White Water Trips within 1 hours drive from Brisbane:
There are many interesting and exciting white water venues out there waiting to be explored. Just peruse maps of the areas that interest you and get paddling. Here are some suggestions to get you started:
Albert River (Waterford-Tamborine Road to Chardon Bridge Road) – Grade 3-
Get in: Just under 600m south east of the bridge crossing on the Waterford-Tamborine Road turn left into Sonny Kibble Place. A short way along a track leads off to the left (through an unlocked gate) down to the river. If your vehicle is not 4WD capable then you should carefully assess track conditions past the gate. The easiest river access is about 20m upstream of the bridge and may involve a minor seal launch.
Get out: An easy exit point is located on river right just downstream (north east) of the Chardon Bridge Road crossing.
Level: At least 0.39m on the Bromfleet gauge is required to complete this run. Do not go over about 0.50m on your first attempt as some tree strainers can be more dangerous to negotiate at higher flows. Unfortunately the rapids in the latter part of this trip can be quite “bony” at levels below about 0.45m.
Details: It is 11.1kms down to Chardon Bridge and the river is characterized by flat water stretches (some quite long) with occasional gravel race type rapids, lots of fallen trees and overhanging vegetation and two sections with larger rapids of up to grade 3+ standard. Other occasional obstacles to be avoided include an underwater pipe that creates a whirlpool on river right just above a very small man-made weir that is a short distance downstream from the start. Manoeuvrable white water kayaks are probably best suited to this trip, although those who don’t want a hard “slog” on the flat pools should not have too many problems using touring kayaks (under about 3.8m in length) provided they don’t mind an extra portage or two. Don’t be put off by the frequency of tree strainers and block-ups in some parts – by ducking under, weaving around and powering over fallen logs and tree limbs, it is surprising how few actual portages are really necessary. The first section of more serious rapids is encountered about 3.5kms from the start and consists of a straightforward grade 2 drop followed by a two-stage grade 3+ rapid that requires careful inspection (see Google Map link for more information). Not far downstream the river widens noticeably and the flat pools seem to get even longer. The second series of rapids starts about 1.8kms above the finishing point and runs for nearly a kilometre. It consists mainly of relatively straightforward grade 1 to 3- rock garden type rapids and races that can be easily inspected and portaged if necessary. Unfortunately these rapids can be a bit on the bony side at levels under about 0.45m – especially the final one, an uneven ledge drop of just over a metre. There is a further 800m of flat water before Chardon Bridge is reached. Due to the steep banks along much of this section, scenery is limited mainly to the riparian strip of vegetation that includes dry eucalypt country and patches of lush rainforest. For those who are not averse to the occasional portage, this is a very pleasant trip indeed.
Albert River (Luscombe Weir to Stanmore Road) – Grade 2-
Get in: a short track behind an informal parking area just off Veivers Road at Wolffdene leads down to the pool immediately below Luscombe Weir.
Get out: the old causeway crossing just upstream of Stanmore Road bridge at Luscombe.
Level: The Bromfleet gauge provides a rough guide (0.26 – 0.50m) only. Two to five centimetres of water over Luscombe Weir usually gives a good low-level trip. Above about 0.55m the Grade 1 rapids are almost completely washed out. When clear of obstructions this section can actually be navigated at levels down to about 0.08m, although be prepared for scraping and possible portages below 0.20m.
Details: This is a short (4.2kms) trip that can be easily done in a couple of hours. The rapids (mainly Grade 1 with one easy Grade 2) are all in the first 900 metres with the rest of the run to the finish being on flat water. Parts of the upper section are quite fast and narrow and fallen trees can often be a problem – for this reason it is recommended that this trip be done only at low levels and with care. The best feature of this run is the beauty of the surrounding riparian flora – lush rainforest vegetation abounds along the banks even though eucalypti are the predominant species of this area. Smaller plastic touring kayaks may be used on this section if levels are not too high. Latest Update: Flooding in February 2020 caused several partial blockages in the first 900m that have made some faster sections even tighter and trickier to negotiate. As such it is recommended that less experienced paddlers stick to lower levels (preferably not above 0.33m) for their first trip on this section.
