Kayaking the Brisbane River From Wivenhoe Dam to Twin Bridges

Brisbane River is a well-loved part of Queensland’s capital city with an abundance of activities centred around its serpentine bends. And kayaking is one of the best ways to explore the waterways .

We Are Explorers acknowledges that this adventure is located on the traditional Country of the Turrbal and Jagera people who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Kayaking Brisbane River Highlights

• Get a workout while checking out scenic river views
• Negotiate narrow log jams
• Finish off with a swim at Twin Bridges

Kayaking Brisbane River Quick Facts

Distance: 14km
Duration: 4-6 hours
Nearest town: Lowood and Fernvale

How to Get to Brisbane River

The kayak launching point is at Wivenhoe Dam’s Spillway Common at Fernvale, near Ipswich, off the Brisbane Valley Highway. Head down Spillway Common and follow signs for the launching point.

From the car park, walk down about 200m to the launching point. A trolley for your kayak will make this walk easier!

The 14km stretch will end you up at the Twin Bridges car park on Wivenhoe Pocket Road. You can opt to do this as a car shuffle or if you have only one car, you’ll need to walk or run the  7km back to your car via the Brisbane Valley Highway once you finish.

The Wivenhoe Dam Spillway/Twin Bridges is about an hour’s drive from Brisbane city.

Essential Gear for Kayaking Brisbane River

• Kayak & paddle
• Lifejacket
• Dry bags
• Drinking water
• Hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses
• Long-sleeved shirt and pants for coverage from the sun
• A set of dry clothes to change into after your kayak
• Towel
• Snacks and lunch
• Camera
• Swimmers
• Kayak trolley (recommended)

Read more: Packing List for a Canoe Adventure

Skill Level for Kayaking Brisbane River

Intermediate

The area is remote, and you’ll need a good level of fitness and some paddling and navigational skills. There’s no signage down the river and there are a couple of forks and dead ends as well as some rapids and log jams to negotiate. The log jams can be tricky when water levels are low. We used Maps.me as a guide through the river forks. Note that there are very few exits on the river.

Read more: Remember to leave no trace

What It’s Like Kayaking the Brisbane River

A New Kind of Adventure

While I usually plan my weekend adventures well in advance, this expedition took shape at the last minute. Originally, my partner and I had borrowed a friend’s kayak to paddle on Somerset Dam. 

With only brief paddling experience in a canoe on the Noosa Everglades, we had little knowledge of the best places to kayak near Brisbane. After all, we’re typically land dwellers. But our friend gave us a new idea that sounded more adventurous than exploring a dam.

Armed with the borrowed two-person kayak, a brief guide on where to start, and a sense of adventure, we paddled down a 14km section of the Brisbane River. This stretch took us from the Wivenhoe Dam Spillway to Twin Bridges at Wivenhoe Pocket, near Ipswich.

Read more: 13 Best Kayaking Spots Near Brisbane

Paddling Out From Wivenhoe Dam Spillway

The Wivenhoe Dam Spillway presides high above the Brisbane River from the kayak launching point at Spillway Common. At this point, the water is shallow and you’re likely to see down to its rocky bed.

We started the trip downstream towards Twin Bridges over small rapids. 

Here the river is narrow, shallow, remote, fringed with trees and reeds, and not a person in sight. The river is calm and peaceful. We weaved around grass islands and dodged fallen tree branches poking out from the shallows.

Floating Through Countryside

Soon the river widened and farmland began to appear, dotted with pumps funnelling water from the river. Their lazy drone was the only sound around. Houses are few and far between but the ones we saw perched high on the riverbank had an enviable, uninterrupted view of the river below.

Birdlife is abundant here, and many cormorants rest on fallen branches sticking out of the river, flying off as we approached.

As the river widens, it slows down and the paddling gets tougher. The river becomes more intimidating as it deepens and the view of the rocky bed disappears. 

About an hour after we left the spillway, the river narrowed again, veering off sharply to the right. It didn’t look like it was part of the river, more like a little side creek, but the maps told us to follow.

With rain on its way, the sky darkened, creating a moody atmosphere in this narrow section dotted with small rapids. The river became shallow again, and we encountered log jam after log jam, fallen trees blocking much of the way forward except for small passages we used to slowly manoeuvre the kayak through.

After the log jam, the river starts to broaden again, stretching large and wide.

The Final Hurdle – Lowood Bend

It was a slog to reach Lowood Bend, where the river turns to the left around a sweeping curve.

Lowood Bend features the last set of rapids on the 14km stretch, with more fallen trees to negotiate. We somehow managed to capsize the kayak when it became caught on a log and took a swim in the fast-flowing water.

Luckily, most of our gear was in dry bags and remained dry and attached to the kayak. The rest – like stray flip flops – we managed to pluck from the water before they floated down the river without us. Surprisingly the river water was very warm on a cloudy spring day.

If you want to shorten the paddle, you can start or finish at Lowood Bend with an access point on the right riverbank. After the bend, the river widened again, staying that way until Twin Bridges.

We paddled past cows, sheep, ducks, and turtles, floating past high-set houses and bright green paddocks, vibrant after recent rain.

After four hours, we landed at Twin Bridges (a popular swimming spot), dried off and my partner ran the 7km back to retrieve the car to finish our Brisbane Valley loop.

Tips for Kayaking Brisbane River

• Consult a map first! There are a few key turns and forks you need to take to stay on course, so make sure you know these before heading out
• Bring dry bags and use them. You’ll be kicking yourself if everything ends up in the drink unprotected

Kayaking Brisbane River FAQs

Can I kayak in the Brisbane River?

Yes! You can kayak in many places in the Brisbane River. Be aware that in sections of river closer to the city centre it will be busy with motorised boats. Be sure to stay out of the way of bigger boats.

Do you need a boat licence for a kayak in QLD?

Nope, you don’t need a licence for a kayak or canoe in Queensland (or anywhere in Australia for that matter).

Do you need life jackets on a kayak in QLD?

It depends. Queensland law says that you need to wear a life jacket in a few instances. These include:

• when crossing a designated coastal bar in an open boat that is less than 4.8m in length
• if you’re under 12 years in an open boat that is less than 4.8m in length and underway

However, it’s encouraged to wear a life jacket at all times when kayaking on the Brisbane River, as the conditions of the river change regularly and there are a lot of trees and other obstructions below the surface.

Do you need to register a kayak in Australia?

Nope, you don’t need to register a kayak or canoe in Australia.