FAQ / Important information

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What are the check in and check out times?

    BBQ Boat and Fishing Boat Hires


    Half-day hire:

    • Check in 8.30am / Check out 12.30pm

    • Check in 1.00 / Check out 5.00pm


    Full day hire:

    • Check in: 8.30am

    • Check out 4.30pm


    Houseboat hires

    • Check in 10 or 11am

    • Check out  1.00 or 2.00pm the next afternoon

  • What is the best time of year to visit

    The wetlands are only generally accessible from April to November. They are beautiful in varying different ways throughout this period with an abundance of water lilies, fantastic wildlife and plenty of birds." Our peak tourist season if from mid-June to mid -August so avoiding this period if possible will mean a quieter experience on the wetlands.

  • Can I bring my own boat to tow along?

    Yes but an extra boat must be tied to the side and not at the back of the houseboat.

  • How long does it take to drive from Darwin

     From Darwin to Corroboree Billabong is 105km. We recommend people allow 90 minutes to drive from Darwin to the departure point at Corroboree Billabong.

  • Is the road passable for two wheel drive + hire vehicles?

    Yes from the Arnhem highway there is 18 kms of sealed road and the last 2 kms is unsealed into the carpark. This unsealed section is graded every 6 weeks during the season and only a little slippery if we have had a lot of rain early or late in the season (please phone 0429 889 342 if concerned).

  • Can I charge my phone?

    Yes, bring your 12 volt charger or usb cables, the houseboats have 12v plugs for charging and running all small devices.

  • How much bond do I need to pay

    Bond required on the small BBQ boats and fishing boats is $200. Bond Required on the Houseboats and larger BBQ boat Maree is $500.

  • How can the bond be paid?

    Please contact our reception to make the bond payment.

  • What additional charges are there?

    - Fuel used on houseboats and large BBQ boat (Maree) is not included

    - Any boat returned with fishing line around the propeller will incur a $50 charge at the end of hire.

    - Late return of vessels at end of hire will incur an hourly late return fee.

    - the hirer is responsible for any damage caused during hire

  • Will 6 adults fit on the small houseboats?

    Not comfortably, the top bunks on the small houseboats are designed for children however 6 adults will comfortably stay on the three to two large houseboats.

  • Can we fish from the houseboats?

    Yes, you sure can!

  • Will we see crocodiles on the billabong

    Almost certainly, its very rare not to see crocodiles as the Mary River system contains the largest natural population of saltwater crocodiles in the world. The time of year you visit and the time of day that you travel on the water, will determine if the crocs are swimming in the water or sunning themselves on the bank.

  • Are we safe from crocodiles?

    Yes the Houseboats and BBQ boats are crocodile safe, they are fully caged above one meter so as long as you are abiding by our rules - No Swimming No leaning over the water.

  • Where can I get ice?

    You need to purchase ice before you arrive at the Billabong.The closest place to purchase ice is from the Corroboree Park Tavern.

  • Is there shade on the boats

    Yes, all boats have canopies that will provide shade during the day. You may still be in the sun at certain times of day, so we do recommend you still bring sunscreen and a wide brimmed hat along with you.

  • Can we bring pets along

     Sorry, but pets are not allowed on the boats.

  • Is there drinking water?

    Yes there is 200 litres of Drinking Water on board each houseboat.

  • What do I need to bring?

    All your own food, personal gear, repellents, sunscreen and an extra esky for drinks is also recommended. All crockery cutlery cooking utensils pots pans and linen are on board.

  • Can I bring mosquito candles?

    No, we provide thermocells which we believe work better and are safer. We would prefer no naked flames or candles on the boats. Any dripped wax will incur an extra cleaning charge.

  • Can I bring along an esky?

    Yes, guests can bring along their own esky or hire one.

  • Are there extra blankets on board?

    Yes, you can find extra blankets in the cupboards.

  • Do I need to supply my own gas bottle for the BBQs?

    No, we provide gas bottles for guest use

  • Is there hot water on board?

    Yes, there is a small gas unit to provide hot water to the shower, sink and hand basin.

  • Can we bring a 12 volt portable fridge with us

    No. Running a portable fridge on the houseboat power supply will draw additional current from the deep cycle battery power supply and the solar panels will be unable to keep up with the power being used. This will lead to flat batteries and failure of critical appliances on the boat such as water pumps, main fridges etc.

  • Is there 240V power available?

    Generally, DO NOT plan on using 240 volt devices. We have small inverters capable of providing 240 volt power to charge phones and other low use energy appliances (only in emergencies). We have plenty of 12 volt plugs and USB ports available on the houseboats, so please plan your trip wisely.

  • Is there phone coverage?

    Telstra have limited coverage but it is possible to pick it up around the billabong intermittently. No other providers have coverage in this area. We do offer Starlink as an additional option when you hire out any of the Houseboats.

  • Can I hire a fishing boat to go with the houseboat?