Stanmore Road play wave: Novice white water paddlers looking to hone their play skills can have some fun on the wave immediately downstream of the old Stanmore Road causeway crossing. Water running through pipes under the road creates a shallow but relatively safe wave that can be useful for practicing basic play manoeuvres. Novices should exercise caution if water is flowing over the road or if the wave is not flat and even. A very minimum of 0.40m on the Bromfleet gauge is needed and the wave works best when minimally affected by tidal back-flow ie it should be avoided in the hour either side of high tide (and possibly longer for king tides). Don’t stray too far below the wave as there are many barely-submerged rocks just downstream ready to snag the unwary paddler.
Brisbane River (Wivenhoe rapid) – Grade 2
Access: Turn left from the Brisbane Valley Highway to the Spillway Common. Take note of the sign showing when the entrance gate is locked of an evening. After a few hundred metres this road sweeps to the right up a small rise. Just over that rise turn left and continue on to a small parking area overlooking the river. From here you will need to carry your boats about 400m down through a lockable fence gate to the pool below the measuring weir. After about 120m of bitumen the track turns to dirt before veering right and petering out completely at river level; the final 100m being across river pebbles to the water’s edge.
Level: If water is being released from the dam (which is nearly all the time) then you can usually paddle it, although a minimum level of about 1.30m on the Savages Crossing gauge is usually needed to make the drive up here worthwhile.
Details: The construction of the Wivenhoe Dam in 1984 resulted in a minor realignment of the Brisbane River when a new spillway channel was carved through adjacent sandstone slopes. A small measuring weir was built below the dam wall and the height differential between its base and the pool below created a rapid that local white water paddlers have been using ever since for training and play. However water releases over the years have gradually eroded the soft sandstone below the spillway and dramatically altered the rapid’s character and degree of technical difficulty. Unfortunately – and largely due to the effects of the January 2011 floods – it has now become a relatively innocuous Grade 2 rapid with only limited play and training potential at most normal release levels. The rapid can be accessed from downstream on either side of the river. From river right (west bank) carry your boat along a partially submerged (slippery) rock ledge and put in just below the concrete sill of the measuring weir. It is advisable to check the conditions here first as some sharp rocks have been exposed in the first small drop that have the potential to damage a kayak. Access to the deepest part of the rapid is relatively straightforward from river left (east bank) by putting in at the end of a boulder pile that stretches upstream from the protruding rock bar. As the water here is quite fast you may need help to stabilise your boat whilst getting in. Paddlers choosing to play in this rapid should be wary of capsizes as there are plenty of submerged rocks that can be readily felt, even if not so easily seen. Most canoeists come to this location either to play the rapid or to begin a trip downriver – there is not much of interest here scenery-wise unless you have a fascination with dams. Note: The waters upstream of the base of the measuring weir are strictly out of bounds and choosing to ignore this could encourage water authorities to cut off canoeing access here altogether.
Brisbane River (Wivenhoe Dam to Lowood Bend) – Grade 1+
Get in: Turn left from the Brisbane Valley Highway to the Spillway Common. Take note of the sign showing when the entrance gate is locked of an evening. After a few hundred metres this road sweeps to the right up a small rise. Just over that rise turn left and continue on to a small parking area overlooking the river. From here you will need to carry your boats about 400m down through a lockable fence gate to the pool below the measuring weir. After about 120m of bitumen the track turns to dirt before veering right and petering out completely at river level; the final 100m being across river pebbles to the water’s edge.
Get out: Lowood Bend Reserve just outside Lowood on the Forest Hill Fernvale Road – a rough dirt track leads down to several access points along the river (note: be careful here as traffic visibility at this turn-off is limited).
