Party Boats in Pittwater

Pittwater is the sheltered stretch of water at the top of the Northern Beaches, and its charter boats board at Newport, Church Point and Palm Beach rather than the harbour wharves. A day here usually runs at an easier pace than a harbour cruise – drop anchor in a quiet bay, swim off the back, then eat on board before the run home.

The boats below range from a skippered party catamaran for 20 to a crewed superyacht, and most of them let you bring your own food and drinks.

Five ways to spend a day on Pittwater:

• The Shining Light – a BYO party boat from Newport for up to 36, with a turf-laid top deck under festoon lights, a kitchen and an outdoor BBQ. From $650 per hour, minimum 4-hour charter.
• Zephyr Charters – three restyled vintage timber cruisers from Newport Wharf for 25, 35 or 80 guests, each with an open-air cocktail bar and a disco ball. From $595 per hour, minimum 4-hour charter.
• Broken Bay Yacht Charter – two Seawind 1160 sailing catamarans from Palm Beach Wharf for up to 28 each, with longer trips crossing Broken Bay into Cowan Creek. From $600 per hour, minimum 3-hour charter.
• Allsail – Tekin, a Seawind 1000 party catamaran sailing from the Church Point ferry wharf with a skipper for up to 20. From $498 per hour, minimum 4-hour charter.
• Belle – a 30-metre Moonen superyacht with a private chef and a crew of five, on Sydney Harbour and Pittwater from November to May. From $2,950 per hour, minimum 4-hour charter.

Send your date, group size and the kind of day you have in mind, and compare what each operator comes back with.