July 4 marked three years since Saltwater Eco Tours first set sail on the Sunshine Coast. To celebrate the anniversary, founders Jenna Griffiths and Simon Thornalley reflect on their time connecting culture to the Coast.

From humble beginnings that saw them ride out the uncertainty of COVID-19 to becoming a mainstay of Sunshine Coast’s tourism, Saltwater Eco Tours have grown in leaps and bounds since they officially set sail three years ago. 

Launching amidst a global pandemic that flipped the tourism industry on its head, Jenna says “It was very risky. “We thought who knows what’s going to happen with the tourism market on the Sunshine Coast but we’ve got to give it a go.”

On 4 July 2020 they launched from The Wharf Mooloolaba but that wasn’t their official mooring. Back then their Heritage-Listed vessel, Spray of the Coral Coast, was moored at a private jetty. 

“Very early on we were renting a private jetty, from someone’s house,” remembers Jenna. “Spray of the Coral Coast’s home actually moved three times before The Wharf became her permanent home. It’s been a big achievement for us, coming full circle to the place we first launched.” 

Starting out, Saltwater Eco Tours offered two flagship tours offered once a week on a weekend. “Our initial offerings were one Cultural Tour on a Saturday and one Sunset Tour on a Sunday. Now we’re doing up to eight tours a week, easily,” says Jenna. 

Alongside their signature Cultural Tour, which immerses visitors in cultural storytelling and the tastes of native bush foods, and their Sunset Tours featuring live music by some of the Coast’s best musicians such as Andrea Kirwin, they’ve introduced a Native Bushfood and Seafood Cruise to their collection along with a food truck Simon and Jenna hope to expand on. 

Their team has grown too. First a family affair, they’ve strategically added to the team, which is now eight strong—including a cultural tour guide, Aunty Bridgette, and more recently a fully qualified chef—and have firmly established their place as a trailblazer in cultural tourism not just on the Sunshine Coast but Australia-wide. 

“Employing a fully qualified chef was a big goal for us,” says Jenna. “Nicole is incredible at what she does and has taken our lunchtime cruises to a whole new level.” 

An integral team member since day one, Spray of the Coral Coast has evolved with Saltwater Eco Tours. Now more than 100-years-old, Simon says she’s had many owners over the past century who did a great job maintaining her. 

“We completed an extensive refit to bring her up to today’s standards, allowing us to create our unique tours here on the Sunshine Coast,” says Simon. 

Since then Spray of the Coral Coast has been primped and preened in an ongoing restoration project that’s seen her get several facelifts since 2020. “We’ve done a lot of work on the boat. That’s been a huge part of the journey,” says Jenna. 

Passengers now enjoy a fully outfitted bar serving local brews, with a purpose-built canvas overhead for protection from the elements while they sling back a tipple or two. 

“Since launching to predominately the local community, we have since seen a significant change in visitors over the past three years, and people from all over the world looking for a unique experience. We’re grateful we are providing a space where people can come and engage in Cultural Tourism with Traditional Owners and be part of Maritime history on our vessel. Aunty Bridgette our tour guide has a wealth of cultural knowledge and family connections to the river system we operate on, it is truly special to learn from her”.

“We’re also providing an opportunity for artists to play in a unique outdoor and intimate setting. We are huge advocates for supporting the music community here on the coast and building those strong relationships to continue providing live music experiences”.