Kayaking Brisbane

There are multiple places within the Brisbane area that offer amazing opportunities for wildlife observation, recreational paddling and fishing. Here we will touch on our top 5 locations for doing this and the reasons why, along with the experience levels recommended for doing it.

1. Stradbroke Island/Dunwich

Whilst this is an island it is an easy place to get to. Walk onto the Ferry with your kayak and jump off at Dunwich. And once the Ferry leaves again you can pop your kayak in at the ramp there or just off to the side there is the beach. This offers amazing access to the passage for recreational and fishing opportunities that are otherwise very hard to access in a kayak. With semi-sheltered waters to paddle in. There is a good chance of seeing some of the native wildlife including sea eagles and dolphins around the area as well. Make a day of it and when you’re ready to go, jump back on the ferry and come back home.

Rating: 4.5/5
Experience Level: Low (as long as you stay in the sheltered areas)

2. Tingalpa Creek

Located on the bayside of Brisbane, Tingalpa creek offers some really good fishing opportunities for those experienced and new to kayak fishing. With a broad range of bread and butter species like bream, flathead, whiting and trevally being caught as well as more seasonal species like taylor, there is a target for everyone to be found in Tingalpa creek. The water does move quickly around changes of tide so a little bit of planning can be involved when making these trips around the changes of tide. Also offers great wildlife observations as well with the creek going all the way back up to the wetlands.

Rating: 4/5
Experience level: Low-Intermediate

3. Lake Kurwongbah

Located on the north side of Brisbane at Petrie, Lake Kurwongbah is a hidden gem for kayaking. The dam is filled with weed beds and has a rowing lane down the middle for the rowing club. Perfect for recreational and fitness paddling on one of the premium freshwater dams within the Brisbane area. It has multiple smaller arms of the dam to paddle along, and whilst not being a massive dam you can cover the entire dam in the space of a few hours if you want to. There are launch facilities there dedicated for kayaks as well, and there are no power boats allowed on the dam so there is little need to worry about interactions with powered crafts.

Not just for recreation though, the dam has been stocked with Bass, Yellow Belly and Saratoga over the years, making it an amazing fishery. Throwing soft plastics around the weed bed edges is a good way to pick them out or trolling 2-3m divers around the deeper edges and drop-offs will also secure you a fish on the board. Be sure to purchase an SIPs permit though if fishing the Dam as it is regulated by DPI.

Rating: 4.5/5
Experience level: Low

4. Hays Inlet – Redcliffe/Brighton

With the bay on our doorstep, there are numerous options for paddling around some of the more secluded areas of the bay. For that Hays Inlet is perfect, with a beach launch at the bridge and sandbanks for days it is perfect for cruising around at low tide in the shallows. There is a good chance of seeing some turtles, dolphins and on rare occasions a dugong.

There are fantastic fishing opportunities to be had here, chasing flathead, whiting and bream on the flats. However, it can be a little on the dangerous side if conditions are not in your favour so we would suggest either going in a group or building your confidence levels prior to going. Always pays to be aware of conditions and monitoring them throughout the day is a good habit to pick up.

Rating: 4/5
Experience Level: Intermediate

5. Wellington Point/Raby Bay

Long established and often a lot of people out on their crafts out and about on the water. Weekends can be busy in these locations as it is popular with other vessels on the water as well. However, there is a lot to be said for the area, as reefs can be seen at low tide around Raby Bay. Not to mention the abundance of wildlife as well, sea eagles and dolphins being a regular occurrence.

Like Hays Inlet, both Wellington Point and Raby bay hold their own set of weather condition issues. Especially being that it is the passage to the bay where conditions can change quickly with little notice. Although with lots of places to hide it is a good idea to plan your trip accordingly on this one, or stick close to the foreshores and head down the canals. If fishing this area, you can expect all types of species from bread and butter species, to snapper and taylor in the colder months, and the spotted mackerel and the likes in summertime/warmer months.

Rating: 4.5/5
Experience level: Low-Intermediate