Norfolk Broads Boat Hire & Broads Boating Holidays

Choose from over 600 Norfolk Broads hire boats from eight locations across the Northern and Southern Broads. With hire boats to suit every budget and party size, you are sure to find your perfect Norfolk Broads boat hire. The Waterways Holidays booking team are all experienced Broads boaters who are always on hand to answer any questions you may have to assure you of the best possible boating holiday experience.

Hiring a boat on the Broads has been a popular choice for family boating holidays since the 1940's and today, boat hire on the Broads remains as popular as ever, with a huge choice of modern and traditional self-drive cruisers and yachts to suit every budget. A Norfolk Broads boating holiday provides a rich mix of attractions and activities suitable for all ages and parties. The Broads National Park offers 125 miles of easy lock free cruising which is perfect for beginners and experienced boaters alike. What's more, you don't need any previous boating experience to hire a boat on the Broads. Full instruction on handling your boat will be provided at the start of your boating holiday. Once underway, there is a great choice of waterfront pubs and restaurants, stunning scenery, spectacular wildlife and endless options for scenic country walks and water sports activities. Norfolk Broads boat hire is the ideal choice for a lock free, totally relaxing family boating holiday.

The Broads are brimming with idyllic Norfolk villages and market towns, offering access to the coast and Great Yarmouth as well as the historic city of Norwich. With a large choice of convenient moorings, there are plenty of areas to explore on foot, all easily accessible from your hire boat!

Local History of the Norfolk Broads

Originally thought to be an area of natural landscape, extensive research in the 1960s revealed that the Norfolk Broads were created by man. Over sixty Broads and six distinct rivers were created as a result of flooding following early peat digging (the peat was an important source of fuel), which dates back to the Roman era.

The managed reed marshes and wildlife habitats you see today attract over seven million visitors each year, offering tourists the opportunity to visit twenty-five sites of special scientific interest. Waterways Holidays offer a wide choice of boating holidays to cover the 125 miles of safe, lock free open waterways, from over ten marinas across the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads.

The Norfolk and Suffolk Broads are known collectively as the 'Broads National Park'.

Local Wildlife around the Broads

The Norfolk Broads, Britain's largest protected wetland is populated by a wide variety of spectacular and rare wildlife and plants. One well known example is the Swallowtail butterfly, Britain's largest butterfly, unique to the Broads, appearing in June and sometimes August to September in warm summers. Dragonflies and damselflies also abound. You may be lucky and spot otters, water voles, the timid Chinese water deer and if you walk to the beaches beyond Horsey Wind Pump, grey seals which arrive in early winter to give birth to their pups and are still there in early spring/summer.

Norfolk Broads Wildlife on a boating holiday

Fishing Breaks on the Broads

The Broads' diversity of lakes and rivers offer lots of fishing opportunities. During the Open Season you can expect to catch a selection of rudd, bream, perch, pike and tench. The course fishing season runs from 15th June to 15th March, the only requirement is an Environment Agency rod licence which can be purchased from any Post Office. Visit one of the many waterside angling shops to stock up on your fishing gear and bait. Hire a boat for your holiday afloat and moor up in the middle of nowhere for a quiet bit of fishing in the evening, watching the magnificent sunsets and wide open skies. Check live availability today using our holiday search to find your perfect Norfolk Broads boat hire.

Norfolk Broads Boat Hire

There are many types of hire boat available for holidaying on the Norfolk Broads. Try sailing a traditional wooden yacht; the oldest yacht you can hire is over 100 years old and is based on the design of a Victorian gentleman's yacht, perfect for 2. The larger yachts can sleep up to 8 people and if sailing isn't your thing, then you can still turn heads by hiring an original wooden Broads Cruiser, designed to be able to pass under the lowest of bridges on the River Thurne at Potter Heigham.

If you like a few mod cons then why not hire a cabin cruiser from the huge choice of modern comfortable cruisers. These boats can feature onboard heating, TVs and 240V mains type of power, complete with bow and stern thrusters for easy steering, sleeping from 2 people (2 berths) up to 12 berths.

norfolk broads boat hire - waterfront pub

Most boats are hired complete with bed linen. Some yachts have sleeping bags instead of duvets. All hire boats come with cooking facilities, pots and pans, crockery and cutlery. You usually need to bring your own towels. All boats have at least one toilet and all cruisers have showers. Because of their design it is not always possible to have a shower on a yacht, but there are showers close to overnight moorings around the Broads.

Tuition is always given on arrival with all the hire boats; if you are hiring a sailing yacht, it is best that you have sailed before, however, sailing instruction by a qualified RYA instructors can usually be arranged at extra cost.

Pet Friendly Norfolk Broads Boat Hire

Pets are welcome too! There are plenty of nature trails and open scenery to hop off and stretch your dog's legs. Many pubs on the Norfolk Broads are pet friendly. Why not treat your four legged companion to a dog life jacket, available in sizes to fit every breed and available to purchase online. We recommend choosing one with a wide support band under the chest and a strong comfortable lifting handle on top (just in case you need to lift them from the water).

Norfolk Broads Boat Hire - Sailing Yachts and motor cruisers

Broads Boat Hire Frequently asked Questions

There are a few different types of boats to hire on the Norfolk Broads. The dual steering cruisers are taller than the forward steering cruisers for example, which means they will have restrictions on which Broads bridges they can go under. When searching waterwaysholidays.com, check the individual boat's details which provides information about those bridges on the Norfolk Broads that the cruiser cannot pass under. All sailing yachts have masts which can be lowered for bridge passage. If you choose to hire a boat from Martham on the Norfolk Broads, you should be able to pass under all bridges, subject to tide and weather conditions. Most hire boats can't pass under Potter Heigham bridge, as this is the lowest on the Broads, however there is plenty of cruising to do without going further than Potter Heigham!

