Drift Flotel - Luxury Houseboat Experience

Photo gallery for Drift Flotel - Luxury Houseboat Experience

A bedroom with a large bed, a potted plant, and a view of a body of water through a sliding glass door.
A room with a view of the sea through a glass door, a bed, and a chair by the window.
A bedroom with a large bed, a framed picture of a coastal scene, a window with a view of the sea, a plant on a shelf, and a fire extinguisher.
A boat interior with a dining table, chairs, and a control panel.
A modern kitchen with a large island, bar stools, and a view of the water.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Bring your furry friends
    Top-rated for creating memorable stays with your pets.
  • On the beach
    A rare beachfront property in the area - enjoy direct access to the beach and sea.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Walk to The Spit Beach

Popular amenities

  • On beach
  • Rooftop terrace
  • Dog-friendly
  • Barbecue grill
  • Refrigerator
  • Onsite parking available

Explore the area

View in a map
Gold Coast, QLD
  • Place, Federation Walk Coastal Reserve
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Doug Jennings Park
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, The Spit Beach
    ‪9 min walk‬
  • Airport, Gold Coast, QLD (OOL-Coolangatta)
    ‪42 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Double Sofa Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Dining area

Add dates for prices

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Interior
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  • Dryer
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About the area

Gold Coast

Located in Main Beach, a neighbourhood in Gold Coast, this houseboat is near theme parks and on the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Broadwater Parklands and Surfers Paradise Beach, while Warner Bros. Movie World and Dreamworld are popular area attractions. King Tutts Putt Putt and Gold Coast Aquatic Centre are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling and ecotours.
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Map
Gold Coast, QLD

What's nearby

  • Federation Walk Coastal Reserve - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Doug Jennings Park - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Sand Pumping Jetty - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • The Spit Beach - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Sea World - 3 min drive - 3.1 km

Getting around

  • Cypress Avenue Station - 12 min drive
  • Helensvale Station - 26 min drive
  • Gold Coast, QLD (OOL-Coolangatta) - 51 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Charis Seafood - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Melrose Cafe And Pizzeria - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Daiki - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Shoreline Restaurant - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Beach Cafe - ‬11 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Drift Flotel - Luxury Houseboat Experience pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 10 kg per pet.

How much is parking at Drift Flotel - Luxury Houseboat Experience?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Drift Flotel - Luxury Houseboat Experience?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Drift Flotel - Luxury Houseboat Experience?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Drift Flotel - Luxury Houseboat Experience located?

Nestled on the beach, this Main Beach houseboat is within a 10-minute walk of Doug Jennings Park and The Spit Beach. Broadwater Parklands and Main Beach are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 17 out of 22 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 22 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 22 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 22 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 22 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Had an incredible stay, so relaxing.Brett catered to your every need, just a wonderful get away.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a wonderful stay. The views of the Gold Coast and South Stradbroke Island were amazing, the accommodation was comfortable, and the location was perfect for a romantic getaway. Brett was a fantastic host and very helpful throughout our stay. Being able to bring our dog, Meela, made the experience even better. Highly recommended!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fabulous unique experience! Great host, very understanding, patient and professional. Staying at the beautiful “Flotel” was a unique experience to remember. Well presented, lots of space, convenience of an apartment (kitchen for cooking, beautiful bedrooms, Tv etc….Of course being out on the ocean was really special and the especially stunning at night. It Highly recommend, thank you!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The property was well equipped with everything we needed for a very relaxed long weekend stay. The dogs loved it as much as the humans and we all felt very welcome. This is a wonderful way to spend a relaxed holiday.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The Drify Flotel is a great place to go and chill in the beautiful Gold Coast Broadwater.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 13 Oct 2025
Very friendly guests, left the Flotel very clean.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Great experience, Brett was fantastic, location A1. Family ejoyed the 4 days relaxing about the boat.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Holiday in paradise

Great experience from first communication with Brett (host) to back on land. Highly recommend if being on the water and accessing idyllic beaches with small or larger groups is for you - look no further than Drift Flotel
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
We had an amazing stay at the Drift Flotel! The sunrise and sunsets where the boat is located are incredible and hanging out on the top deck is very relaxing. Brett is a very accommodating host and was happy to answer any questions we had. Can definitely recommend staying here!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We stayed over Australia Day weekend and had a blast! The kids can't wait to stay again.The Drift Flotel was in a great location and swimming at the nearby sandbanks were easily accessible. We were pleasantly surprised to see the dry dock attached which made it so much easier to moor our own jetski and small boat. Brett was very friendly and easy to communicate with. He came out to us within 15 minutes when we had a minor issue.The kitchen was well stocked including little bits & peices that came in handy. Somethings were a little worn but overall a great stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Surprise weekend getaway

We had a lovely relaxing weekend on the drift flotel. Enjoyed the amazing sunsets and sunrises. There was plenty of space for our family and although there were a couple of maintenance issues during our stay it didn’t impact our experience. Everyone in the family loved it!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Unique and fun getaway

