Do you need a licence to ride a jet ski in Airlie Beach?
By GSL Marine · 31 October 2026
Quick answer: You don’t need a jet ski licence to ride on GSL Marine’s guided Hour of Power in Airlie Beach. You also don’t need any experience. To take out a jet ski on your own in Queensland, though, you need both a recreational marine driver licence and a personal watercraft (PWC) licence. On our tour, drivers must be 16 or older, passengers 8 or older with an adult driver, and the price is $197 per jet ski for one or two riders.
Local details: GSL Marine
GSL Marine, Port of Airlie Marina, Port Dr, Airlie Beach QLD 4802
Phone: (07) 4015 4191 · Open daily 9am to 5pm
Check-in: the jet ski desk inside Rufus & Co Cafe, 33 Port Drive, Port of Airlie. Arrive 30 minutes before your departure for check-in and the safety briefing. Parking is available at Port of Airlie.
Queensland jet ski licence rules, in plain English
Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) sets the rules for jet skis, which the law calls personal watercraft (PWC). To drive one yourself in Queensland, you need one of these:
- a personal watercraft licence and a recreational marine driver licence, or
- a personal watercraft licence and a commercial marine licence as master, or
- a licensed person on board who can take control immediately if anything goes wrong.
MSQ also says a supervised unlicensed driver can’t carry passengers, other than the licence holder supervising them. So if you’re planning to hire or borrow a jet ski and ride on your own, you’ll need to get licensed first.
Why you don’t need a licence on a guided tour
Guided jet ski tours run under Queensland’s separate hire-and-drive rules for commercial operators. Under those rules, unlicensed riders can operate a jet ski while a qualified tour guide supervises them directly. The operator also has to brief every rider on safe operation before they head out. That’s how a first-timer can ride their own jet ski on our tour without a licence.
In practice, it means:
- a full safety briefing before you get on the water
- a local guide out in front the whole time, setting the route and the pace
- life jackets and safety gear provided
- a route that suits the day’s conditions, chosen by the guide
Who can ride on the Hour of Power
- Drivers: 16 years or older.
- Passengers: 8 years or older, riding with an adult driver (18+).
- Weight: a maximum combined weight of 200 kg per jet ski.
- Language: drivers need to understand and follow the safety briefing in English.
- Licence and experience: none needed.
What the Hour of Power is like
Check in at the jet ski desk inside Rufus & Co Cafe, 33 Port Drive, 30 minutes before you leave. That time covers check-in and your safety briefing, and it’s separate from your hour on the water. Your guide shows you the controls, then leads the group out through the superyacht moorings at Port of Airlie. That’s a 6-knot zone, so everyone takes it slowly.
Once you’re clear of the moorings, the group opens up across Airlie Bay toward Pigeon Island. Around the island the guide slows everyone down so you can look out for sea turtles and grab a photo. Turtles are never guaranteed, so treat any sighting as a bonus. Then you ride back through the moorings to the dock. The exact route always depends on the wind and water on the day.
If a driver and passenger want to swap, ask the guide. A swap can only happen at a designated stop, and only when the guide says conditions allow.
Book the Hour of Power jet ski safari
Price: per jet ski, not per person
The Hour of Power is $197 per jet ski, and one or two people can ride. Share with a friend or partner and it works out at $98.50 each. That price is from the live booking page, checked 31 October 2026, and the booking page always shows today’s price.
What to bring
- Swimwear, or clothes you don’t mind getting wet
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- A towel
- A waterproof camera, if you have one
Leave valuables you don’t need on shore, and secure anything loose. Parking is available at Port of Airlie, about five minutes’ walk from Rufus & Co Cafe.
What if the weather turns?
Safety comes first. Tours can be changed or cancelled for high winds, storms or rough seas. If we cancel, you’ll be offered a full refund or a free reschedule.
Make a day of it
The Hour of Power fits easily into a morning or afternoon in Airlie Beach. If you’ve got a spare full day, pair it with a Whitehaven Beach tour. Travelling with kids? Read our Whitehaven Beach with kids guide. You’ll find more on the ride itself on our jet ski tours page.
