Brisbane City & Upriver
Bringing a boat right into the middle of Brisbane is one of the best arrivals on the coast. You round Kangaroo Point under the Story Bridge with the city towers alongside, and berth at Dockside Marina or the council's Gardens Point Boat Harbour by the Botanic Gardens. It's a busy river, though: CityCats and ferries criss-cross at speed, there are events and fireworks many times a year, and a run of low bridges stops most yachts going any further. Two of those bridges are newer than MSQ's river map, so check the clearances before you commit a mast.
- Clearances for the Kangaroo Point and Neville Bonner bridges, which are newer than MSQ's 2018 river map. We have no published figure for either; check with MSQ before taking a mast upriver.
- City bridge clearances (Story Bridge 30 m, Captain Cook about 12.7 m, Goodwill about 13 m, Victoria about 11.4 m) are read from MSQ map text and not yet checked against the map image.
- 1Story Bridge · 30 m above HAT (MSQ map); masts over 28 m need permission (NGA).
- 2Kangaroo Point Bridge · Newer than the 2018 map; lights established Nov 2024.
- 3Dockside Marina · Short-term berths; 15/32/63 A power.
- 4Gardens Point Boat Harbour · Brisbane City Council (OSM).
- 5Neville Bonner Bridge · Newer than the 2018 map.
- 6Captain Cook Bridge · About 12.7 m above HAT (MSQ map).
At a glance
| What it is | The city reaches of the Brisbane River from the Story Bridge round Kangaroo Point to South Bank |
| Marinas | Dockside Marina (Kangaroo Point) and Gardens Point Boat Harbour (Brisbane City Council) |
| Story Bridge | 30 m above HAT on MSQ's map; masts over 28 m need the harbourmaster's permission (NGA) |
| Further upriver | Captain Cook, Goodwill and Victoria bridges around 11–13 m (MSQ map text, ⚠ unverified), plus newer bridges |
| Radio | VHF 13 above Hamilton Reach; vessels over 15 m broadcast approaching bends and bridges |
| Map age | MSQ Beacon to Beacon map BR-4 current to 19 November 2018 |
| Last checked | 18 October 2026 |
Getting here
Come up the river from the bay (see our Rivergate page for the entrance, the port and the Gateway bridges). Above Hamilton Reach, MSQ's map says to monitor VHF 13, and NGA says vessels over 15 m must broadcast on 13 approaching corners, bends and bridges. The city reaches are deep in the middle: MSQ's 2017 soundings give a median of about 8 m. Freshets after heavy rain can make the river dangerous (NGA).
Bridges and clearances. MSQ's 2018 map prints the Story Bridge at 30 m above HAT, and NGA says masts over 28 m need the harbourmaster's permission. Above it, the Captain Cook (about 12.7 m), Goodwill (about 13 m) and Victoria (about 11.4 m) bridges stop most yachts. ⚠ Unverified. Those figures are read from the map text.
- ⚠ Newer bridges. The Kangaroo Point Bridge (navigation lights established November 2024) and the Neville Bonner Bridge at Queen's Wharf aren't on MSQ's 2018 map. We have no published clearance for either. Ask MSQ before going upriver of Kangaroo Point with a mast.
- ⚠ 2025: maintenance on the Kangaroo Point bridge closed parts of Town Reach on set days.
CityCats and ferries. MSQ's 2015 river code of conduct asks for extra care between the Go Between and Story bridges because of the ferry crossings. In our summary of the code: each ferry terminal or pontoon has a 100 m zone. If a ferry is coming in, stop outside the zone and wait. Once it's berthed, pass quickly and keep 13 m off. Paddle craft mustn't stop, turn or cross in the zone. The zones apply whether or not yellow marker buoys are laid. ⚠ 2015 code. Check MSQ's current rules.
Events. Riverfire (September), New Year's Eve, and fireworks and drone shows through the year close parts of the city reaches. Look for MSQ advices before you plan an arrival.
Mooring and berthing
Anchoring in the city reaches isn't covered by our sources, and with CityCats running it's no place to swing on a pick. Use a marina berth. The TMR list also has a public pontoon at Edward Street (city side).
Skipper's notes
Garry's own observations from deliveries through Brisbane City & Upriver. First-hand notes, dated, and no substitute for the chart.
- Depth
- [Garry to add: depths seen, state of tide and date.]
- Holding
- [Garry to add: bottom type and how the anchor held.]
- Shelter
- [Garry to add: wind directions it is good or bad in.]
