Byron Bay’s hottest new attraction: inside the luxe floating cocktail bar making waves at Brunswick Heads

THREE years after coming up with the idea of launching a floating cocktail bar on the river at Brunswick Heads, Dean Fuchs and Helen Caruana are excited to see their dream come to life.

Caruana said it felt surreal welcoming guests aboard the MV Jasmine for what she describes as a sophisticated and elevated experience, which comes complete with a wraparound marble bar, booth seating and a high-end sound system.

“We have worked so hard to get it here and now it’s finally here,” she said. “It feels like I’m watching my own movie or something.”

The couple, who also operate whale-watching company Out of the Blue Adventures, purchased the 18-metre vessel from Byron Bay Eco Cruises and had it refurbished by Commercial Marine Australia in Brisbane.

“It started off as a renovation and ended up being rebuilt,” Caruana said.

Caruana said the response from guests so far has exceeded all expectations, with locals praising the new attraction and its value to the community.

“A lot of people have said they have lived here for years and they haven’t been up the river before,” she said.

While the weather has been variable since its launch last week, Caruana said the vessel is suitable for all conditions, with a retractable canvas rooftop covering the open-air upper deck.

“I was stressing about the weather and all our guests were saying how beautiful it is when it’s raining,” she said. “The colours of the river are so vibrant. It’s green when it’s raining and turquoise when it’s sunny.”

The timing of the brunch, lunch and sunset cruises changes daily based on the tides, and bookings for private events and functions are already strong in the lead-up to Christmas.

Although the onboard experience features a Mediterranean-style menu and signature cocktails, the couple is also collaborating with local restaurants on a series of summer pop-up events.

Their December 5 collaboration with The Hut chef Bruno Conti has already sold out, with more events scheduled, including an Azteca Margarita bar takeover on December 7 and a Light Years pop-up on January 5. Plans for a New Year’s Eve cruise are also underway, though details remain under wraps.

“We also have plans for some big Australian bands to come on board, which we will announce shortly,” Caruana said.

Although the vessel has capacity for 74 people, the couple has restricted passengers at 64 to ensure a high level of service.

“At our soft launch the plan was to overstaff it then go back to what we imagined but realistically we need eight to ten crew to look after all the guests,” Caruana said.