    Yes, our fishing boats can be hired in conjunction with the houseboats.

  • Is fuel included in the hire?

     Fuel is only included in the hire of fishing boats and the smaller 6 and 10 person BBQ boats. Fuel is charged on a usage basis for the houseboats and larger BBQ boat Maree ( 20 person).

  • How much will fuel cost?

    The average cost of fuel used on the Houseboats and larger BBQ boat Maree, will be between $40 - $60 when driven as instructed.

  • Will I be able to drive the boat without any experience?

    Yes, we give you an extensive lesson and they are very easy for beginners to drive.

  • Can we swim?

    NO SWIMMING No entering the water at all. There are crocodiles in all the waterways.

  • Is there fishing gear available?

    Yes we have rods, tackle and landing nets to hire.

  • Is there an oven on the houseboat?

    Yes there is a 4 burner stove with oven and grill.

  • Is there a fridge on board?

    Yes there is 200 litre fridge with small freezer on all houseboats.

  • Is there linen and towels?

    Yes. All linen pillows and towels are provided.

  • What age must the drivers be?

    All hire boats must be driven by an adult 21 years or older.

  • How many litres of water does the boat hold?

    The houseboats hold 200 litres of drinking and sink water. Billabong water is used for the shower, toilet and hand basin.

  • Are cooking utensils and crockery provided?

    Yes, cooking utensils and crockery can be found in the kitchen.

  • Where can I hire the boats from?

    You can hire the boats at the billabong.

  • Is there 24-hour support?

    Yes. During office hours from 8am - 5pm, you can contact reception on 0429 889 342. After hours support is available for assistance with vessel equipment, vessel faults and medical emergencies only.

Important information

Consumer Data / Privacy Policy

Corroboree Houseboats regards customer privacy as an important part of our relationship with our customers and our privacy policy conforms to internet privacy standards. If you have questions or concerns regarding our privacy policy please contact our reservations manager on 0429889342. In order to use our website, we may require information from you to help us provide the best service possible. All correspondence may be collected and stored, particularly in regards to sales, support and accounts, including email. Any information collected by Corroboree Houseboats is collected via correspondence with you or your company. This may be via the telephone, email, mail, fax or directly through our website. Any details collected from customers is required to provide you with our products and/or services, and a high level of customer service. Correspondence is recorded in order to provide service references, and to assist in our staff development. The security of your personal information is important to us. When you enter sensitive information (such as credit card numbers) on our website, we encrypt that information using secure socket layer technology (SSL). When credit card details are collected, we simply pass them on in order to be processed as required. We never permanantly store complete credit card details. We follow generally accepted industry standards to protect the personal information submitted to us both during transmission and once we receive it. If you have any questions about security on our website you can email us at info@Corroboreehouseboats.com.au.

Security Policy

Corroboree Houseboats uses RezdyPay for its online credit card transactions. RezdyPay is an integrated payment gateway designed specifically for tour operators, combining the functionality of a merchant account and a payment gateway in one solution. This integration streamlines payment processing, ensuring a secure and efficient experience for both businesses and customers.


RezdyPay meets and exceeds the most stringent industry standards for security. It is powered by Stripe, which is audited by a PCI-certified auditor and is certified to PCI Service Provider Level 1—the highest level of certification available. This ensures that all payment transactions are handled with the utmost security and compliance. All credit card transactions performed on this site using the RezdyPay gateway are secured payments. Payments are fully automated with an immediate response. Your complete credit card number cannot be viewed by any outside party. All transactions are performed under a 128-bit SSL certificate. All transaction data is encrypted for storage within Stripe's bank-grade data center, further protecting your credit card data.


RezdyPay is an authorized third-party processor for all major Australian banks. At no time does RezdyPay touch your funds; all monies are directly transferred from your credit card to the merchant account held by Corroboree Houseboats. For more information about RezdyPay and online credit card payments, please visit www.rezdy.com

Disclaimer/ Indemnity

Corroboree Houseboats accept no responsibility for the loss or damage of personal articles. Corroboree Houseboats will not be held responsible for any personal injury sustained by clients due to actions beyond our control. Subject To road and weather conditions, unforeseen circumstances and mechanical failure, Corroboree Houseboats reserves the right to cancel departures. Corroboree Houseboats also reserve the right to cancel a tour if the group numbers are not sufficient, in such cases full refunds will be given. Any costs incurred by a client as a result of a delay or cancellation, including failure to make connections with any other service, are the responsibility of the passenger. We strongly recommend that all passengers have their own travel insurance to cover losses. Full refunds on bookings made directly with the operator will be provided for any cancellations due to Covid19 lockdowns and passengers being unable to travel or if travel will result in any quarantine period. Cancellation fees are 10% charge outside 14 days, 25% charge from 14 –8 days, 50% charge from 7—4 days and 100% charge within 72 hours of departure.