Brett was super helpful and communicative. The boat was well furnished and thoughtfully stocked with supplies any fishing enthusiast would appreciate. If you're looking to get away from the city, this is a fantastic option.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location

Quiet time away

very different from the normal getaways. Great time together. Had our own little tinny to go exploring in. Just abit over priced
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing stay

Excellent communication with Brett. Very quick at responding to questions etc.Relaxing time on the houseboat. Boat is very clean and neat. The only concern is abit maintenance issue but other then that was very enjoyable.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Paradise

We had the pleasure of staying on the Flotel to celebrate our birthdays with our dogs. The place itself is beautiful, with modern touches and feels like you’re staying at a luxury hotel on the water. It was like a slice of heaven. Brett was a great host and made sure we had everything to make our stay wonderful. Can’t recommend this place or Brett enough!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Birthday Trip!

Flotel was PERFECT for our group to enjoy the houseboat experience without any hassle of manoeuvring the boat! Brett was approachable, accommodating and friendly, providing us with a boat tour and answering our questions both prior to and during the trip. The decor was stunning. The location was great. The top deck and kitchen/dining area were brilliant - if only we had lucked out with better weather! We're looking to book again - it's not an if, but a when! Thanks for hosting, Brett!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Paradise and seclusion

First - Brett the host is a great guy. Easy to communicate with, honest and on time with everything. The Flotel - wow! Spacious, clean, the views!!, no neighbours, and better decked out than most hotels. We had three little kids and the safety was great. There was no chance of kids falling overboard. Life jackets available, use of power boat was appreciated. Would stay again and would definitely recommend. Thanks Brett.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Stormy Sensation

First time on a Houseboat and hubby and I had the best time ever fishing from the ground deck and then relaxing on the third floor deck with a glass of wine, watching the sunset and then snoozing through the storm on our third nite. Brett was so easy to communicate with and Bailey was so friendly and they have the cutest book of instructions in the houseboat. If you have never been on a houseboat, you should try it. You never know, you might catch Blue Swimmer and Mud Crabs like we did, or Sting Ray like I did on our last morning!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Christmas Getaway!

We stayed on the Drift Flotel over Christmas and it was such an awesome experience. The weather was perfect and the vibes were pumping. The views to the Gold Coast were spectacular and the sunrises and sunsets were amazing! Brett contacted us a couple of days before to organise where to meet and was available for any questions during our stay. The boat was more spacious than we were expecting and was the perfect size for the 4 adults and our Cavoodle who came too. The tender came in handy for picking up one of our guests who arrived a bit later and for taking our dog to the shore for toilet stops. We enjoyed the sound system and TV in the upstairs bedroom which was easy to connect to. We loved our floating home away from home and highly recommend to anyone looking for a unique holiday experience!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great and Not So Great

Amazing location and set up for the houseboat. Views are amazing. Host was friendly and a great communicator. We had our own boat so didn’t need host to transport us or take us anywhere. We had pretty good weather while we were there. Loved the top deck. Arrived after it had been raining so carpet on the second level was saturated. The first 24 hours we could not get our feet dry. The lounge where our son was going to sleep was on that carpet and the throw on it was wet from the floor. It also smelled strongly of dog. That area was pretty much unusable so my son and daughter had to top and tail in one of the beds. This really shouldn’t be listed as ‘sleeps 6’. All carpet smelled like wet dog. We bought food that we couldn’t cook because the facilities did not allow it. No oven, cooktop didn’t work, cooking appliances caused the battery to beep. There is a BBQ, which we used.Overall we made do and had a nice time. I think if the ad was more realistic, our expectations wouldn’t have been so high. It’s a great concept and was a great experience but it was not luxury.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Jul 2025
Thanks for the kind words. I'm sorry your stay was not completely up to expectations. Unfortunately my previous guests had left the upstairs door open when there was a heavy downfall, which had saturated the carpet, and on a quick turn around I had no option to get the carpet dry. I've taken action on the wet dog smell, which was exasperated by the rain getting in, by using a disinfectant spray. There is an oven provided, which I show my guests during check in, one hot plate was working at the time, I was waiting on parts, all three gas hotplates now work. The battery will beep when multiple appliances are used, however, does not affect there usage. I'm sorry these issues effected your stay. I appreciate your feedback, I would of tried to remedy some of these issues if you had contacted me duryour stay. Thanks, Brett
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had the best time on the Drift Flotel! It was such a unique and relaxing experience, with everything we needed onboard. The peaceful water, beautiful views, and slow pace made it the perfect getaway. Watching the SeaFire fireworks from the water was an incredible bonus, and being able to bring our Frenchie along made it even more special. Highly recommend for anyone wanting to unwind and make unforgettable memories with the whole family!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, communication
Beautiful place to relax and enjoy a peaceful holiday. Everything you need and a great accomodating host. Kids and fur kid absolutely loved the experience, fishing, boating, exploring. We actually relaxed. Just wonderful.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Aug 2025
Friendly guests, left the Flotel clean
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