Brisbane - Clearance
For full details of Clearance into Australia, see the Noonsite Australia Formalities page.
Australian Border Force and the Department of Agriculture carry out customs, immigration and biosecurity formalities here.
Southport is also a foreign vessel entry port. This may be easier for some yachts compared with coming up the river to Rivergate.
The yacht clearance boarding station is at the Rivergate Marina. This is located just before the first bridge in the Brisbane River. Their website (http://rivergate.com.au) has detailed information about clearing customs.
It is 30nm from the NE channel to Rivergate Marina, 6 miles further if you come through the NW channel. Current in the river is strong at Rivergate Marina; you may want to arrive at slack water particularly if short handed.
Yachts must notify Customs a minimum of 96 hours in advance of arrival. This can be done by sending an email to yachtreport@customs.gov.au; sending a fax to +61 2 6275 6331; phoning Australian Customs National Communications Centre on telephone number +61 3 9244 8973. Clearance is done by Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine.
At Rivergate Marina, yachts must proceed directly to the Customs & Quarantine Berth (indicated by yellow signs) and the marina will organize for all the officials to come to your boat.
Note that this marina is located 10 miles from the city centre, just east of the M1 River Bridge (see view of Rivergate marina below). It is remote with very few facilities close-by.
If you arrive on a weekend, you may have to get cleared in by quarantine which charges a weekend or after hours fee (approx. double the normal fee). Alternatively, Customs may just lock the gate and leave you there until Monday morning when Quarantine will clear you in (saving you the after-hours fee). This is not guaranteed, however.
The Customs office does not permit anchoring at Mud Island.
Brisbane Regional Harbour Master:
Phone: 07 3632 7500
Email: RHMBrisbane@msq.qld.gov.au
Last updated: December 2019
If you have information for this section, or feedback on businesses used, please let us know at editor@noonsite.com. We also welcome new information about businesses you have used (see Related Businesses).
Next Section: Profile: Docking
Related to following destinations: Brisbane, Queensland
Port Navigation
Courtesy Flag Discounts
YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.
YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.
Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.
Buy Now On YachtFlags.comMain Ports - Australia
Courtesy Flag Discounts
YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.
YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.
Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.
Buy Now On YachtFlags.com
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/