Brisbane

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Brisbane Cruising Guide

An online cruising guide for yachts sailing to Brisbane.

Moreton bay.png Brisbane and Moreton Bay - click for larger view
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27°28.256′S, 153°1.41′E
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Overview

Brisbane is the capital of Queensland, the state of prepetual sunshine. Residents of this fair city have an outdoor, beachgoing lifestyle with boating and fishing being very popular. The multitude of islands and channels off the coast make for waters protected from the ravages of the open sea and afford good recreational boating even for those with little inexperience.

Cruising the region

Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland, and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of 2.24 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred on Brisbane, encompasses a population of more than 3 million. The Brisbane central business district is situated inside a bend of the Brisbane River, approximately 15 kilometres (9 NM) from its mouth at Moreton Bay.

Moreton Bay itself has wide sandbanks, many muddy/tidal islands, and difficult shallows. Navigate with care, paying attention to any buoys and chart details. It's a common saying that there are two types of boat in Brisbane -- those that have hit bottom in Moreton Bay and those that have not yet hit bottom in Moreton Bay.

As a yachting destination, despite being the capital, Brisbane is frequently overshadowed by the nearby Southport region on the Gold Coast.

Charts

Australian Hydrographic Service
Aus235 - Australia East Coast - Queensland - Approaches to Moreton Bay
Aus236 - Australia East Coast - Queensland - Moreton Bay
Aus237 - Australia East Coast - Queensland - Brisbane River The Bar to Lytton Reach
Aus814 - Australia East Coast - Queensland - Point Danger to Cape Moreton

Radio Nets

Weather

Sub-tropical with sunshine most of the year but a tendency for sudden heavy downpours during the summer months, often depositing inches of rain in a few hours. In winter the sun drops out early and fast, as if someone had turned out the lights. Queensland is the only Australian state that didn't go with Daylight Savings, the Premier of the time—Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen—giving the reason that getting up earlier would confuse the cows and fade the curtains. It could only happen in Queensland!

Approach and Navigation

Getting into and out of Brisbane is not always trivial. Study the charts in detail.

Your two main routes are:

  • From the north, via the North East or North West passages, around the north end of Moreton Island.
  • From the south, via the Gold Coast Seaway near Southport, and then via the inland waterways. Attempt this only with detailed local knowledge, a full set of tide charts, and extreme patience.

The northern route is most strongly recommended. There are two sub-routes here, one via the North East passage which takes you wide around the top of Moreton Island. The other is via one of the Freeman Passages (I prefer the Inner Freeman Passage) nearer to Moreton Island itself. Study your charts in detail -- many parts of Moreton Bay are quite shallow, and it is very easy to end up on a shoal here.

There are two other routes, which are:

  • South Passage, between Moreton Island, and North Stradbroke Island.
  • Jumpinpin, between North and South Stradbroke Islands.

The simplest advice is: do not attempt either of these passages in a keelboat. They are shallow, and the sandbars shift constantly. You will end up aground. Locals who do these passages all of the time may be keen to try them with you for a bit of a laugh, but even so they are exceedingly dangerous.

Check-in facilities in Brisbane

Rivergate Marina is the mandated entry facility for cruising yachts. It is located about 10nm up the Brisbane River on the port side, just before the Gateway Bridge. As at 2009 Australian Customs requires at least 96 hours notice by phone or email, radio may not be used, and failure to notify will incur a hefty penalty.

Brisbane Marinas and Yacht Clubs

Manly

Manly Harbour - click for larger view

There is a big multi-marina complex at Manly.

Take care entering Manly Harbour to stick strictly to the entry channel. Surrounding water can be under 1 metre, the channel and harbour is dredged to 2m SAT, so vessels with over 3m draft should only enter at high tide, and those over 4m should seek another location. Tides in this area are 1.5 to 2.5m.

