Brisbane Kayak Tour
5
Brisbane Kayak Tour
By Riverlife Adventure Centre
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About
A riverside city, Brisbane was made for kayaking. See the city from the water on this kayak adventure, led by qualified instructors who can train even absolute beginners. See sights such as South Bank and Story Bridge without worrying about boat traffic or river rules and learn some kayak tricks along the way. Choose between daytime and night adventures—or share an Aussie meal with drinks on select weekend nights.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 8-99, max of 12 per group
Duration: 1h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
Highlights
- Get a fresh perspective on Brisbane from the water—in a kayak
- See the city lights by night or soak up the sunshine during the day
- Sessions include qualified instructor, safety briefing, and lifejackets
- Try your hand at kayak soccer, kayak surfing, or stand-up paddling
- Local guide
- All necessary equipment
- Life Jacket
- Kayak & Paddle
- Sunscreen
What's not included- Towel (also available for hire $2 each)
- Water bottle (drinks are available for purchase)
- Locker Hire $3.00 each
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Start:
- Riverlife Adventure Centre, Naval Stores Kangaroo Point Cliffs Drive, Kangaroo Point QLD 4169, AustraliaPlease Note: there is no on-site parking at Riverlife.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Wheelchair accessible
- Pushchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 23170P1- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Before participating, all participants must sign an Indemnity Agreement Form personally or by a guardian if the participant is under the age of 18 years
- Minimum age is 8 years for day tours and 12 years for night tours
- Please bring clothes that will get wet (board shorts / ¾ pants and T-shirt), spare change of shorts / ¾ pants, hat, sunscreen and sunglasses (optional), towel (also available for hire $2 each), water bottle (drinks are available for purchase)
- Complimentary showers and sunscreen are available for your use
- Most travellers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 23170P1
From
AU$75.00
per adult
Select date and travellers
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- carlywieland0 contributionsAmazing customer service and experienceI wanted to thank you again SO MUCH for your absolutely outstanding customer service displayed by Medhi and work ethic you demonstrated to us yesterday. We are incredibly grateful you were able to just roll with an open mind and able to still take us on our Kayak despite my miscommunication on the day/date. It was an exemplary example to our own team members about how you can make people feel with some effort and the right mindset and turn a potential disaster into a super fun afternoon. As a business owner myself, having team members like this is what makes a business successful. Thank you again, I’ll be telling everyone about our incredible experience thanks to you and the rest of the team who helped out yesterday and make our event happen without a hitch (and with a great story to tell!). Cheers CarlyWritten 5 December 2024
- debrasL2840SA0 contributionsGreat views, fun adventureIt was such fun and well organised. Thanks Ian, our guide. Thornton St wharf was not in operation. Use Holman St. Work out in your group how to get pics if you want them.Written 23 November 2024
- _milieg7850 contributionsFun new experienceI had a great time trying Abseiling for my first time. I found the instructor Lucca was really helpful with all the tips he had. I would recommend this as an activity because it a lot of fun. Even with a little fear of heights.Written 10 November 2024
- MiroToronto0 contributionsAWESOME!!!Wow! Wow! Wow! Is this the craziest thing I’ve ever done? Sure! One of those! Any regrets? Absolutely none! My son and I spent a few days in Brisbane, and went on a lot of adventures, but abseiling the Kangaroo Point cliffs was definitely one of the most extreme and most memorable undertakings. LOL The cliffs are located along the Brisbane River in a stunning park full of exceptionally beautiful trees, flowers, and birds, so it was really breathtaking! Neither of us had ever done anything even remotely close to this, so I was a bit nervous, but our instructor, Matt, was super confident, very competent, and incredibly patient with us (well, mostly me 😊) He gave us a few tips and after a short introduction session, I was able to conquer my worries and fully experience the excitement of abseiling. I wish we had done rock climbing with Matt as well, but that’s next time for sure! If you want to add a bit of the adrenaline rush to your visit to wonderful Brisbane - abseiling the Kangaroo Point cliffs is definitely a must to do!Written 4 November 2024
- H3614TVsophieh0 contributionsHighly RecommendWe did the rock climbing at Kangaroo Point and had a great time. We had a really fun guide that made us feel very safe. The climbing itself was cool and suitable for different skill levels. Highly recommend!Written 3 November 2024
- 800meilyns0 contributionsAwesome abseiling instructors - Kate and JaredWe booked the abseiling tour for a school trip and our instructors, Kate and Jared, were absolutely fantastic. I slipped and ended up upside down and Jared handled it calmly and professionally so that I felt calm enough to complete the activity. They were both also very calming and helpful with the students which we couldn’t appreciate it enough. 10/10 experience.Written 17 October 2024
- Vacation549704258710 contributionsHanka was an outstanding abseiling instructor for our session ❤A big thank you to Hanka from Riverlife who gave expert advice and encouragement to my daughter (15) trying abseiling for the first time. Hanka was very patient, and was very clear in her instructions, and we are grateful for her expertise!Written 12 October 2024
