Brisbane River cruising guide for yachts. The Brisbane River is the primary deep‑water access route into Moreton Bay and the region’s official port of entry for yachts arriving from overseas. It is the only all‑weather entrance suitable for vessels of any size, with a dredged commercial channel, sheltered conditions, and predictable depths from the outer leads to the city marinas. For skippers, the river is both a safe navigation corridor and the most capable service hub in the bay, offering haul‑out facilities, engineering, rigging, chandlery, fuel, and full provisioning within easy reach of the river’s marina network. The entire approach and river transit operate under the oversight of Brisbane VTS, which manages commercial and recreational vessel movements throughout the port precinct. Maintaining a listening watch and following VTS instructions is essential, particularly when large ships or tugs are manoeuvring in the narrow reaches
The river is a working waterway with constant ferry movements, tug operations, and deep‑draft shipping. Navigation is straightforward if skippers maintain a predictable track, monitor VTS, and plan all manoeuvres around the tide. The river’s shelter, depth, and service availability make Brisbane the most practical base for provisioning, repairs, and offshore preparation anywhere in Moreton Bay. Although busy, the river is fully protected from swell, and the dredged channel provides consistent depth throughout, making it one of the safest inland waterways in Queensland.
The approach to Brisbane begins at the Port of Brisbane leads east of Fisherman Islands. These leads are maintained to commercial standards, allowing safe entry day or night. As a declared port, the entire approach and river transit fall under Brisbane VTS, which monitors all movements and issues traffic instructions when required. Yachts are expected to remain outside the main shipping lane unless directed otherwise and to maintain a steady, predictable course that allows tugs and commercial vessels to plan their movements. The river mouth has no bar, no swell, and no breaking conditions, making it the safest entry point in Moreton Bay in all weather. Once inside, the dredged channel continues upriver with depths far exceeding yacht requirements, and the navigation marks and sector lights make the channel obvious even in poor visibility. AIS should be on for this transit.
Tidal flow is the defining handling factor in the Brisbane River. Currents commonly run between one and three knots and can be stronger during spring tides or after heavy rainfall. Berthing manoeuvres must be planned around the tide, as many marina fairways are narrow and require controlled approaches. Approaching a berth against the current provides the best control, and cross‑current approaches should be avoided unless the skipper is confident in the vessel’s handling characteristics. Wind funnelling along the river can create short chop in exposed reaches, but conditions remain manageable, and the river’s complete shelter from swell makes it a safe navigation environment in all weather.
Traffic density is high throughout the river. CityCats operate at speed and cross the river frequently, often altering course late. They expect yachts to maintain a predictable track and will pass close if necessary. Tugs escorting commercial vessels require wide turning space, particularly in Hamilton Reach, and their wash can be significant. Recreational traffic increases on weekends, especially near South Bank and the city bridges, and skippers should anticipate wake and reduced manoeuvring room in these areas. Bridges along the river provide ample clearance for standard cruising yachts, though alignment matters when transiting with strong tidal flow.
The Brisbane River’s marinas serve different operational needs. The marinas at Hamilton, Newstead, and Dockside provide deep‑water berths close to the city, making them ideal for crew changes, provisioning, and short‑term stays. These marinas experience ferry wash and strong tidal flow, so berth orientation and approach timing matter. Further downriver, the Rivergate precinct provides the region’s most capable haul‑out and service facilities, with engineering, rigging, fabrication, electrical, refrigeration, and chandlery all located within the shipyard. This makes Rivergate the preferred base for maintenance, refits, and offshore preparation. All marinas along the river have reliable depths and are accessible at any tide, and fuel is available at Rivergate with deep‑water access and high‑flow diesel suitable for larger yachts.
Brisbane is the most complete provisioning port in Moreton Bay, and the river corridor provides direct access to multiple full‑service supermarkets, specialty food stores, alcohol suppliers, chemists, and marine chandlers. Yachts berthed near Rivergate have immediate access to the Morningside retail precinct, where Woolworths and Coles provide full provisioning capability, supported by fresh produce shops, bakeries, butchers, and bottle shops. The area also offers easy access to marine suppliers such as Whitworths in Woolloongabba, along with rigging and engineering services clustered around the Rivergate shipyard. This makes the downriver precinct the most efficient provisioning base for yachts preparing for extended cruising or offshore passages.
Upstream, the Hamilton and Newstead marinas sit within walking distance of the Ascot and Racecourse Road precincts, where Woolworths, IGA, Dan Murphy’s, bakeries, and fresh produce stores provide reliable provisioning options. These marinas are well‑placed for skippers who prefer to berth closer to the city while still having access to full provisioning within a short walk. For yachts berthed in the CBD, the supermarkets at MacArthur Central and Queen Street Mall offer complete provisioning capability, though bulk loads are easier to manage from the downriver marinas where vehicle access is simpler.
The pontoons at the Botanic Gardens are public river pontoons, designed for short‑stay recreational use and commercial pick‑up/drop‑off, not for marina berthing. They provide temporary access to the CBD, but they do not offer any of the facilities normally associated with a marina. The pontoons are suitable for short‑term tie‑ups, crew drop‑off and pick‑up, access to the CBD for provisioning. They are not suitable for overnight stays, long‑term berthing, or any maintenance activity although people seem to do this. The nearest true marina is Dockside Marina at Kangaroo Point.
Dockside Marina is fully accessible to sailing yachts, but with a few operational realities that skippers need to understand before committing to a berth. It sits on the Kangaroo Point side of the Brisbane River, directly opposite the CBD, and is one of the closest true marina facilities to the city. The approach is straightforward for any yacht capable of navigating the Brisbane River, and depth is not the limiting factor, tidal flow, ferry wash, and manoeuvring room are the real considerations.
Access begins once you are inside the main dredged channel of the Brisbane River. The river is deep enough for any cruising yacht, and there are no bridge height restrictions between the river mouth and Dockside. The marina sits just upriver from the Story Bridge, and the clearance there is more than adequate for standard yacht rigs. The approach to the marina requires crossing the ferry lane, and skippers must maintain a predictable track while monitoring both CityCat movements and Brisbane VTS traffic advisories. The pontoons are tucked slightly inside a recessed pocket of the riverbank, giving some shelter from the main flow, but the current still runs strongly past the entrance, especially on spring tides.
The marina itself is accessible at all tides, with deep water right up to the berths. There is no bar, no shoaling, and no depth‑related constraint for monohulls or multihulls. The challenge is handling the boat cleanly in the fairways. The tidal stream can run hard across the marina entrance, and the fairways are not wide by modern standards, so skippers should plan to arrive on a slack or rising tide whenever possible. Approaching against the current gives the best control, and yachts with long keels or limited astern authority should avoid cross‑current approaches during peak flow. In terms of physical access, Dockside is suitable for yachts up to around 18–20 metres, depending on berth availability. The turning basin immediately outside the marina is adequate for most yachts, but larger vessels should plan their turn with the tide in mind, as the river’s flow can push the stern off‑line quickly. Visibility around the Story Bridge pylons can be reduced at night or in rain, so AIS and radar are useful for situational awareness.
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The Brisbane River is the most capable and reliable port of entry in Moreton Bay, offering deep‑water access, complete shelter, and the region’s best provisioning and marine services. Navigation is straightforward under the oversight of Brisbane VTS, provided skippers respect the tidal flow, ferry traffic, and commercial shipping. For maintenance, resupply, and offshore preparation, Brisbane is unmatched, making it an essential destination for any yacht cruising Moreton Bay or preparing for extended passages. The Brisbane River cruising guide for yachts has a lot of useful information.