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What is your boarding time?Each cruise has their own departure time. You can check the time on our website or on your ticket.
- We start boarding for our cruises 20 minutes prior to departure. Simply present your ticket to staff at the departure point. For the enjoyment of all guests, we cannot delay our departure for any late arrivals. We therefore recommend you allow sufficient time for travel to our location.
- All tours operate on QLD time, all year long.
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What if I have specific dietary needs?We can accommodate you! If you have any dietary requirements please advise our booking office at least one week prior to your cruise . Food allergies must be advised on booking. Please note: we cannot be held responsible for consumption/cross contamination with regards to allergies or dietary requirements.
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Do you offer transfers?No, we don’t offer transfers. We encourage our guests to car pool and utilise public transport where possible.
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Are there car parking facilities?There is free all-day parking at our departure points.
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Is there public transport to the Tweed Heads Marina?Yes, Kinetic buses have a bus stop at the top of our street (River Terrace), both south and northbound buses stop here. From the bus stop, it’s a 150-meter walk to the marina.
- From the North: Catch Route 700 bus from Broadbeach, Miami, Burleigh Heads, Palm Beach, Tugun, Coolangatta. Get off at the Tweed Mall and catch Route 605 to reach River Terrace (2nd stop after departing the Mall).
- From the South: Catch Route 603 bus from Pottsville, Hastings Point, Cabarita, Kingscliff, Chinderah, Tweed city. You need to request to stop at our location which is River Terrace (the driver may know it as Terranora Terrace), it’s the Wharf St Medical Centre that you need to get off at – and walk carefully across the road to River Terrace).
Plan your journey via: https://transportnsw.info/
The Bush Tucker and Crab Catching Cruise departs from 230 Kennedy Drive, Tweed Heads West.
All other cruises depart from the Tweed Marina, 4 River Terrace, Tweed Heads.
Please note - Public transport to 230 Kennedy drive is NOT close to our departure point – we recommend catching the public bus to Tweed Mall and then catching a Taxi or an Uber. -
Do you offer Gift Cards?We sure do! These can be booked online via this link, or through our office during open hours. Redemption of a gift card can be done with an online booking or by providing crew at the office of the gift card number at the time of booking. If the gift card amount is greater than the total cost of the cruise, we are not able to return any unused funds to the purchaser or recipient of the gift card.
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How do I make changes to my booking?Within 7 Days
- Please note that no changes (change of date, reduction in passenger numbers, cancellations) can be made within 7 days of your cruise departure as we spend considerable time and effort in our forward planning of our cruises. We appreciate your understanding in this regard.
Outside of 7 Days- Changes to your booking can be made. Please call the office should you wish to make any changes. Please note: this applies to independent bookings only, and not to charters or groups.
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What is your cancellation and refund policy?Please note: Our cruises operate in rain and shine.
- Operator Cancellations: If we need to cancel your booking due to extreme weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances, you will receive a full refund or credit.
- Customer Cancellations (within 7 days of travel): Cancellations made within 7 days of the scheduled departure are non-refundable.
In extenuating circumstances, we may offer a cruise credit, subject to discussion at the time of cancellation. Cruises still operate in rainy weather.
- Customer Cancellations (outside 7 days of travel): Cancellations made more than 7 days in advance are eligible for a full refund, cruise credit, or the option to rebook at no additional fee.
- No-shows: Failure to show up for your scheduled trip will result in a charge for the full price of the booking.
- Late arrivals: Cruises depart at the scheduled time. Please arrive 20 minutes prior to your scheduled departure.
Late arrivals will be considered no-shows.
- Group or charter bookings ONLY: Will be able to receive a full refund if cancelled within 6 days of making the booking. A non-refundable deposit is required 7 days after making the booking and final balance is due 60 days prior to the event. Any group bookings and charters will forfeit deposits paid, and be non-refundable if cancelled any time after final payment has been made.
- No-shows will be charged the full price
Contact us by phone to cancel or inquire about a cancellation. -
Do you host 18th and 21st birthdays?Thank you for considering us for your 18th or 21st birthday. Whilst we appreciate that a 18th or 21st birthday is a wonderful milestone that should be celebrated, we do not host these birthdays on board.
We understand that your group might not be the rowdiest. However, our experience learns that it takes only one person to jeopardize the party and the safety of our guests & crew. Due to being a cruise boat, guests cannot easily leave the premises. For this reason we do not host these birthdays on board. -
Charters - minimum & maximum cruising duration | latest cruising timeMinimum cruising duration
The minimum duration is 2 hours. Our crew has to be present before your requested cruising time to set up the boat and conduct safety checks. For this reason, we require a minimum cruising time of 2 hours.
