Helpful Guides

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!

One thing that many jet ski enthusiasts overlook is camping with their PWC.

In my experience, it’s a really fun alternative to a typical day out on the waterways. Children absolutely love it!

You can find a private site along a river, lagoon or canal. Take your friends and family to have an even greater time! Depending on where you are, you could take your dogs too.

Starting with Jet Ski Camping

It’s quite often that people don’t think of the possibilities of jet ski camping when buying their new watercraft. See – it isn’t just about going fast, because it’s more-so about having fun.

I’ve written the best Step by Step guide on how to go jet ski camping today. You’ll find plenty of tips and ideas to have an awesome adventure.

With my guide, I’ll be showing you exactly how exactly to get started with this activity.

Choosing Your Camping Gear

There is a range of supplies that you should take. It depends on your storage capacity as well as the location and its conditions. Going for an adventure in summer will be very different to winter.

One challenge is that most machines in the PWC marketplace have limited storage options. This is a good thing, since you (or more-so, your partner….) will need to go light weight. I recommend taking less than 100lbs.

Choose camping gear that is light to carry, small to stow and is reasonably easy to set up once at camp. Sometimes people will go away together as a group so you can share resources such as cooking equipment and beer. 😄

Let’s have a look at what we can get:

1. The Right Tent

Because you’re going camping, you’ll obviously need a tent. While some people can sleep fine in a sleeping bag, you just don’t get protection from the wild elements such as sand flies and mosquitos.

If you sleeping by yourself, then a 1-person tent will do just fine. Choose something under 3 pounds so it packs super light.

Some people like to bring their family. Tent manufacturers are notorious for under-rating tents. A 3-person tent is really just a 2-person tent, so I would recommend a 3-person tent at a bare minimum.

You really can’t go wrong with polyester. Most tents are made from this material and these still handle saltwater environments reasonably well.

Avoid canvas tents like the one below. Whilst these are great because they breathe better, dry quicker, look better and often last for longer, they are also heavy and take up a lot of space. Canvas tents just aren’t ideal for camping with a jet ski, unless of course you’re bringing a support boat as well.

A hammock is a great alternative but does rely on having trees present at your camp site. It’s also a bit hazardous in bear-country.

2. Buying the right sleeping bag

Now let me paraphrase this by saying that a sleeping bag isn’t that needed for jet ski camping. You can do without one especially if camping on the sand.

Some people use their life jackets as a mini sleeping bag. This works great though you’ll be smelling like salt all night long if you’re by the ocean. If you’re inland with freshwater, then a wet life jacket from the day’s riding isn’t going to be fun.

Other people also try to use their wetsuit. Great idea again, but won’t work so well if it’s too wet. These just take too long to dry, especially in winter.

Buying a sleeping bag for jet ski camping is certainly a wise idea. They don’t cost much (often less than $100) and can take up very little room. It’s simply going to make your adventure much more fun!

I like to make use of my compression bags as a pillow. That said, travel pillows really pack small nowadays so you can just bring one too.

3. Cooking

One of the biggest challenges is cooking. The equipment on the market is generally big and bulky. Those that go backpacking often complain about this challenge.

If you are permitted to in your area, I would recommend a campfire so you can do away with liquid fuel stoves. Having liquid fuel on a fast-moving jet ski can be very hazardous and cause a fire if not stored correctly.

I would choose a basic but sturdy heavy-duty fire camp grill. This way you only then need to bring a small cooking set like what I’ve featured above. Choose a small grill, but still big enough to fit a camping cooking pan or pot.

But you could actually pre-pack all your food at home prior to the adventure. This will save a lot of the utensils that you’ll otherwise need to bring.

4. Food storage

A cooler or esky is a great idea to keep your food fresh for several days. The challenge is that these will take up a significant amount of room. But on the positive side, you can use this as a stool or chair at your camp site.

I would choose one with soft sides. Why? Because the hard-sided coolers could place ugly marks on your jet ski when you’re loading/unloading it.

Also, if you have a crash, the cooler becomes a projectile. It’s better to withstand a blow from a soft-sided cooler than a hard-sided one.