There are two types of dinghy that many of the boatyards on the Broads offer as an extra to tow behind your hire boat - a rowing dinghy (with oars) or a sailing dinghy with a little sail (also with oars). They can be useful if you can't get to the exact place you wish to moor and also good fun can be had once you are moored up for the day to go exploring or to try a little sailing before the sun goes down.

A bow thruster is an extra propellor at the front [bow] of the boat which when engaged, can move the boat sideways. Some boats also have stern thrusters which do the same for the back of the boat. Thrusters can help with mooring up especially if it's a bit windy. They are not essential however, even if it is your first boating holiday on the Norfolk Broads. There are plenty of hire boats on the Broads that do not have a bow thruster.

Although it is personal choice, below are some tips to help when booking your boating holiday on the Norfolk Broads:
Forward steering cruisers are all one level so ideal for groups with large dogs or those with slightly limited mobility. Many have an opening canopy over the front part of the boat.
Dual steering cruisers have a high second steering position [flybridge] to make the most of the views and enjoy cruising in the sunshine. When the weather is cooler or wet, steering [helming] can be done inside in the warmth of the saloon.
Central steering cruisers offer a push back roof, perfect for taking in the fresh air in the comfort of the saloon whilst meandering along the river.
Sedan cruisers usually have a raised helm [steering position] under cover, but with a good size rear deck which is perfect for fishing from when you're moored up in the evening/night.

Quite a few of the hire boats on the Broads are located above Great Yarmouth on the River Bure. The Northern Broads are typically busier with plenty of towns and villages to stop off and explore. If you are hoping for a more peaceful and scenic cruise then hiring a boat on the Southern Broads might be a better option for your boating holiday.

The Broads Authority strongly advises against swimming in the Norfolk Broads due to safety concerns with hire boat traffic, water currents & tides, hidden obstructions & reeds and potential water diseases. The exception is organised events that have been permited in designated areas to allow for open water swimming following a set of guidelines.

Mooring fees and charges vary on the Broads. There are free visitor moorings and mooring in a boatyard is generally free of charge. There are also moorings that belong to the Broads Authority or are privately owned, for example by a pub, which are clearly signposted along with the fee for mooring for 24 hours. Our free Waterways Holidays app can be downloaded onto your smart phone to use whilst on your holiday which includes the details for moorings, along with lots of other useful information.

Yes fishing is permitted and a great activity to enjoy whilst on holiday on the Broads, however please be aware that the Broads has a closed season, which is 14th March - 16th June. You need a valid rod licence and will need to bring your own fishing equipment. Lathams at Potter Heigham is a great local shop for purchasing any items you might need whilst on the Broads. Live bait is not permitted on your hire boat, and some cruisers are better suited to fishing than others. Motor cruisers with large rear decks are useful if you would like to fish whilst on your boating holiday.

Yes there are areas of the Broads that are tidal. This is mostly applicable to the Southern Broads where the tide can rise and fall approximately 1 or 2ft within hours. When cruising tidal areas of the Broads, you may need to use a ladder after mooring your hire boat. It is not noticable whilst cruising on the Northern Broads, although you may feel a slight movement when moored. Cruising through Breydon Water and to Great Yarmouth is tidal however, and you will be provided with the tide timetable to help if you choose to navigate this stretch of the Broads whilst on your boating holiday.

The Norfolk Broads is a perfect holiday destination for the whole family including children, with a great selection of attractions to discover. BeWilderwood is a popular choice for families - a treehouse adventure park with zip wires and mythical creatures, located in Horning. Pettits Animal Adventure Park located in Norwich is another great family friendly attraction. Wroxham Barns has a petting zoo, softplay, jumping pillows, go karting and plenty more to keep children of all ages entertained. Of course, children also get to enjoy cruising along in your hire boat, spotting the wildlife along the Broads and can even help to skipper with adult supervision!

It is compulsory to use the bridge pilots for navigating under Wroxham and Potter Heigham bridge - the fee is approximately £15 each way. You will need to check the tide timetable before navigating under bridges under the Broads and be aware of the draft of your hire boat (this information will be provided by the boatyard for you).

Unfortunately we do not have any boats available to hire on the Broads which are fully wheelchair accessible or recommended for those with limited mobility. However, motor cruisers with large rear decks are generally easier to access from a mooring and most forward steering boats are all one level throughout.

When hiring a boat from Wroxham, Horning, Potter Heigham, Upton or Martham, you can explore the main hub of the Northern Broads on the River Bure, all in a short break holiday. If starting from Brundall or Chedgrave, you will be exploring the picturesque scenic rivers on the Southern Broads - and can also visit the historic city of Norwich in a short break.

Shore power hookup enables you to connect to a three pin socket to assist with charging the boats battery and for powering high wattage appliances whilst onboard. Not all boats offer shore power, and it is not essential for boating on the Broads. There are limited mooring on the Broads that offer the hookup, so connecting to power overnight cannot be guaranteed.

Click for more information on routes and local attractions, or if you would prefer to hire a cottage on the waterfront in Wroxham village and watch the world go by. You can also purchase a Norfolk Broads map online.