdoors.

Why they chose this property

The Flotel is anchored in the beautiful Gold Coast water offering a secluded location while being able to go to shore and explore everything the Gold Coast has to offer.

What makes this property unique

The Flotel is the only luxury houseboat rental on the Gold Coast where the guests are not required to operate it.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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