Choose a cooler that is the smallest size that you’ll need. Look at the food that you have and consider what can actually stay outside for a while.

5. Coffee Press

Just because you have limited storage space doesn’t mean that you can’t also have a little bit of luxury. Many people don’t sleep properly when going camping, so waking up and having a coffee can be a great option.

There are numerous camping coffee presses on the market today. These are small, light weight and still make a great tasting cup of coffee.

I’d choose the models where the cups fit inside the pot. These are built exactly for camping where space is at a premium.

You’ll want to be alert and awake during the day’s riding. You can’t exactly find a coffee shop around the next river bend (unless you’re lucky) so bring that coffee press along.

6. Additional Gas

The problem with jet ski camping and why it’s not as popular is the fuel issue. You’re only going to get a few hours riding before you’ll need to top up again. Finding a marina or dock with fuel availability can be tricky.

For this reason, I would recommend an additional jet ski fuel can. SeaDoo has one that is super reliable which attaches to the back of most of their models. On the other hand, there are some great OEM and 3rd party variations.

Some people like to take support boats which can take a significantly greater volume of fuel. Even better – they can carry all the camping equipment too, plus provide a rider with a day off their jet ski, and instead recline at a much slower pace with a chair and shade, right in the comforts of a boat.

I’ve written an entire article actually on jet ski fuel cans.

7. Hauling Firewood

Some people assume that they will just find wood or kindling for their camp fire anywhere. In some places it can be very challenging actually.

Sure – you can save precious storage space on your PWC by sourcing your own firewood, but you can’t really go cutting down trees. In some places, it’s illegal to go hunting for your own firewood.

Plus, even if you wanted to source your own firewood, you’d need to take an axe. This is additional weight.

Take your own firewood, even if it’s just a few pieces. My #1 recommendation is a swedish fire torch as recommended below. They burn for hours and emit very little smoke.

Just remember that you’re out to have fun, not cut down a forest. After a day of hard riding, the last thing you’ll want to do is go looking around for wood.

8. Bring Your GPS and EPIRB

Often forgotten by jet ski enthusiasts is their safety electronics. A handheld GPS is going to save you from getting lost in the wilderness. It also better helps you plan fuel stops.

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An EPIRB is an excellent investment too. It’s very unlikely that you’ll ever need to use one, but just having one nearby will help you sleep at night. My favorite is the SPOT tracker.

None of these takes up much room and the batteries last for a long time. Almost all of them in the marketplace are waterproof as well.

Planning Your Jet Ski Adventure

Whilst choosing the right equipment is important, so is the location. You’ll want to research this so you ensure you’re going to actually have a good time.

I like to open Google Maps and look up some good spots. Hanging out on Facebook groups in your local area is a great idea as most members will provide good recommendations.

My #1 recommendation is that you actually ensure you can stay at your chosen spot before setting up camp. This is best done at home by researching online. The National Park’s bureau in your state can certainly advise with plenty of information available online.

Try your best to venture a little bit further out. You want to avoid the crazy ones near the city. Even some spots hours away from the closest city might have small towns with docks where you can get fuel.

Some recommendations:

1. Bring a Jet Ski Anchor

You can’t always guarantee that you’ll find a nice sandy beach. Rivers generally have trees where your jet ski hull can be pierced by a branch or root that you can’t see. All locations are different.

I’ve written an entire guide on jet ski anchors: https://www.jetskiadvice.com/best-jet-ski-anchors

Your location can really change when doing these long trips. In one mile you can be on great sandy rivers to heavy rocks and then muddy banks. The anchor can even save you embarrassment at the boat ramp too.

2. Check the Weather Forecast

Nothing is worse than having 3 days of solid rain on a camping trip. It’s even worse on a jet ski. You’ll be cold, frustrated and never want to go again!

Check the weather at every spot. You might be travelling for hundreds of miles and the weather can certainly change from place to place.

3. Choose Shaded Spots

Camping on a sand bar is awesome, but after an hour or two, you will want some shade. You’re already spending the day riding in the sun, so the shade will be welcoming. If you’re in a group, then there is always that one person who wants lots of shade.