Maximim cruising duration
The maximum cruising time is 3 hours. Our experience learns that more than 3 hours on the boat can get too much for our guests.
Return time
Due to licencing, the latest that our cruises and charters return to the wharf is 9pm. -
Do you operate when it's raining?Yes.
As we are based in a sub-tropical climate, rain is part of life in the Tweed. The rain is important to keep maintain the river and rainforest in this area. As such, our cruises still operate when it's raining.
We do not operate in case of unsafe weather or river conditions. This decision is up to the discretion of our experienced skippers. In the instance of unsafe weather or river conditions, we try to let our customers know at least 24 hours prior to travelling. -
Do you need minimum numbers to operate?Yes, our cruises need minimum numbers to operate. The minimum amount of guests depends on the cruise. In case we don't reach minimum numbers for a cruise, we will contact guests 24 hours in advance to reschedule.
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Are your boats accessible with a walker or wheelchair?Accessibility of Boats with Walker or Wheelchair:
- The Golden Swan: The downstairs level is accessible with a walker and manual wheelchair. The boat has ramp access from the wharf. The bar is accessible but located at standing level. The toilets are marine bathrooms, which are accessible with a walker but not with a wheelchair. The upstairs deck is only accessible by stairs.
- VIP1: Not accessible.
- BBQ Boat: Not accessible.
- Office: Accessible via ramp.
- Parking: Accessible parking spot located next to the office building, at 4 River Terrace.
Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate electric wheelchairs on board if they are wider than a manual wheelchair.
Activity Level For Cruises:- River and Rainforest Lunch Cruise: Low degree of physical mobility from guests required. This cruise operates on the Golden Swan.
- Bush Tucker and Crab Cruise: Some of the activities require a degree of physical mobility from guests (activities include fishing, yabby pumping, pulling up crab pots). This cruise operates on our vessel VIP1, which is not wheelchair or walker accessible.
- Fishermen's Friend Morning Tea Cruise: Low degree of physical mobility from guests required. This cruise operates on our vessel VIP1, which is not wheelchair or walker accessible. For Morning Tea group bookings on the Golden Swan, please enquire.
- Sunset Cruise: Low degree of physical mobility from guests required. This cruise operates on the Golden Swan.
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Do you offer companion rates?Yes, we do offer a discounted companion rates for standard cruises (not available for special events).Guests who hold a Companion Card or Carer's Card (or similar) can request a discounted companion ticket, when travelling with the person they support. Terms & conditions apply.
To book a discounted cruise, please contact us via phone or email before making a booking. Our team will assist with the booking process. To be eligible:- The booking needs to be made directly through Tweed Eco Cruises (not eligible for bookings through third party providers).
- A copy of the valid Companion or Carers card needs to be emailed to info@tweedecocruises.com for verification.
- Only valid with a full-paying adult ticket.
The Companion or Carers rate cannot be applied: :- To existing bookings please contact us before making a booking
- Cannot be applied with any other discount.
- Cannot be applied to special events
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Decorating the boats + no balloon policyGuests are welcome to bring their own decoration on the boats (i.e. garlands, bunting, banners).
We encourage our guests to think of sustainable & reusable options such as fabric or paper items.
Please note, the following are not allowed on board:
- Balloons are NOT as per the Tweed Shire Council balloon ban. Since 1 January 2023, the Tweed Shire Council has banned balloons from all Council buildings, parks and outdoor areas, to help reduce their destructive impact on marine life.
- Confetti is not allowed on board as the small pieces get stuck in the carpet and are near impossible to remove. A cleaning fee might incur if guests do use confetti -
What is the departure location?Most of our cruises depart from our wharf at the Tweed Marina, 4 River Terrace, Tweed Heads.
The Bush Tucker & Crab cruise departs from Pioneer Park, 230 Kennedy Drive, Tweed Heads West.
Both locations have free all-day parking spaces. -
What if I need to cancel my cruise due to illness?If you have booked a cruise, but are unwell and cannot travel, please let us know as soon as possible.
Cancellations on the day of cruising are not eligible for a refund. We are happy to rebook you to a different day for a rebooking fee ($25 for the River & Rainforest Cruise, $10 for the Bush Tucker, Fishermans Friend and Sunset Cruise). -
Are you pet friendly?We want to ensure all of our passengers have a comfortable and enjoyable experience.We do allow guide animals on board to assist our guests. However, please note that we are unable to accommodate other pets or animals at this time.
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How do I apply the 10% discount code?You can use the 10% discount code for our River and Rainforest Cruise.
Please note that it only works for River and Rainforest Cruise, not for other cruises, and only when you book directly through our website.
In the booking form, under 'Additional Information, click on the blue text 'Add promo or discount code'.
Now you can enter the discount code ECO10.
