It is the first question almost everybody asks us, and the answer is refreshingly simple: you need a licence if you want to drive the boat yourself. You do not need one if you would rather a captain did it for you.

Here is how that plays out in practice on Sydney Harbour.

The NSW rule in plain English

In New South Wales, anyone operating a powered vessel at a speed of 10 knots or more must hold a boat driving licence. A 38-foot cruiser like Revelation is very much in that category, so whoever is at the helm needs to be licensed.

For our self-drive boat hire, that means one person in your group needs a current general boat driving licence. Everyone else just needs to bring sunglasses.

Interstate Australian licences are recognised in NSW. If your licence was issued overseas, get in touch before you book so we can check it against the current requirements rather than leave it to chance at the wharf.

What we check before you leave the dock

We are not the paperwork police, but we do need to see a few things before we hand over the keys:

A current boat driving licence for the person who will be driving
Photo ID matching that licence
A quick handover briefing on the boat - controls, joystick docking, safety gear, anchoring, and the harbour zones to respect

The briefing is not a test. Revelation is built to be easy to handle: twin Volvo Penta D4 sterndrives with joystick docking mean you can walk her sideways into a berth without breaking a sweat. Most people who have driven a boat before are comfortable within ten minutes.

Nobody in your group is licensed. Now what?

Then you want a skippered charter. You get the same boat, the same twelve guests, the same anchorages - and a skilled captain who knows where the good spots are, handles the driving and the docking, and leaves you free to actually enjoy the day.

Plenty of licensed boaters choose a charter anyway. If the occasion is a birthday, a bucks or hens party, a proposal or a client day, not having to think about navigation is part of the luxury.

Getting your NSW licence

If you would like to self-drive in the future, a general boat licence in NSW is a manageable exercise: complete a boating safety course with an approved provider, pass the knowledge test, and log the required practical experience. Most people get it done in a day or two. Service NSW has the current course providers and fees.

It is worth having. Once you are licensed, self-drive hire is the cheapest way onto a boat of this size in Sydney, and the whole harbour opens up on your own schedule.

A few rules worth knowing before you drive

Even with a licence in your pocket, Sydney Harbour has its own etiquette:

4-knot zones. Marked areas near moorings, wharves and swimming spots. Slow right down - and watch your wash, because it is the wash that upsets people, not the speed.
Keep clear of the big stuff. Ferries, cruise ships and commercial traffic have right of way in the main channels. Cross behind them, never in front.
Thirty metres from swimmers and divers. Look for the blue-and-white dive flag.
Alcohol limits apply on the water. Same limit as driving a car, and it applies to whoever is at the helm. This is another good reason to put a captain on board when the day involves drinks.
Check the anchoring restrictions. Some bays have protected seagrass beds and no-anchor areas. We will point them out in your briefing.

The short version

Want to drive? Bring a licence and take the self-drive option, from $1,200 for two hours for the whole boat. Would rather be a guest all day? Book a charter from $1,400 and let a captain take it.

Either way, the boat holds up to twelve guests, sleeps six, and leaves from the middle of the city.

Check availability and book, or send us a question if you are not sure which option suits your day.