Pitching your tent under a tree is great, but look for fallen branches nearby. If there are branches that have fallen in the past then it’s guaranteed that more will fall! You don’t want you, your jet ski, your tent or travelling companions to be injured.

4. Avoid Back-Tracking

No one likes to go up a river then having to go down again the same path. See if you can find a river system that’s interconnected, so you can explore more areas.

Some people like to have their jet skis dropped at one location, then picked up in another location in a few days. Brothers or partners are sometimes happy to do this for you.

5. Minimise Wash and Noise

Local area enforcement is always looking to shutdown awesome areas for jet ski riders. Why? Their disrespect for others on the waterways.

When going past other recreational users, go as slow as possible. Maybe there aren’t any speed limits, but you shouldn’t be flying by that houseboat or peaceful river shack at 50MPH.

6. Be Security-Minded

It’s been known that even in the most secluded locations, that people’s jet skis are being stolen when they’re sleeping. Ever feel like you’re being watched?

It doesn’t take much for someone to sneak through the bushes in the early hours of the morning, jump on your ski and ride away. Meanwhile, you’re still in your sleeping bag.

Just take your key and leave it in your tent. Better still – lock it up. You’ll want a good night’s sleep for another great day of riding, so don’t let your guard down.

7. Remember to Have Fun

There are many upsides towards going jet ski camping after all. Take some toys with you such as a volleyball or frisbee. You might also want to take some light fishing equipment too so you can have fresh dinner on the camping stove.

Bring some walking shoes so you can take a break from the water and trek a little in-land. You might even come across some animals worth of photos, so don’t forget to bring your smartphone.

In Ssummary

Trip planning and taking the right equipment is the formula for the best jet ski camping trip. One that you’ll have memories to last a lifetime.

It isn’t hard:

1. Take only what you need
2. Plan and pick the right routes

Most importantly, have fun! You’ll be experiencing something that very few people in the world will ever do.

So you’re looking to make a jet ski stand at home, so you can save on the expense of buying one yourself. We have the best how-to guide available.

At the same time, it’s wise to consider that jet ski stands actually don’t cost that much to buy. In fact, we’ve previously created an excellent article showcasing some cheap jet ski stands that you can buy immediately. This can save you hours upon hours of work, which you can otherwise spend riding your PWC.

You can make a jet ski stand out of various components. These components you can source at your local hardware store without much outlay. I’ll assume that you have a basic set of tools already.

Jet ski stand building instructions

We recommend 2 x 2 timber with carpet to protect your hull. The weight rating will be generally be enough, provided you use very strong bolts.

There are various blueprints online that you can download to start building your very own jet ski stand. Note that these are often created as generic guides, so you’ll need to modify them to suit your ski. There is a large hull difference (length, width and weight) between a SeaDoo Spark and a Kawasaki LX 300.

You’ll want to start with knowing how high you want your jet ski stand to be. Some people like them very low, so they can better access the engine for repairs, servicing or simply cleanouts after a ride. Others like the jet ski to sit up high, so they can store canoes and kayaks underneath.

If you’re unsure, you should align the height of your jet ski stand to that of your trailer. That way, if you don’t have anyone to help you slide your jet ski on to the stand (once it’s built), it’s simply easier, as you don’t have to change your working height.

Some people get boat rollers and add these to their jet ski stand. This makes a significant difference in rolling the ski from a stand to a trailer. But these rollers are also expensive, and for less than $100, we just couldn’t include it in this guide.

Step by step

Right, now that we have bought some materials, we would:

1. Cut the timber to the desired length
2. Use extra strong bolts at joining points
3. Apply some varnish to avoid weakness in the future
4. Add protective materials to protect your PWC hull from scratches

It’s really that simple! You can get complicated, but we enjoy easy here at JetSkiAdvice. 🙂

What’s easier is buying an already built jet ski stand. Sometimes you can find these on Craigslist for less than $50!

Precautions to the process

There are things that beginners really need to look out for when building their very own jet ski workshop stand. Making one sounds like fun! But it can also be dangerous.