- jennyrY1938LD0 contributionsThe perfect experience for a Saturday night.We did the guided kayak tour at night. It was such an enjoyable experience, the staff was great and guided us through the activities perfectly. I highly recommend the night tour. The city lights, weather and water were amazing... a perfect experience for a Saturday night.Written 6 October 2024
- 110capsc0 contributionsRiverlife AbseilingWe had a great time abseiling with Riverlife. Ian, our instructor was great and made all the newbies feel at ease. The steps were a hard climb but the going down was fun! It would be nice if we could have at least 2 tries each as the first time people feel a bit apprehensive, but they get more confident the second time around. But overall, a great experience!Written 22 September 2024
- William G0 contributionsGreat staff, fun activity!My partner and I went to do rock climbing for two hours. Very friendly staff members, especially our instructor Tyler who was very patient with us despite our lack of experience and took good care of us during our time. Tyler maximised our time climbing and helped us out to get us as high up as we could. It was my partner’s first time climbing and now she wants to continue. It’s also a great location with amazing views!Written 14 September 2024
- davidzX2379BL0 contributionsGears stuck & 1/2 -full day hireBike gears didn’t change easily from 2nd to 3rd. Bike returned early for full day hire but they don’t allow option to refund the difference for half day.Written 7 September 2024
- felicityw1770 contributionsRock-climbingTyler was a great instructor and very helpful! A great experience of climbing outdoors for the first time. All the equipment is included too!Written 11 August 2024
- annettet8580 contributionsA great night on the Brisbane River.We did our Fiesta de Kayak on Friday, 12rh July, 2024. The two young men who looked after us did a great job. We thoroughly enjoyed our kayaking and dinner. Thanks, River life!Written 17 July 2024
- 952pamelaa0 contributionsScary but exciting experienceSuch a great experience. This was a 50th birthday group effort. I was very scared but determined to overcome that. My 14 year old was without fear. Will our instructor made us all feel relaxed in the instructional part before we walked up to the top. Be warned lots of steps to get up to the top. We only had 5 in the whole group so it was great, time even allowed for 3 of them to do it twice. Once was more than enough for me to say I'd done it. Will was really good throughout the experience and helped to make us feel safe and gave clear instructions. Definitely a great experience and going off the top and taking those first few steps backwards is not something I'll forget in a hurry. Thanks Will.Written 4 July 2024
- johnathonm6330 contributionsAwesome experience :)Hired bikes for the day and rode along the Brisbane River - simply awesome! Great facilities, great service, and wonderful people to assist.Written 12 June 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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5.0
155 reviews
Excellent
140
Very good
8
Average
3
Poor
2
Terrible
2
Jingle
1 contribution
Feb 2022
I had an amazing kayak experience with Liam and Julien, they are so amazingly friendly. They make you feel so welcomed, safe, entertained, and respected.
A few hours prior to the time of my scheduled kayak at the Brisbane river, I received a courtesy phone call from Julien - who asked whether I would still come to kayak - he gave me a lot of reassurance regarding the safety of kayaking and directions on how to get to Riverlife. I felt appreciated and supported by Julien who took extra time to help me get through my nerves.
As soon as I reached Riverlife, I saw Julien for the first time. His smile was so wide. He introduced me to his team, and to his cute dog! :)
He was amazingly friendly!!
He pointed me to Liam who would be my kayak guide.
Liam appeared quiet but as soon as he got into the zone, he really opened up and made me feel so safe. He is an amazingly skilful guide. He made me feel very very safe the entire time. He kept his pace slow in the water to accomodate me, and he attached my rope to his kayak to ensure I won't drift away too far (after all, it's my 1st time to ever kayak a river!). So anyway, the entire time Liam and I were kayaking, he thoroughly answered my numerous questions. He was so patient to keep me entertained and safe throughout our kayak. I really felt so so safe and cared for the entire time. Without Liam, I would have fallen off the Brisbane water and who knows what could have happened without his care!
He said he loves the thrill and outdoor activities - so really, he is in a great position to demonstrate his skills. He is an asset in Riverlife for sure.
For those who are anxious about kayaking, I highly recommend Riverlife.
I was a complete beginner with very anxious tendency yet I kept cool and managed to kayak without falling. Thanks to the good guys in Riverlife that made everything happened! I promise to come back and will tell my friends to take the chance to kayak with you when they go to Brisbane for a holiday!
Thank you Liam and Julien of Riverlife! You are both soooo amazing and professional!
Keep up the good work!! :)
A few hours prior to the time of my scheduled kayak at the Brisbane river, I received a courtesy phone call from Julien - who asked whether I would still come to kayak - he gave me a lot of reassurance regarding the safety of kayaking and directions on how to get to Riverlife. I felt appreciated and supported by Julien who took extra time to help me get through my nerves.
As soon as I reached Riverlife, I saw Julien for the first time. His smile was so wide. He introduced me to his team, and to his cute dog! :)
He was amazingly friendly!!
He pointed me to Liam who would be my kayak guide.