Level: Normal dam releases usually provide enough water, although at levels below about 1.30m on the Savages Crossing gauge this run may start getting a bit bony.
Details: This trip is about 8.9kms by river. A short pool at the get-in spills into faster water that flows for nearly a kilometre before entering a significantly longer pool. After a further 1.3kms, Lockyer Creek enters from the right and choosing to explore this creek to its upper limit of navigation (several hundred metres before O’Reillys Weir) will add another 4kms to your trip. This long pool eventually spills off to the right into the Log Jam, where koalas and sea eagles may occasionally be spotted on a good day. The Log Jam is one of the prettiest parts of the river although, as its name suggests, it can be prone to partial or even total blockages as a consequence of upstream flood events. Inexperienced canoeists or those who are not confident manoeuvring their craft in tight lines around fallen trees and faster water should consider portaging via a short flood channel that runs off to the right from the very end of the pool above the Log Jam to an easy entry point just below it. More experienced paddlers should find the Log Jam relatively straightforward to negotiate, although those with longer craft may require extra effort or skill to get through. ALL paddlers should exercise caution in the Log Jam at higher river levels and after significant upstream flooding. Below the Log Jam another long pool leads down to several small rapids adjacent to the get-out point where there may be a few more fallen trees to keep paddlers alert. The once pleasant riparian vegetation along the river banks is showing obvious signs of the devastating 2011 floods and may take many years to recover fully. For a longer trip you can continue on to Twin Bridges, although this adds a further 5.8kms of flat water with very little discernible assistance from any current.
Brisbane River (Twin Bridges to Savages Crossing) – Grade 1
Get in: Turn left off the Brisbane Valley highway just north of Fernvale onto Wivenhoe Pocket Road and park near the low-level bridge.
Get out: just above the bridge at Savages Crossing – access via Banks Creek Road at Fernvale.
Level: Normal dam releases usually provide enough water, although levels below about 1.32m on the Savages Crossing gauge are likely to make this trip a bit bony.
Details: This trip is slightly less than 5kms by river and is often paddled in conjunction with a trip to Burtons Bridge. If the water level is not too high and you are confident in your boat control skills, you can start the trip by paddling the fast water under the (upper) culvert bridge crossing. From here the river consists mainly of gravel race rapids and flat pools down to the get out. The scenery is pleasant, the flat pools are not too long and there is at least one side creek (England Creek, 2.1kms from the put in) that can be explored along the way. This trip is quite suitable for most touring canoes and kayaks.
Latest Update: Over recent years it has not been uncommon to come across fallen trees wedged across channels in the gravel race rapids in this section. Paddlers unfamiliar with the latest river conditions should ensure that each rapid is clear before committing to a particular path through it.
Brisbane River (Savages Crossing to Burtons Bridge) – Grade 1
Get in: just above the bridge at Savages Crossing – access via Banks Creek Road at Fernvale.
Get out: beside Burtons Bridge on E. Summerville Road – access via Pine Mountain Road.
Level: Normal dam releases usually provide enough water, although levels below about 1.32m on the Savages Crossing gauge are likely to make this trip a bit bony. A level of about 1.65m (approx 1750 ML/day) is ideal, however many of the gravel-race type rapids start to wash out when levels get too much higher.
Details: This trip is about 12.3kms by river and consists of flat pools interspersed with faster sections and gravel race type rapids. As some of those pools are quite long this section is usually run in touring boats. The scenery is pleasant in most parts and a small hidden creek that flows in from the right 9.1kms from the start (at the end of the longest pool) may be worth exploring by those with piscatorial interests.
Latest Update: Over recent years it has not been uncommon to find fallen trees wedged across channels in some of the gravel race rapids in this section. Paddlers unfamiliar with the latest river conditions should ensure their path is clear before committing to a particular line through any rapid. Also, keep an eye out for a potentially dangerous high-tension barbwire fence that occasionally appears in the fast water just upstream of Burtons Bridge.