- Other notes
- [Garry to add: anything else worth knowing, with date.]
Notes last updated: [date]
Facilities
- Dockside Marina (Kangaroo Point): flexible short-term berths for locals and visitors. Power is 15 A single-phase, or 32 A and 63 A three-phase. Key-secured toilets and showers, and a laundry. The office opens 7 am on Mondays; check other days (marina website, October 2026). No haul-out.
- Gardens Point Boat Harbour by the City Botanic Gardens is run by Brisbane City Council (OpenStreetMap). We haven't confirmed its visitor arrangements.
- Nearby businesses (directory listings): Boat Books Australia (listed as chandlery), Coriolis Marine (marina design and installation), Yachtshare and Brisvegas Cruises.
- Haul-out and fuel. Neither is confirmed in the city reaches. Rivergate, downriver, has both (see that page).
Rescue. MSQ's map prints Coast Guard Brisbane and VMR Brisbane (Sandgate), mainly on weekends and public holidays. ⚠ As printed in 2018. Confirm current details.
Fuel, water and pump-out
None confirmed in the city reaches. The nearest fuel and pump-out we know of are at Rivergate, below the Gateway bridges.
Rules in brief
- Speed. The 2015 river code sets a maximum of 15 knots for vessels over 8 m between the Story Bridge and the William Jolly Bridge. ⚠ Dated. Check the current MSQ speed schedule, which takes precedence.
- Radio. VHF 13 above Hamilton Reach; broadcast at bends and bridges if you're over 15 m.
- Ferry terminals. 100 m zones: wait outside while a ferry berths.
- Masthead heights. Over 28 m needs permission for the Story Bridge (NGA).
Ashore
What's within about a 15-minute walk (1.2 km) of each marina, ramp or landing on this page, measured along streets and footpaths in OpenStreetMap. Addresses are from OpenStreetMap where it has one; where it doesn't, we show the name and distance only. ⚠ As at 18 October 2026: we haven't confirmed each place is still trading, so check before you walk.
From Gardens Point Boat Harbour (marina)
| Name | Type | Walk | Street address (OSM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bars, pubs and clubs | |||
| Port Office Hotel | Pub | 480 m | 40 Edward Street |
| The Pav Bar | Pub | 520 m | – |
| Botanic Bar | Bar | 600 m | – |
| Fat Louie’s | Bar | 710 m | – |
| Gilhooley's | Pub | 720 m | 4000 |
| Victory | Pub | 730 m | 127 Edward Street |
| plus 23 more within the walk | |||
| Restaurants and cafes | |||
| Walters Steakhouse | Restaurant | 380 m | – |
| Café Mulga Bill's | Cafe | 390 m | – |
| Stilts | Restaurant | 420 m | – |
| Olive & Angelo | Restaurant | 440 m | – |
| Moo Moo | Restaurant | 470 m | – |
| Raw Press | Cafe | 470 m | – |
| The Gardens Club | Cafe | 480 m | – |
| Port Office Dining Room | Restaurant | 490 m | – |
| plus 163 more within the walk | |||
| Entertainment | |||
| Brisbane City Botanic Gardens | Attraction | 360 m | – |
| Gardens Theatre | Theatre | 460 m | – |
| Queensland Holocaust Museum | Museum | 790 m | 168 Charlotte Street |
| The Elizabeth Picture Theatre/Five Star Cinemas | Cinema | 890 m | 175 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane City QLD 4000 |
| plus 8 more within the walk | |||
| Supermarkets and provisioning | |||
| Davely's Asian Supermarket | Supermarket | 740 m | – |
| Fresco Supermarket | Supermarket | 750 m | – |
| Woolworths | Supermarket | 840 m | – |
| Sunlit | Supermarket | 860 m | – |
| Coles Local | Supermarket | 990 m | 226 Queen Street, Brisbane City QLD 4000 |
| Coles Central | Supermarket | 1.1 km | – |
| plus 37 more within the walk | |||
| Marine stores, chandlers and boat services | |||
| Boat Books Australia Pty Ltd | Chandlery / marine equipment † | 640 m | – |
From Dockside Marina (marina)
| Name | Type | Walk | Street address (OSM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bars, pubs and clubs | |||
| Eagles Nest | Bar | 280 m | 21 Lambert Street |
| The Shelter Bar | Bar | 590 m | – |
| Story Bridge Hotel | Pub | 640 m | 200 Main Street, Kangaroo Point QLD 4169 |
| Brisbane Jazz Club | Club | 1.0 km | 1 Annie Street, Kangaroo Point QLD 4169 |
| Shafston Hotel | Pub | 1.1 km | 3 Lytton Road, East Brisbane 4169 |
| Pineapple Hotel | Pub | 1.1 km | 706 Main Street, Kangaroo Point 4169 |
