Checking into Brisbane's
Garden Point Marina AKA the Botanical Garden Pile Moorings was a bit exciting. First there was the thrill of traveling upstream but next came the selection of a vacant position among the already moored vessels followed by getting tied up. This was to be a mooring method completely 'new' to us and The Bloke complained like mad about what I was getting him in to.
Brisbane Town Hall, King George Square
We had already worked out an approach:-
- Prepare bow and stern leads.
- Try to arrive at a 'kind' time relative to the tides (the Brisbane River can race at up to 3knots). *
- Motor into the current while approaching the bow-end pole.
- Get the bow attached.
- Allow the current to drift the boat back in order to secure the stern end (like we had at Kiama).
We verbally rehearsed the sequence several times to ensure that we both knew what to do. Awesome. Let's do this!
Once again our
dock-stick was super useful in allowing me to lasso the
pole that would hold our bow. So far so good. Then we got unstuck. The
gap between the poles could not be bridged by merely 2 mooring lines, even
if they were the longest we owned. This is where helpful neighbours
came into play. A fellow cruiser immediately jumped into their tender to
help attach a 2nd mooring line to our clearly 'too short' stern line to
help complete the tether. Phew. Doubly fortunate was the fact that The
Bloke had not yet held his intended 'garage sale' of previously considered, unwanted
and 'surplus' rope. Jib sheets earlier deemed too fat for use, instantly became
'just the thing' and secured our visit. My hoarding proclivities were rewarded yet again.
No such thing as too much rope in the bilge
Tied up on C10
Moorings viewed from the Botanical Garden, Kangaroo Point and from an office tower
Sunset over the mature trees in the Botanic Gardens plus an illuminated cityscape
Gardens Point Marina
- First in best dressed
- Use your own mooring ropes
- Ropes left between piles indicate a position is taken and the vessel is absent
- Visit office to get permit. Level B1, King George Square car park. Entry from Adelaide St. This office is completely unlabeled and is basically the staff control booth adjacent to the exit boom gate. It is necessary to walk across the car park to reach it!
- Tariff =$70/pw + $20 non refundable fob. Maximum stay of 3 months.
- Take:-
- Insurance Certificate of Currency - legal liability 10,000,000AUD
- Boat registration
- Boat /skippers license
- Public pontoon below Stamford Plaza for dinghy tie up.
- Dockside amenities near dinghy wharf, adjacent to riverside path beneath Stamford Plaza
- $20 amenity key swipe. Washing machines and dryer. 4$ per wash. 1$ and 2$ coins
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Ray Sawyer
Leasing Support Officer | Asset Management
Brisbane Infrastructure | BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL
Brisbane Square | Level 19, 266 George Street, Brisbane, Qld 4000
Phone: +61-7-3178 6450 | Fax 07 3334 0054
Email: ray.sawyer@brisbane.qld.gov.au
The pile moorings were renovated during the 2016 winter period giving the BCC an opportunity to move along a few long term stayers. Some still remain and have some bizarre 'home extensions' such as this pontoon supporting an inflatable paddling pool. By the end of our stay this shabby and poorly secured structure had partially sunk following a week of nightly thunderstorms!
This river location proved to be stellar albeit busy. Basically it is in the heart of the city at the end of of Edward Street and is in walking distance of everything the CBD has to offer (including supermarkets). A dinghy can be left locked on the dinghy dock in relative safety, even overnight. There is also a jetty on the opposite side of the river enabling a short visit to the, heritage listed Kangaroo Point Cliffs, for a change of scene, coffee and step-climb to the cliff top for a serious cardio workout. These cliffs are illuminated at night and also amplify concert sounds from the nearby Queensland University of Technology Riverstage venue, adding to an already incredibly dramatic backdrop.
* If arrival can't be timed for slack or slackening tide, it is possible to anchor off just before the river bend beyond the moorings. Note that the prevailing breeze is NE. Head down (bow facing down stream) minimized night time disturbance from hull slap (water slapping under the transom).
