Brisbane River Entrance & Rivergate
The lower Brisbane River is a working port first and a yachting waterway second. Coming in from Moreton Bay you share the dredged cuttings with container ships and tankers past the Port of Brisbane, Fisherman Islands and Luggage Point, then pass under the twin Gateway (Sir Leo Hielscher) bridges to Hamilton and the city. Just below the bridges, Rivergate Marina and Shipyard is where yachts arriving from overseas clear customs and quarantine, and it's one of the few places in south-east Queensland with a 300-tonne lift. Keep to the edge of the channel, keep a listening watch, and keep out of the way of anything big.
- Bridge clearances of 57.4 m (Gateway bridges) and 1.2 m (Doboy Creek) are read from MSQ map text and matched to the bridges by the words printed nearby. They haven't yet been checked against the map image.
- 1Whyte Island ramp (Port Drive) · 4 lanes, floating walkway (TMR).
- 2Boat Passage pollution boom · Containment gear deployed Oct 2026 (MSQ 522(T)/2026).
- 3Pinkenba, Kirra St ramp · 1 lane (TMR).
- 4Aquarium Passage submerged vessel · Fl Y 3s, Aug 2026 (MSQ 425(T)/2026).
- 5Hemmant ramp (Aquarium Passage) · 1 lane, pontoon (TMR).
- 6Rivergate Marina and Shipyard · Customs and quarantine berth; fuel; pump-out; 75 t and 300 t lifts.
- 7Gateway (Sir Leo Hielscher) bridges · Masthead over 48 m needs harbourmaster OK (NGA).
- 8Quarries Reach new buoys · Established April 2026 (MSQ 217/2026).
- 9Colmslie ramp · 2 lanes, pontoon (TMR).
- 10Brisbane Cruise Terminal · Hamilton Reach; VHF 13 rules upstream.
At a glance
| What it is | The Port of Brisbane entrance and river up to Hamilton, with Rivergate Marina and Shipyard below the Gateway bridges |
| Entering | Brisbane Entrance Channel, from Brisbane Roads about 9 miles NE of Luggage Point (NGA) |
| Radio | Monitor VHF 12 and 16 in the ship navigation area, and 13 upstream of Hamilton Reach (MSQ map) |
| Overseas arrivals | Rivergate: customs and quarantine berth (MSQ map); DAFF first point of entry for non-commercial vessels |
| Haul-out | Rivergate: 75-tonne and 300-tonne lifting service, hardstand |
| Map age | MSQ Beacon to Beacon river maps current to 19 November 2018; much port work since |
| Last checked | 18 October 2026 |
Getting here
NGA puts the Brisbane Entrance Channel about 9 miles NE of Luggage Point, entered from Brisbane Roads, with Mud Island and the outer entrance beacons as the marks. MSQ's map says all the lit beacons in the entrance channel are synchronised. Along the entrance rock wall there are synchronised yellow lights (Fl Y 3s) every 50 m, and MSQ warns that large vessels create severe turbulence passing that area.
In the river:
- Streams. NGA gives spring streams of about 3 knots below Hamilton Reach and 2 knots further up, with slack water 12 to 30 minutes after high and low water. Freshets can make the river dangerous. ⚠ Dated.
- Ships and ferries. Ferries cross the river in many places. Vessels over 15 m must broadcast on VHF 13 when approaching corners, bends and bridges above the Brisbane Cruise Terminal (NGA).
- Bridges. The Gateway (Sir Leo Hielscher) bridges appear on MSQ's map at 57.4 m above HAT ⚠ (unverified). NGA says masts over 48 m need the harbourmaster's permission, and there's a 48 m overhead power cable near the ANL Wharf. Doboy Creek bridge, by Rivergate, looks to be printed at just 1.2 m. ⚠ Unverified.
- Old maps. MSQ's river maps say depth contours mostly haven't been re-surveyed since the 2011 and 2013 floods, and show no depth contours downstream of the Gateway bridges. Use the official chart.
Recent notices (there are lots; check the current list):
- ⚠ 2025–26: a string of partially submerged and sunken boats has been buoyed in Aquarium Passage (Hemmant), the latest in August 2026, plus an underwater obstruction in April 2026.
- ⚠ January 2026: a partially submerged vessel was buoyed off Colmslie in Quarries Reach, and new buoys were laid in Quarries Reach in April 2026.
- ⚠ February 2026: about 400 m of the old Hamilton Wharf was being demolished. Dredging was done near Colmslie in late 2025.
- ⚠ October 2026: pollution containment booms were deployed in Boat Passage by the Captain Bishop Bridge.
- Events. Fireworks and drone shows close parts of the river several times a year, with MSQ advices for each.
Anchoring and moorings
Anchoring is prohibited in the reaches either side of the Gateway bridges (MSQ map). NGA gives a quarantine anchorage 1 mile east of West Entrance Lighted Beacon No. 1, least depth 5.7 m. Our sources don't give other anchorages in the river. Most visitors berth at Rivergate or go on up to the city (see our Brisbane city page).
