End of an era: Choo Choo Explorer for sale

John Morris sells Catamaran

Jamie Jansen

Journalist

Email Jamie
Last updated:
The Choo Choo Explorer is in excellent working order and ready to go immediately. Image: supplied

The end of an era will soon be marked as John Morris’ beloved Choo Choo Explorer is up for sale.

Incorporated with the Bally Hooley train, the 14.6 metre catamaran took visitors to the farthest reaches of the Dickson Inlet.

Due to Covid, the steam train and the Explorer stopped running for a couple of years. With the train carriages making their final run in September last year to their new and final home at the Choo Choos Café at the marina, the sale of the Explorer will mean the complete closure of this chapter. 

The vessel has all the permits to continue to go up the inlet and also to go to the Great Barrier Reef. Image: supplied

The shallow draft of the jet-powered vessel allowed people to get close and personal with the locals and explore the farthest reaches of Port Douglas’ iconic waterway.

John Morris said that the boat is in excellent working order and ready to go immediately. “The vessel has all the permits to continue to go up the inlet and also to go to the Great Barrier Reef,” Mr Morris said.

He added that it is also possible to buy the permits separately. “The pontoon at the Dixon Inlet is also available for sale. People can buy the Explorer without the permits and the pontoon or they can buy the three of them together or separately.

“Hopefully we can find a buyer who would like to continue the tours up the inlet, it would be nice to see it continue.”

History of the boat

Mr Morris bought the vessel in Port Lincoln, South Australia where she was used for whale- and tuna watching tours. 

“We wanted a shallow draft vessel that would allow us to go up the inlet, ideally a jet-boat. We flew down to Port Lincoln to buy it, sailed it across to Adelaide, trucked it to the Gold Coast and then sailed it up to Port Douglas.”

Mr Morris has owned the vessel for six years now and has fond memories of it. “It will be sad to see it go but I am sure it will find a nice new home.”

Additional Information about the Choo Choo Explorer:

  • 14.6 metre Cougar Cat
  • AMSA Survey
  • Includes GBRMPA permit and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Survey (QPWS)
  • Permits for GBR
  • Inventory and specifications available
  • Offers accepted starting at $400,000
  • Dixon Inlet 2,4 x 6 metre fibreglass pontoon with boarding ramp is also available for sale separately

Contact Don Newton: 0427 988 328 for inspection. 

 

Thank you!

Newsport thanks its advertising partners for their support in the delivery of daily community news to the Douglas Shire. Public interest journalism is a fundamental part of every community.

Got a news tip? Let us know! Send your news tips or submit a letter to the editor here.

* Comments are the opinions of readers and do not represent the views of Newsport, its staff or affiliates. Reader comments on Newsport are moderated before publication to promote valuable, civil, and healthy community debate. Visit our comment guidelines if your comment has not been approved for publication.