Brisbane River (Burtons Bridge to Kholo Bridge) – Grade 1+
Get in: beside Burtons Bridge on E. Summerville Road – access via Pine Mountain Road.
Get out: beside Kholo Bridge on Kholo Road at North Ipswich.
Level: Normal dam releases usually provide enough water, although levels below about 1.34m on the Savages Crossing gauge are likely to make this trip a bit bony. A level of about 1.65m (approx 1750 ML/day) is ideal, however many of the gravel-race type rapids start to wash out when levels get too much higher.
Details: This is the longer (just under 20kms) and arguably more picturesque of the mid-Brisbane River trips. Although still quite straightforward, several stretches of faster water in the first 13.6kms have slightly more substance to them than those in the other River sections and may require more attention from beginners in particular. Unfortunately the impact of the 2013 floods seems to have been far greater in this section than on other parts of the Brisbane River, with many of the more interesting rapids having all but completely disappeared. Paddlers should be aware that the last 6.1kms of this trip consists mainly of flat water and can be a bit of a slog at the back end of the trip, especially if you happen to be in a white water craft (Pro-tip: take a touring boat instead). The rural aspects and bushland scenery along this section are typically quite pleasant, with numerous different and interesting riparian vegetation types including open grassland, dry-vine and hoop pine forest and even small isolated patches of rainforest.
Brisbane River (Mt Crosby Weir to Colleges Crossing) – Grade 1+
Get in: immediately below the weir at Mt Crosby Pumping Station off Stumers Road Mt Crosby.
Get out: the boat ramp in the Colleges Crossing Recreation Reserve via Devin Drive at Chuwar.
Level: A minimum of 1.32m on the Savages Crossing gauge is usually required, although visual inspection at the put-in is recommended as much of Brisbane’s urban water is extracted just above Mt Crosby Weir.
Details: Much of this short (4.2km) section has changed markedly as a result of flooding in 2011 and 2013. Most notably the river now divides about 300m below the put-in and a newly scoured right channel has been formed that not only carries most of the river’s normal flow, but also bypasses a small weir that used to be a significant feature of this trip. The weir has a central sluice-chute that creates a short but fast Grade 2 rapid when water levels permit. It should only be attempted in sturdy plastic white water kayaks as water flowing through the chute spills straight onto shallow rocks below. However because the right channel has diverted most of the water, the chute can now only be run when river levels are quite high. River conditions in this section currently consist of a few straightforward gravel-race type rapids and lots of flat pools, with a tidal influence that can extend more than 3km upstream from Colleges Crossing on a high tide. Much of the riparian vegetation along the way is showing the impacts of major flooding and may take years to fully recover – while sandstone cliffs along the left bank continue to add some visual appeal to the trip.
Enoggera Creek (Enoggera Reservoir to Wardell Street) – Grade 3-
Get in: the earliest practical access point from the parkland along Yoorala Street at The Gap.
Get out: Dorrington Park (next to the Wardell Street bridge) in Ashgrove.
Level: Visual inspection is required as there is no reliable gauge and a significant portion of the flow can often come from storm water run-off from local suburban streets. Check there is sufficient flow at the get in point – however avoid this run in flood conditions unless you have paddled it previously and know what to expect.
Details: This trip (about 9.5kms in length) starts off through pleasant forest country below the reservoir and opens out to more obviously suburban vistas as the creek approaches the suburb of Ashgrove. The rapids are continuous and generally quite straightforward with the overall grading being due more to the obstacles that are likely to be encountered along the way. Tree strainers, low-level or culvert bridges and even a suspended (deck-height) pipe across the creek may need inspection and/or portaging. This is a good run for those with competent white water boat handling skills but may be a bit too fast and technical in parts to be safely negotiated by beginners. Latest update: Much of the first few kilometres of this section is now quite badly obstructed with frequent strainers, log jams and total block-ups. An alternate put in just upstream of the School and Payne Road intersection (see Google map) will bypass the worst of these obstructions, although extreme caution should still be exercised, especially if attempting this paddle for the first time.
