Gold Coast Jet Ski Hire: Get Riding for Under $100!

So you haven’t ridden a jet ski but you want to hire one the Gold Coast. Australia, and particularly Queensland, is a haven for watersports!

I should know – I had lived here for 4 years and did a lot of exploring in the region.

I’ve created a list of the best 3 jet ski hire shops near Surfer’s Paradise where you can either take a tour or even hire one without supervision.

👉 Related: Best Riding Spots on the Gold Coast

If cruising up and down the Broadwater near Southport sounds exciting to you, then read on. I’m going to share my tips and recommend the best people in town.

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Why hire a jet ski on the Gold Coast

We’re home to some of Australia’s best beaches and waterways. So much so, that the Gold Coast is home to more jet skis than any other Australian city!

Our year-round great weather and way of life does lend itself to the perfect watersports playground. It’s not only jet skiing but other forms of personal watercraft including jet boat rides and parasailing that you can do as well.

If you’re here for a holiday, then you should really take it all in. While Surfers Paradise is great for nightlife, there is so much more to do during the day than just theme parks.

The best part is that you don’t need a licence to hire a jet ski on the Gold Coast, as long as you are booked with a registered tour organizer. These jet skis are also fast, reaching speeds of up to 40 miles or 65 kms per hour.

Most people think that summer is the ideal time to take a jet ski for a cruise on the waterways, but it is windier in the warmer months. This is why it’s 100% fine to go for a tour during the colder winter months, which are still mild here in South-East Queensland.

How much should jet ski hire cost?

Different operators charge different prices on the Gold Coast, and in fact across Australia the prices to differ. Uniquely there are half a dozen operators so with that competition, also comes a reduction in price.

You can actually hire a jet ski on the Gold Coast for less than $100. This represents great value especially if you’re budget-conscious. If you can stretch further, rates go right up to $400.

Here’s a guide I quickly created for you:

Length of a jet ski tour	Average pricing
30 minutes	$90
60 minutes	$180
90 minutes	$270
150 minutes	$380

The longest tours are where you can expect 80km of riding, while the shorter tours are more-so 5km at the most. Trust me: get a longer tour!

Choosing a Jet Ski Tour Operator

If you’re ready to get started on a tour, I would recommend these 3 locally-based operators:

1. Jet Ski Safaris
2. Gold Coast Watersports
3. Extreme Jetski Hire

This isn’t in any particular order. Each company has been operating on the local Queensland waterways for several years, with thousands of happy travellers.

When looking deeper at any of these, I would consider:

1. The pricing of a jet ski tour or self-hire for the hour
2. If your friend/family can join on the back for free
3. The potential of getting a refund if the weather is bad
4. How fast their jet skis actually travel (you don’t want slow!)
5. When they actually run tours (once per day or multiple)

Further still, you also want to know where you’ll be going. Some of the best tour operators will show you a map on their website of where you will be heading.

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Start Riding on the Gold Coast

I would certainly recommend that you go on a jet ski tour. Like me, you might become obsessed with jet skis over time.

It’s interesting as I got my jet ski licence first, then went on a tour. After that…I was totally encapsulated with the world of recreational and performance PWCs. Today I run www.jetskiadvice.com among other projects.

There is really no excuse to book in a tour today. You don’t need a licence or experience. You just need the excitement and motivation to hold on to a personal watercraft with a smile on your face.

👉 See also: Best Riding Spots on the Gold Coast

See you out there!