Trains run from Manly to Brisbane City on a regular basis. Brisbane Airport is approximately 30 minutes trip by taxi, costing about $A50. Please note the Google photo is out of date, the pile moorings shown in the middle of the harbour have been removed, extensions to the MBTBC and RQYS marinas now fill most of that space with a central channel.

  • Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club. ph: 3893 0810
    ** 34 Fairlead Crescent, Manly.
    Google maps link: Map
    Note that the club itself and the marina are about 5-10 minutes walk apart, in different buildings. The club is open 7 days/week but the marina keeps normal hours 9am-5pm Mon-Fri.
    Contact Email for marina pricing details.
    Fuel and 35 tonne travelift / hard stand facilities are available. There is a laundry, and other facilities (showers, toilets, etc) are excellent.
  • East Coast Marina
    This is a commercial marina which accepts small cruisers and permits live-aboards.
  • Wynnum-Manly Yacht Club
    Private club.
  • Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron
    Private club, members and members of affiliated clubs only.

Brisbane River

  • Rivergate Marina is the Brisbane port of entry facility for cruising yachts. The marina is located about 10nm up the Brisbane River just before the Gateway Bridge. It has first class berthing and hardstand facilities, however development of the retail complex is currently stalled. There is no public transport in walking distance of this facility at present (Jan 2009), although Brisbane's excellent Rivercat service may soon service the complex.

Scarborough Boat Harbour

Scarborough Harbour - click for larger view
  • Scarborough Marina is in the Scarborough Boat Harbour, on the Redcliffe peninsula about 40 minutes drive north of Brisbane. There is a chandler present as well as some repair facilities.

Anchorages

List details of all safe anchorages in the area.

Yacht Services and Repairs

Also see each Port

Brisbane's Marine stores

  • Whitworths is the best known marine chandlery in Australia, and the Wollongabba and Breakfast Creek stores are conveniently located in Brisbane.
  • BIAS Boating Warehouse is also a good supplier of all marine equipment. Their showrooms are more widely distributed than those of Whitworths. Brisbane shops are at Tingalpa, Slacks Creek, and Virginia.
  • Bargain Boat Bits sell boat bits, sometimes at a bargain price. Caveat: shop around, as the name of the store may not reflect any relation to having consistently the lowest prices.
  • At Manly, Muir Marine offer a full chandlery service near the marinas.

Repairs/Yards

My past experience with Brisbane repair facilities, in particular those at Manly Harbour, is that their quality of work leaves something to be desired. If I were seeking repairs in Brisbane then I would be more tempted to take my yacht to Southport.

  • Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron at Manly Harbour has a haul out yard and various repair facilities.

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Fuel
Give details on fuel
Water
Water can be obtained at all marina berths.
Electricity
Electricity can be obtained at all marina berths. Electricity in Australia is 240V AC, 50Hz.

Offshore Islands

Things to do Ashore

Tourism

List places of interest, tours, etc.

Grocery & Supply Stores

Eateries

Internet/WiFi

Available?

Laundry

Motorbike & Car Rentals

Garbage Disposal

?

Transportation

Transportation (local and/or international)

Routes/Passages To/From

Popular passages/routes, timing, etc.

Cruiser's Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

References & Publications

  • The Queensland Government publication Beacon to Beacon can be obtained in any chandlery and contains a comprehensive set of charts for all Queensland waterways and satellite photographs of most harbours, entrances, and anchorages. This is a "must have" publication for cruising in Queensland. Although the charts are not legal navigation charts they're likely to be more up to date than those from the Hydrostatic office or those in your chart plotter. (Comment: Since the Australian Hydrographic Service is the official source of correct maps, this is a ludicrous suggestion. Use the official maps! --Haiqu 04:23, 6 June 2011 (BST))
  • Alan Lucas's Cruising the Coral Coast if you're heading north, and Cruising the NSW Coast if you're heading south.

Forum Discussions

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

External Links

Personal Notes

Personal experiences:

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:


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SailorSmiley.gifContributors to this page

Names: Lighthouse, Delatbabel, Yttrill, Haiqu


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