Brisbane and Coomera

Some heritage remains on the Brisbane River

We had been told to expect Quarantine/Biosecurity at 7.30am. We were up and ready. At 9.30am, Jeremy went to Rivergate Marina Office. The receptionist phoned Quarantine and was told there had been an emergency they had to attend to and someone would come to inspect Sal Darago at 10.00am. Two officers arrived around 10.45am. As it was no longer a public holiday, normal rates would apply of 100AUD plus 50AUD for every 15 minutes spent on the boat. The latter charge can be made for each officer in attendance. We were grateful to be charged for one officer only.

Warehouses converted to apartments on the Brisbane River

Various forms were filled in and Sal Darago was thoroughly inspected inside and out, including the lockers underneath the bunks and the bilges. Afterwards, we were given a clean bill of health, told to take down our yellow quarantine flag and allowed to venture beyond the marina perimeter. We paid total fees of 330 AUD (185.51 GBP). If we’d had any rubbish that needed to be disposed of separately, the marina would have to charge us 150 AUD for this service, which they provide on behalf of Quarantine/Biosecurity.

Brisbane CBD

Throughout the whole process, Jason and the rest of Rivergate Marina staff were very helpful and understanding. We were taken by car to a shopping centre to stock up on fresh produce and collected afterwards. This is part of the marina service for all visitors. In addition, we were charged for only one of our two night stays as we were unable to leave for 24 hours until we’d been seen by Quarantine/Biosecurity. The charge was 74AUD (42GBP). We recommend Rivergate Marina to all visiting cruisers.

Not the Missippi but the Brisbane River

We continued up the Brisbane River the next day and anchored off the Botanical Gardens in the CBD. There were pile moorings nearby and we were lucky to have one of them for three nights. This enabled us to have the use of a laundry, hot showers, toilets and an oar store. We were advised to padlock the dinghy to the landing dock.

Houses with boat docks on the Brisbane River

We enjoyed a walking tour of Brisbane CBD with a very knowledgeable guide and lunch in Pancakes Restaurant. The following day we explored the South Bank visiting an exhibition of art by Margaret Ollie and having lunch at The Plough. We completed our short time in Brisbane with a brisk walk along the riverbank and a trip back on the free ferry.

Tourist Information, Brisbane, in old Regent Theatre

It was now time to start our 59 mile journey to The Boatworks on the Coomera River. This trip took us half a day to plot as it was all on inland waterways and through lagoons. We were very pleased not to have to go out to sea again! We anchored the first night in Horseshoe Bay off Peel Island, where we couldn’t help thinking of our former sailing area of Morecambe Bay and Piel Island in the north west of England. The next day we anchored for lunch off a lovely village called Jacob’s Well and anchored in the Coomera River for the night.

Lunch at Pancakes in a converted church

Next morning, we were visited by two friendly officials who told us we were only allowed to anchor for 24 hours in that part of the river. It was not a problem. Jeremy phoned The Boatworks and reserved a marina berth for five nights. We motored the short distance and tied up to berth F11. Several cruisers had recommended The Boatworks as a good place to haul out, store and work on your boat from as far back as French Polynesia. We were not disappointed. The facilities were first class with just about every type of marine business available on site. In addition, courtesy cars were provided free of charge for trips to the supermarket or elsewhere. There were private bathrooms, several laundries and a liveaboard’s lounge available at no extra cost. Boaters could work on their own boats and live aboard in the work yard.

Nepal Peace Pagoda, South Bank, Brisbane

Sal Darago was hauled out on 29^th August, power washed and taken to the storage yard. Normally, boaters are not allowed to live aboard in the storage yard, so we had booked two nights at an Airbnb at Pimpama, where we were welcomed and treated like family.  Jeremy removed the prop shaft and left it with a specialist firm to be checked for trueness.

The pile moorings in central Brisbane

All the usual jobs required for “putting the boat to bed” were done either on the water, in the marina berth or in the storage yard. Just as we were preparing to leave Sal Darago for three months, Jeremy found a substantial diesel oil leak from the diesel fuel injection pump in the engine. This took a while to put right.

Sails drying in the sunshine

The next day, our Airbnb hosts gave us a lift to Coomera Railway Station where we caught a train to Nundah, near Brisbane Airport. We stayed two days and one night at the Prince of Wales Hotel. From there it was a short taxi ride to the airport. The midnight flight to Taiwan took 8 hours and the second one to London Gatwick took 14hrs and 30 minutes.

Haul out at The Boatworks

We arrived in the UK on 2^nd September and hardly had time to check our post before we were airborne again heading for the Isle of Man and my sister’s wedding.

SD resting in the storage yard

Our South Pacific adventure was over. Sal Darago had stood up to everything the elements threw at her and took us safely to Australia. OK, she needs a new prop shaft and a lower shroud had to be replaced which is not bad after 8,500 nautical miles. We were sad to leave her, but happy to see our family again. We have another adventure to look forward to when we return to Australia to sail southwards and westwards to the Indian Ocean.