My advice would be:

1. Invest in the best quality lumber you can source locally
2. Use very high quality bolts and screws at every joint
3. Varnish the timber once completed, to seal from water and mold
4. Use non-slip rubber backing on the feet to prevent slipping away
5. Attach reinforcing so that you’re 100% that the stand is reliable
6. Copy the blueprints from someone who has done it before already

I understand that a home-made jet ski stand is ideal for the boat shed at the lake. Because not everyone wants or needs a trailer. It’s just that you need to take some precautions when constructing, otherwise your jet ski stand could break, tumble over or degrade over time.

This could lead to intensive damage to your jet ski, or even personal injury to you or someone else in the vicinity. Imagine if it collapses! This is a key reason why I much prefer buying an established jet ski stand, where other enthusiasts have used them already.

In summary

It’s really going to take hours to build your first jet ski stand for the boat shed, dealership or workshop. Most people simply choose to buy an existing stand, most of which cost less than $300.

You’re already spending a fortune for your personal watercraft. Many avoid catastrophic damage through building a weak stand, and instead purchase one that will last for years.

Many people simply want more speed from their jet ski, to make it go faster and beyond the manufacturers set maximum. It can be done cheaply!

But how do you achieve this? Well, there are various ways. You can spend lots of money, but for under $1,000, there are some good strategies.

So in this article, I’ll be showcasing how exactly you can maximize the speed of your personal watercraft. Where you can spend a little, or even spend a lot. It’s really up to what you’re looking to achieve.

Going faster with just the basics

Right – let’s look at the things we can do initially without spending a fortune. Because not everyone has $7,000 readily available to performance massive modifications to their jet ski.

Jet skis go faster with:

1. Getting a full service done, so you’re starting out fresh
2. Making sure you only use premium fuels when refuelling
3. Removing anything from the storage locker that you don’t need
4. Replacing parts that are creating the biggest performance bottlenecks

That’s in order of easiest and cheapest, to the hardest and most expensive.

Certainly a jet ski service can be achieved for less than $1,000. Using premium fuels is only marginally more expensive. Lastly, many jet ski buddies of mine store way too much in their front storage locker.

It’s also how you ride

Then, what about the weight of the rider? You might be wearing a lifejacket which is too bulky causing greater wind-resistance. Your helmet might also be contributing to your slower speeds on the waterways.

The biggest issue that I see is the riding position. People want their jet ski to go as fast as possible, much faster than boats or sharks (lol), but aren’t riding properly. There is a certainly way to ride a jet ski where you can attain top speed results.

My recommendation: Go on YouTube and watch past jet ski races. Notice the aggressive riding stance that the professional jet ski racers use to win world championships at close to 100 miles per hour!

Performance modifications for a faster jet ski

Now, the best way to make a jet ski go much faster than anticipated is to start some upgrades. Depending on your PWC, there are various modifications that you can make.

The best way is to speak with your dealership. They’ll assess your jet ski and make some good recommendations. It won’t be cheap, but if you can achieve an extra 15 knots per hour, it could make all the difference, and give you bragging rights at the boat ramp. 🙂

Some things include:

• A new high boost impeller for the rear
• Upgrade to the air intake system (more flow)
• Full replacement of the factory turbo system
• Changes to the engine ICU to increase low-end torque

There are also companies that specifically help those who want to mod their jet ski, so as to maximize their performance. Be warned, however, that your jet ski warranty, whether though a dealership or another shop is likely to be deemed invalid. For this reason, it’s best to start these upgrades towards the end of your warranty lifespan.

Is it cheap to make performance modifications to your jet ski? Absolutely not! Anything reasonable will cost a few thousand dollars. You really need to weight up whether you should make part-upgrades to your existing jet ski, or just buy a new jet ski that already goes much faster out of the factory.

In summary

There are various ways to help your jet ski gain extra knots on the waterways. But it’s also (often) an expensive process too.

More often than not, beginners opt to simply replace their original jet ski with something already more powerful. Yes – even if it has some hours on it already.

Others intentionally look on PWC Trader for jet skis which have already had thousands of dollars of performance mods added to the engine. This way they don’t have to fork out as much money.

Either way, jet skis are already very fast machines. Falling off a jet ski at such high speeds can be dangerous. But if you have the riding ability to handle those fast speeds, then maximizing every extra nautical mile can be achieved quite easily these days.