| Restaurants and cafes | |||
| Cafe Dockside | Cafe | 250 m | – |
| Lamberts | Restaurant | 250 m | 21 Lambert Street |
| Mobo | Restaurant | 520 m | – |
| Manhattan Pizza | Restaurant | 610 m | 22 Baildon Street, Kangaroo Point QLD 4169 |
| Story Bridge Cafe & Deli | Cafe | 610 m | – |
| Summer House | Restaurant | 620 m | – |
| Boomerang Snack Bar | Takeaway | 630 m | – |
| Fusion & Dumpling | Restaurant | 670 m | – |
| plus 12 more within the walk | |||
| Entertainment | |||
| Story Bridge | Attraction | 1.1 km | – |
| Supermarkets and provisioning | |||
| Friendly Grocer | Convenience store | 240 m | – |
| Cellarbrations | Bottle shop | 240 m | Ferry Street, Kangaroo Point QLD 4169 |
| Tuppy's | Convenience store | 590 m | 85 Deakin Street, Kangaroo Point QLD 4169 |
| NightOwl | Convenience store | 650 m | – |
| IGA Express | Convenience store | 1.0 km | – |
| Seasons IGA East Brisbane | Supermarket | 1.1 km | – |
| plus 2 more within the walk | |||
| Marine stores, chandlers and boat services | |||
| Yachtshare | Chandlery / marine equipment † | 280 m | – |
† From our own marine business directory (live directory listings and business websites checked 16 October 2026), not OpenStreetMap; walk measured the same way from the listed position. Where no street address was published, only the suburb or nothing is shown.
Places, types, addresses and walking distances: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), fetched 18 October 2026.
About this page
This page is a planning aid written by a working delivery skipper from public sources. It is not for navigation. Use the official AHO chart, current MSQ notices to mariners, official tide tables and local advice. Spotted something out of date? Please use Report a correction below.
Official links
Check these before you go. They beat anything on this page.
- MSQ notices to mariners, Brisbane
- MSQ: crossing a coastal bar (safety advice)
- Queensland notices to mariners, all areas (subscribe)
- MSQ Queensland tide tables
- Bureau of Meteorology: tide predictions
- Bureau of Meteorology: Queensland warnings (incl. marine wind warnings)
- Bureau of Meteorology: Queensland coastal waters forecasts
Sources & credits
Written in fresh words from the facts in the Hartshorne Marine Sailing Directions area guides for the Brisbane River CBD and Kangaroo Point, and from the mouth to Hamilton (edition of 16 October 2026, Ashore data added 18 October 2026), and chapter 5 and Appendix D of the Tweed to Mooloolaba guidebook. Those draw on NGA Pub. 127 (section 5.32), MSQ Beacon to Beacon map BR-4 (current to 19 November 2018), the MSQ Brisbane River code of conduct (2015), MSQ notices to mariners to 16 October 2026 and the Dockside Marina website (fetched 15 October 2026). Bridge positions are from OpenStreetMap.
Maritime Safety Queensland. Contains Maritime Safety Queensland data (Beacon to Beacon guide, notices to mariners, nav-aid open data, pump-out map C2-335, speed-limit schedule, tide information) © State of Queensland (Department of Transport and Main Roads), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Facts restated and summarised in our own words. Not endorsed by MSQ or TMR.
Queensland legislation. Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Regulation 2016 and Transport Infrastructure (Waterways Management) Regulation 2012 © State of Queensland, CC BY 4.0. Summarised; the authorised versions at legislation.qld.gov.au prevail.
NGA. Background from NGA Pub. 127, Sailing Directions (Enroute) East Coast of Australia and New Zealand (2025), U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, a US Government work in the public domain. Parts of it are out of date; where a page leans on it, we say so. Not endorsed by NGA.
OpenStreetMap. Map tiles and some facility positions © OpenStreetMap contributors, data available under the Open Database Licence (ODbL).
Others. Facts from local authority pages and notices (for example the Gold Coast Waterways Authority), volunteer marine rescue sites and businesses' own websites are cited for fact only and restated in our own words. Listing a business is not an endorsement.
Last checked: 18 October 2026.
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