Brisbane - General Info
Where is Brisbane?
Brisbane is a major port and the capital city of the Australian state of Queensland. It is the country’s third largest city and is situated in the south-eastern corner of the state.
The city itself lies astride the Brisbane River, about 12 miles (19 km) from the river’s mouth which is towards the southern end of Moreton Bay. The commercial port is near the river mouth.
Brisbane enjoys year-round sunshine and clear blue skies and is also a gateway to the South East Queensland region and its world-renowned tourism destinations, stunning natural attractions and regional centres steeped in history, including the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich and Toowomba and the Darling Downs.
During the cyclone season, Brisbane is relatively safe from cyclones which most often occur north of Townsville. The occasional system will move south from the remnants of a cyclone bringing a few days of heavy rain and winds.
Brisbane is due to host the Olympic Games in 2032 – from July 23rd to August 8th.
Entrance Notes or Cautions for Brisbane:
The river bar is deep and may be crossed in any weather conditions or tidal state. It is relatively easy to navigate up the river from Moreton Bay to Brisbane City, with the only issues being the City Cats ferry service which operate up and down the river closer to the city.
However the current in the river can be strong at Rivergate Marina, where clearance formalities are carried out, so you may want to arrive at slack water, particularly if short handed.
Cruiser Highlights for Brisbane:
There are kilometres of board walks along the river that stretch from Kangaroo Point (Dockside Marina) to South Bank Parklands, with beaches, dining, markets, theatre, art galleries and library, all in one direction.
Moreton Bay is the gateway to Fraser Island and the Great Barrier Reef and there are many beautiful island cruising destinations nearby. Cruising highlights starting from the mouth of the Brisbane river to the city include the Brisbane cruise terminal, New Farm Park, Howard Smooth Wharves, Brisbane Riverside Precinct, Kangaroo Point Cliffs, South Bank and the Wheel of Brisbane. A wide range of repair facilities and trades near Rivergate which is about 8km from the CBD.
Rivergate Marina provides a comprehensive and informative Visitors Guide for Brisbane.
Dockside Marina also provides a guide to facilities and attractions in the CBD area surrounding the marina.
Even though it was written over 10 years ago, there is still a lot of useful Brisbane information on s/v Ceilydh’s blog.
Position:
27°28’25″S 153°1’56″E
Last updated: May 2024
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Related to following destinations: Brisbane, Queensland
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Hi Craig
We have updated our Brisbane information with input from Dockside Marina and Rivergate Marina. Brisbane is still a great place to visit with lots of amazing sailing experiences to be had up and down the Queensland/NSW coasts.
Good luck.
Although I do appreciate Ceilydhs’ blog is there any more recent information for Brisbane? 2011 was a long time ago and I’m sure that a lot has changed in 13 years. SV Russula is considering arriving in Australia November of 2024 from Fiji but we will need recent information to base our decision on. I know a few boats that are giving Australia a pass and continuing on to Indonesia but I really want to stop and explore this amazing country. I sailed into Brisbane myself in 2000 and found it to be a lovely place.
Couple of notes on Brisbane, March 2018:
As of July 1, 2017, Southport is now also a foreign vessel entry port. This is a temporary 1-year situation to cater to the Commonwealth Games in April 2018. Our Border Force inspector told us it had been very popular and would likely be extended. Call Border Force to inquire, but this may be easier for some folks compared with coming up the river to Rivergate.
Dockside marina was largely rebuilt after the 2011 floods. The A dock (25 short berths) is a separate lease and still (2018) fully silted in. The remainder of the marina (76 berths to 30m) was dredged in 2014/2015 and is now back in full operation. Shower facilities are OK, laundry machines marginal. A reasonable place to stay if you want to be downtown.
The Garden Point moorings are now City operated (formerly Port of Brisbane). In theory, at least they require AUD 10 million in third-party liability insurance in order to use.
Mooring is also possible on the south bank near Colmslie Reserve, just past the Gateway Bridge. This area has just been revamped and it contains fresh water taps, public toilets, and a dinghy wharf.
There is also a swimming pool within walking distance where hot showers can be had for $2.00 and supermarkets are about 2km away, which can be walked if you have the time. Dinghies should not be left here for more than a few days at a time, I had one stolen even though it was chained to a solid railing.
Hey Sue, As always you share some great info for those in your wake. We like most other Aussies have been both surprised & shocked by the appearance of Irukandji & Box Jellyfish in our southern Queensland waters this year.
We do hope that this is an anomaly and that these visitors will not return to our waters in future years. I would also like to thank you for putting this in perspective and not sensationalizing the situation. Cheers John H . Director Down Under Rally.
Irukandji, box jellyfish, and bluebottles have been responsible for stings along the Queensland coast this summer with several beaches closed at various times. The box jellyfish contain “one of the most powerful toxins known to man”.
Off Fraser Island, a spate of stings saw 10 people hospitalized and sparked fears of a southern Irukandji migration.
Putting it all in perspective, the actual danger to sailors in the greater Moreton Bay remains very low. The sightings are isolated incidents at this stage and if water temperatures return to normal in future summers, the migration south will cease or even reverse. But it is as well to be aware of the symptoms and seek treatment immediately if an Irukandji sting is suspected.
http://irukandjijellyfish.com/