Skipper's notes
Garry's own observations from deliveries through Brisbane River Entrance & Rivergate. 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
- Rivergate Marina and Shipyard (Murarrie): MSQ's enlargement shows a customs and quarantine berth, a fuel and sewage pump-out facility and the marina office. The yard offers a 75-tonne and a 300-tonne lifting service, with hardstand by the day. The office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 5. Its visitors guide and berth agreement are online (Rivergate website, October 2026).
- BSE Maritime Solutions (Brisbane Slipway) at Colmslie is a commercial slipway.
- Brisbane Cruise Terminal is at Hamilton. Keep clear when ships are alongside.
Rescue. MSQ's river maps print Coast Guard Brisbane, VMR Brisbane (Sandgate) and Coast Guard Redcliffe, mostly with weekend and public-holiday hours. NGA lists Brisbane VTS on VHF 12, 13 and 16. ⚠ As printed. Confirm current details.
Arriving from overseas
In our own words, summarising the Australian Border Force (ABF) and Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) guidance as at 16 October 2026. Check their current pages before you sail, as the rules change.
- Tell ABF you're coming, normally at least 96 hours before arrival. Shorter voyages have shorter notice periods. ABF wants the vessel's details, your intended first port and ETA, your last four ports, crew and passenger passport details, any illness on board, and whether you carry animals or firearms.
- Lodge a DAFF pre-arrival report between 90 days and 12 hours before you arrive.
- First points of entry. DAFF lists Brisbane and the Gold Coast Broadwater among Queensland's first points of entry for non-commercial vessels. Rivergate is the Port of Brisbane's entry point for them.
Fuel, water and pump-out
- Fuel. At Rivergate: the MSQ enlargement shows a fuel facility, and the berth agreement says daily bowser rates apply. Hours and fuel types not confirmed.
- Pump-out. At Rivergate (MSQ enlargement).
Boat ramps
From the Queensland Government (TMR) list:
- Port of Brisbane, Port Drive (Whyte Island): four lanes, floating walkway, not tide-limited (Port of Brisbane).
- Colmslie, Lytton Road: two lanes, pontoon, not tide-limited.
- Hemmant, Aquarium Passage: one lane, pontoon, not tide-limited.
- Pinkenba, Kirra Street: one lane, not tide-limited.
Rules in brief
- Speed. NGA gives port speed limits of 13 knots from the entrance to Luggage Point and 8 knots above, plus 6 knots for ships drawing over 3 m passing certain berths and under the Gateway Bridge. ⚠ These are shipping rules; small-craft limits are on the MSQ maps.
- Radio. VHF 12 and 16 in the ship navigation area; VHF 13 above Hamilton Reach.
- No anchoring either side of the Gateway bridges. Give way to ships, which are restricted to the channel.
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 Rivergate Marina and Shipyard (marina)
| Name | Type | Walk | Street address (OSM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bars, pubs and clubs | |||
| Brewdog | Pub | 910 m | – |
| Marine stores, chandlers and boat services | |||
| Marine Power | Boat builder / repairer † | 120 m | – |
| Planetwrap | Boat builder / repairer † | 120 m | – |
| TMQ Electronics | Chandlery / marine equipment † | 120 m | – |
| TMQ International Pty Ltd | Chandlery / marine equipment † | 120 m | – |
| Rivergate Marina and Shipyard | Shipwright / boatyard / haul-out † | 120 m | – |
| Lex Baddiley Marine Engineering | Chandlery / marine equipment † | 150 m | – |
| Wright Marine | Boat builder / repairer † | 150 m | – |
| Yacht Group Australia | Boat builder / repairer † | 240 m | – |
| Norman R. Wright & Sons | Boat builder / shipwright † | 240 m | – |
| BLA | Chandlery / marine equipment † | 390 m | – |
| Commercial Marine Group | Marine engineer / mechanic † | 650 m | – |
From Hemmant ramp (Aquarium Passage) (boat ramp / dinghy landing)
| Name | Type | Walk | Street address (OSM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bars, pubs and clubs | |||
| Queensport Hotel | Pub | 610 m | – |
| Marine stores, chandlers and boat services | |||
| Arnold's Fibreglass Repairs Pty Ltd | Boat builder / repairer † | 320 m | – |
From Whyte Island ramp (Port Drive) (boat ramp / dinghy landing)
| Name | Type | Walk | Street address (OSM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supermarkets and provisioning | |||
| Foodary | Convenience store | 710 m | – |
Nothing mapped within the 15-minute walk of: Pinkenba, Kirra St ramp; Colmslie ramp.
† 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 charts (Aus 236 and Aus 237), 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 guide for the Brisbane River 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 (sections 5.31 and 5.32), MSQ Beacon to Beacon maps BR-5 to BR-7 and enlargement A (current to 19 November 2018), MSQ Moreton Bay maps MB-10 and MB-11, MSQ notices to mariners to 16 October 2026, TMR boating-facility data, the Rivergate website and agreement (fetched 15 October 2026) and Australian Border Force and DAFF guidance (fetched 16 October 2026).
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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