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Most trips to Sydney follow the same script: the Opera House steps, a ferry to Manly, a long lunch with a view. All lovely, and all shared with everyone else in town. A private yacht charter rewrites that script. The harbour becomes the destination, the yacht becomes the hotel, and the view of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge belongs to you alone.
For travellers based in Asia, Sydney is a single overnight flight away, which makes a private yacht charter a realistic way to mark a milestone, gather friends, or simply see Australia differently. One of the newest names on the water is ORRAIA, which began with a single superyacht on Sydney Harbour in 2024 and has since grown into yacht charter, private aviation, private transfers and curated stays.
Meet ORRAIA: one yacht that became a world
The story starts with the namesake vessel. M/Y ORRAIA is a custom Horizon FD90, delivered in 2024 and described by the brand as the first of her kind in Australia.
The brand philosophy fits in one line: once in a lifetime, all the time. The idea is that the welcome, the detail and the service should feel the same on your first charter as on your tenth.
That standard now reaches well beyond the harbour. Charters run in Sydney, the Whitsundays and the Gold Coast, with destinations across Oceania, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, plus private jets, luxury car transfers and private villas to connect the whole journey.
The fleet: choosing the right yacht
Choosing a private yacht charter mostly comes down to two questions: how many people, and day or overnight. ORRAIA’s fleet answers three quite different briefs.
| Yacht | Length | Guests by day | Guests overnight | In ORRAIA’s words |
| M/Y ORRAIA | 27.45m (90ft) | 49 | 10 | The flagship, setting the ORRAIA standard |
| Northern Escape | 40.8m (134ft) | 50 | 12 | A modern superyacht built around outdoor living |
| Orraia Riva | 11.88m (39ft) | 8 | 2 | A more intimate expression of the ORRAIA standard |
Life on board M/Y ORRAIA
The flagship carries five cabins (one master, two VIP and two twin), each with its own ensuite. Indoor and outdoor dining areas are sheltered, there is a spa on deck, and 5G WiFi keeps you connected if you must be.
For anyone who plans trips around food, this is the detail that matters: private chefs build the menu around your charter rather than handing you a set list. Lunch is served on deck, and dinner tends to run long as the city lights come up across the water.
ORRAIA paints a typical night like this: a morning in a glassy cove off Middle Harbour, a swim from the platform, then breakfast on the aft deck while the crew plan the day. A Capelli tender for up to twelve guests, plus kayaks and paddleboards, means you can explore quiet beaches and bays that larger boats cannot reach.
What a private yacht charter in Sydney costs
These are the published rates for M/Y ORRAIA, in Australian dollars, as listed on orraia.com in October 2026.
| Charter | Price (AU$) |
| Day charter (four hour minimum) | 3,500 per hour |
| Eight hours, up to 49 guests | 24,000 |
| Overnight, one night | from 28,000 |
| Three nights | from 70,000 |
| Five nights | from 90,000 |
| Seven nights | from 110,000 |
Shared across a full group, the numbers look very different. Eight hours with 49 guests works out at roughly AU$490 a head on the charter fee. Confirm exactly what is included when you enquire.
Beyond Sydney: the Whitsundays and the Gold Coast
M/Y ORRAIA is not limited to the harbour. The Whitsundays offer 74 islands in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, with short passages between anchorages, warm water and the reef just beyond.
Further south, the Gold Coast pairs golden beaches and warm open water with the green hinterland behind. Combine either with ORRAIA’s private aviation and you can move from harbour to reef without a single airport queue.
Planning a private yacht charter from Asia
- Start with the occasion and the headcount. These two answers decide which yacht fits.
- Decide day or overnight. M/Y ORRAIA sleeps ten, Northern Escape twelve, and Orraia Riva two.
- Think about the whole journey. ORRAIA can arrange private aviation and luxury car transfers, so the trip feels seamless from arrival to departure.
- Mention the reason you are travelling. Weddings, milestone birthdays and corporate events each have dedicated planning.
- Send the basics. Share your date, occasion and guest numbers, and the charter team replies with availability and a plan for the day.
Frequently asked questions
How many guests can join a private yacht charter on Sydney Harbour? Up to 49 guests per day on M/Y ORRAIA, 50 on Northern Escape, and 8 on Orraia Riva.
Can you stay on board overnight? Yes. M/Y ORRAIA hosts ten guests overnight, Northern Escape twelve and Orraia Riva two.
What is the minimum booking? Day charters on M/Y ORRAIA have a four hour minimum.
Where else can you charter with ORRAIA? In Australia, Sydney Harbour, the Whitsundays and the Gold Coast, with wider destinations across Oceania, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.
Book your charter
If you are ready to swap the ferry queue for your own deck, start planning your private yacht charter on Sydney Harbour with ORRAIA. Enquiries from overseas are easiest by email at
enquiries@orraia.com.