About
Mooloolaba Canal Cruises
The Mooloolaba Canal Cruise has been operating from Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland for over 30 years.
Book NowBuilt in 1963 of oak planking and bunya pine, and originally called the ‘John McMaster’, our vessel the M.V. Mudjimba is a historic timber boat that began her working life as a Brisbane Cross River Ferry, operating from the suburb of Hamilton to the Apollo Street wharf in Bulimba.
Her name is inspired by the nearby Mudjimba Island, located just off the Sunshine Coast near Marcoola. For Indigenous locals, Mudjimba Island is also known as ‘Old Woman Island’, relating to two First Nation Dreamtime stories about the Island and its creation.
In 1990 she was taken out of service by the Brisbane City Council and sold at auction. She was then brought to Mooloolaba where she spent many months being renovated and modified, before being reassigned later that year as an iconic cruise vessel operating from the Mooloolaba Wharf.
In 2021, after many years of service, our family purchased the much loved Mooloolaba Canal Cruise and went to work on a full refurbishment of the M.V. Mudjimba, adding a modern luxe feel to this much-loved piece of Mooloolaba history.
Among other things, she was dressed up with nautical-themed carpet, upholstery and a new navy blue and white paint job.
The vessel now also proudly boasts an onboard Bar, featuring a range of international and locally sourced beers, wines and spirits. The new bar truly elevates the experience onboard to be one of leisure, luxury and entertainment.
What was once a quaint vessel for family-friendly scenic tours has now transformed into a highly photogenic event space; suited for private events, stand-up comedy cruises, paint-and-sip nights featuring local artists, and, of course, our renowned daily sunset cruises.
It’s fair to say that this revamp is fit for the Queen of our Harbour and surrounding waters, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome you onboard and share our love for the area, the vessel and providing a great experience for you, our guests.