About us

Saltwater Eco Tours is a Mooloolaba based company creating unique marine experiences aboard their beautifully restored 114-year old timber sailing vessel “Spray of the Coral Coast”.
Now based at the Wharf Mooloolaba, Saltwater Eco Tours is in its 3rd year of operation and successfully planted itself within the growing Tourism Industry on the Sunshine Coast (Gubbi Gubbi/Kabi Kabi Country).  The highly passionate and dedicated team led by Simon Thornalley and partner Jenna, are continually providing authentic experiences to locals and visitors to the region on a weekly basis through the Cultural Experience with Traditional Owner Bridgette Chilli, Bushtucker cruises and Sunset Tours with Live Music.

In the short time since launching, the company have received many awards and accolades including:
Eco Tourism Certification, Respecting Our Cultural Certification, TripAdvisor's Travellers Choice Award 2021-2022, Best of QLD Experiences 2022, Young Achievers Award - GOLG (QTIC 2021) and continual 5 - star reviews on TripAdvisor and Google Review. 
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Launched in early 2020, the company realises the vision of Simon Thornalley, a young Indigenous man of Torres Strait Island descent who was born on the Sunshine Coast and introduced to his sailing lifestyle by his parents who were world class sailors and environmentalists themselves.  
That vision was to establish a unique tourism experience that would inspire a deeper connection to Indigenous culture and the ocean. 
Collaboration with Local Traditional Owners of the Kabi Kabi first nation people ensures that Saltwater Eco Tours delivers an authentic local visitor experience, sharing the timeless wisdom of the world’s oldest continuous living cultures, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

SAIL BACK IN TIME

Welcome aboard the “Spray of the Coral Coast”, a 114 year old, classic 58ft gaff-rigged Huon-pine ketch with a fascinating history. 

This beautifully restored traditional sailing vessel was launched in 1925 after being built to the same plan as the “Spray”, the boat used by Joshua Slocum to become the first person to circumnavigate the globe, covering more than 46,000 miles between April, 1895, and June, 1898. She is now thought to be the oldest Spray sailing in Australia and possibly the world. 

Above deck, there is plenty of space for up to 35 guests and the addition of a roller furling headsail makes getting underway an easier task than it was in Slocum’s day. Below deck there is no sign of hardship or age. She has berths for seven, a full head, a stainless-steel galley and a large and comfortable saloon. The partially enclosed cockpit has comfortable seating for up to ten guests.
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