Written by Kerryn Caulfield, Executive Director, Composites Australia Inc.
Since its first U.S. export in 1983, Riviera’s luxury motor yachts can today be found on the world’s greatest waterways. Each yacht is designed, engineered and built for independent coastal cruising, offshore passages and extended time aboard, often in remote anchorages. Riviera has built more than 6,300 luxury motor yachts in 46 years, accounting for substantial Australian exports over more than four decades.
Kyle Davison, Manufacturing Manager at Riviera, notes: ‘We are exporting world class luxury motor yachts that are today sought after around the world for their blue water heritage, immense luxury, meticulous engineering and built to last quality. Riviera yachts are regarded as being among the finest yachts built in the world.’
From its site on the Coomera River on the Gold Coast, Riviera operates a large-scale marine manufacturing facility, the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere. Spanning 16.8 hectares, the site accommodates concurrent yacht builds across dedicated production lines, with teams undertaking composite fabrication, engineering and systems integration, finishing trades and extensive QC processes.
The scale and layout enable consistent throughput and build quality, with multiple yachts progressing through successive simultaneous construction stages. Composite fabricators produce hulls, decks, flybridges, liners and structural components, establishing the yachts form and structural performance. Mechanical, electrical and fluid systems are then integrated, with propulsion, navigation and onboard systems installed and tested. Interior fit-out follows, undertaken by shipwrights and joiners. Each stage progresses through a defined production sequence and quality gates to final commissioning and launch at the company’s private Yacht Club on the Coomera River.
Riviera’s export journey began over 40 years ago, evolving into an ever-growing global dealer and service network. Initially, the company anchored its presence in the United States and Europe, laying the groundwork for future expansion. Building on this foundation, in 2012, Riviera set its sights on the Middle East and Asia, steadily growing to over 50 authorised dealerships spanning the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Australasia. Each region brings its own distinctive challenges. More than just sales, this network delivers in-market owner care including commissioning, servicing and technical support, fostering close connections with owners. As a result, these real-world insights are fed back into ongoing refinement of yacht design and configuration across operating environments unique to geography and climate.
Riviera exhibits at major international boat shows where buyers, dealers and industry stakeholders converge, including the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), Miami International Boat Show (MIBS) and the Cannes Yachting Festival in France. These large-scale, in-water exhibitions provide a platform for unveiling new models, engaging directly with global markets and supporting dealer activity across regions.
In Australia, the annual Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show serves as the company’s domestic showcase at its Gold Coast base, connecting owners, dealers and the local market while also attracting international buyers.
From the Gold Coast to the world’s most celebrated waterways, Riviera’s story is ultimately one of Australian craftsmanship earning its place among the finest boat builders in the world. Every yacht that leaves Coomera carries with it a distinctly Australian approach to the boating life — built for independence, engineered for endurance and designed for the open water. As Riviera continues to grow its reach across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and beyond, it does so as an ambassador for Australia and our boating lifestyle.