South Pine River (Showgrounds Drive to Mt O’Reilly Road) – Grade 2
Get in: beside the low level crossing on Showgrounds Drive (which runs off the Mt Glorious Road at Highvale, west of Samford).
Get out: beside the bridge on Mt O’Reilly Road (which runs off the Mt Glorious Road west from Samford).
Level: Drapers Crossing gauge provides a very rough indicator only. A minimum of 1.27m is required, however visual inspection is strongly recommended as readings from this gauge also include the inflows of several other significant watercourses. Be wary of running this section at high levels unless you have previously paddled it and know what to expect.
Details: This is a pleasant run of about 4.0kms through the scenic Samford Valley, although an attractive but thick canopy and border of lush riparian vegetation seriously restricts any views. At most paddleable levels it consists of fast water and relatively straightforward grade 1-2 rapids. However this section is prone to snags, tree strainers and even total block-ups on occasions and paddlers need to exercise extreme caution when attempting it for the first time. Beginners should ensure they are accompanied by an experienced paddler and should only attempt it when they know it to be free of obstructions. Although experienced paddlers are unlikely to get too excited by this section, those intending to run the Mt O'Reilly Road to Samford Bowls Club section but who would like a slightly longer paddle could do worse than to start at Showgrounds Drive instead.
South Pine River (Mt O’Reilly Road to Samford Bowls Club) – Grade 3-
Get in: beside the bridge on Mt O’Reilly Road (which runs off the Mt Glorious Road west from Samford).
Get out: under the road bridge on Mount Samson Road (north from Samford) – an overgrown track leads up the right bank to a grassy area (where cars may be left) in front of the Samford Bowls Club.
Level: Drapers Crossing gauge provides a very rough indicator only – 1.18m very minimum and at least 1.25m for a decent run – however visual inspection is strongly recommended as readings from this gauge also include the inflows of several other significant watercourses. Be wary of running this section at high levels unless you have previously paddled it and know what to expect.
Details: This is a very pleasant scenic run of about 4.3kms through lushly-forested rural country, much of it under an attractive canopy of green. It is characterised by fast water with lots of bouncy grade 2-3 rapids. Be alert to the prospect of encountering the occasional tree strainer or barbed wire fence as they can be more difficult to negotiate safely in fast flowing water. Although probably a bit too tight and fast for beginners at all but the very lowest levels, a well-supervised trip on this section is quite suitable for novice paddlers who have mastered basic boat control. With the right water levels this is a very enjoyable paddle indeed and its close proximity to Brisbane City makes it a favoured run amongst local white water enthusiasts.
South Pine River (Mount Samson Road to Drapers Crossing) – Grade 2-
Get in: under the road bridge on Mount Samson Road north from Samford – an overgrown track leads down to the river from a grassy area in front of the Samford Bowls Club.
Get out: beside Drapers Crossing bridge on Bunya Road (off Eatons Crossing Road) at Draper.
Level: Drapers Crossing gauge: 1.15m minimum. Be aware that at high levels fallen trees could make this run quite dangerous.
Details: This is a scenic 8.1kms paddle through pleasant rural surrounds with some very pretty forest-lined riverbanks in its narrower parts. With the exception of one short but tight grade 2 rapid just past halfway, the river consists of flat pools separated by gravel race type rapids. However some of these races require very fast turns and could be quite tricky for beginners to negotiate. Fallen trees, particularly in the first few kilometres, can also clog some of these races and should be approached with caution. At least on their first attempt at this run, beginners would be well advised to be in the company of a more experienced paddler and should tackle it only at lower water levels. The prettiness of the scenery certainly makes this trip worth the effort.
Trip information on these pages is constantly being added and updated. Check back periodically for new paddling suggestions. Visitors are invited to contribute trip reports, suggestions, enhancements, photographs, corrections, updates or just general comments. All submissions will be evaluated but inclusion is not guaranteed.