Liam appeared quiet but as soon as he got into the zone, he really opened up and made me feel so safe. He is an amazingly skilful guide. He made me feel very very safe the entire time. He kept his pace slow in the water to accomodate me, and he attached my rope to his kayak to ensure I won't drift away too far (after all, it's my 1st time to ever kayak a river!). So anyway, the entire time Liam and I were kayaking, he thoroughly answered my numerous questions. He was so patient to keep me entertained and safe throughout our kayak. I really felt so so safe and cared for the entire time. Without Liam, I would have fallen off the Brisbane water and who knows what could have happened without his care!
He said he loves the thrill and outdoor activities - so really, he is in a great position to demonstrate his skills. He is an asset in Riverlife for sure.
For those who are anxious about kayaking, I highly recommend Riverlife.
I was a complete beginner with very anxious tendency yet I kept cool and managed to kayak without falling. Thanks to the good guys in Riverlife that made everything happened! I promise to come back and will tell my friends to take the chance to kayak with you when they go to Brisbane for a holiday!
Thank you Liam and Julien of Riverlife! You are both soooo amazing and professional!
Keep up the good work!! :)
Written 11 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your time to write this review and your kind words. It is very rewarding for our staff to get such amazing feedback and feel so appreciated. It is great to hear you had such a good time and that Julian and Liam made you feel comfortable and safe on your first kayak adventure. We feel blessed we have such amazing guides who go above and beyond to provide our customers with a great experience. We are looking forward to welcoming you back for more adventures and I will forward your review to Julian and Liam.
Written 16 February 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Thomas T
1 contribution
Apr 2021 • Couples
My wife and I took the Brisbane City Kayak tour on our honeymoon and we had a great time! It was her first time kayaking, and our guide Jayo was a great instructor and very encouraging as she learned. The views of Brisbane city were also fantastic. As Brisbane locals it was special to see the city from a different view point.
Be aware that parking around the Kangaroo Point area is not easy. We left some time to arrive early, but ended up arriving just late because it took so long to find a park.
Be aware that parking around the Kangaroo Point area is not easy. We left some time to arrive early, but ended up arriving just late because it took so long to find a park.
Written 17 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What a great honeymoon experience! The view from the river is absolutely magical :)
Written 15 July 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rachel D
Wrexham, UK92 contributions
Mark was a brilliant instructor /guide.
We had a great experience on our kayak tour. He taught us the ropes and was very informative, chatty and approachable.
He even stopped my kayak tipping over during a large wave created by a boat by putting his own kayak behind. Would recommend and we intend to go back soon for a twilight kayak tour.
Thanks for a great experience. Its even something which can be done with social distancing measures in place at present!
We had a great experience on our kayak tour. He taught us the ropes and was very informative, chatty and approachable.
He even stopped my kayak tipping over during a large wave created by a boat by putting his own kayak behind. Would recommend and we intend to go back soon for a twilight kayak tour.
Thanks for a great experience. Its even something which can be done with social distancing measures in place at present!
Written 20 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Rachel,
Thank you so much for the review, we really appreciate it! And so glad that you had such a great time out on the water with me! Glad that I could keep you in the kayak and yes very much look forward to having you back at Riverlife soon for a twilight tour!
Thanks again, Rachel!
Written 25 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Henning
Sydney, Australia1 contribution
Mar 2021
This was sold as a kayak tour with a local guide, but instead it was an 11th birthday party with inadequate supervision.
No guiding and barely any paddling took place as most of the time was spent by the single child minder (not tour guide) getting kids in and out of the water. The one hour (instead of the promised 2 hours) we did spend on the water, we spent rescuing children from getting dragged under bushes and pontoon pylons by the current. The children were spread out over a few hundred metres, and there was no way the single supervisor could keep them all safe.
A kid's party cannot be done in combination with a guided tour by kayak for adults, and certainly not by only one guide/child minder/game host.
No guiding and barely any paddling took place as most of the time was spent by the single child minder (not tour guide) getting kids in and out of the water. The one hour (instead of the promised 2 hours) we did spend on the water, we spent rescuing children from getting dragged under bushes and pontoon pylons by the current. The children were spread out over a few hundred metres, and there was no way the single supervisor could keep them all safe.
A kid's party cannot be done in combination with a guided tour by kayak for adults, and certainly not by only one guide/child minder/game host.
Written 29 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jake H
1 contribution
Dec 2021 • Friends
I brought my Mum and Partner with me. Our host was Josh and we did a kayak tour. My mum is not a confident swimmer nor is she the best at anything physical. Josh was extremely relaxed with his briefing and conduct which calmed her nerves, he was awesome to chat to, and, ultimately when my mum was having a hard time, he generously began towing against the tide. Thanks to Josh, we were able to end her short holiday to QLD on a very calm yet fun and positive activity
Written 19 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Jake,
Thank you for your review and it's great to hear you were able to take your mum on a fun and positive experience and that she enjoyed it. I forwarded your review to Josh and the team and we are looking forward to hopefully seeing you again some time.
Written 29 December 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
walt101
Doha, Qatar163 contributions
Apr 2022
I booked a Kayak Tour with some friends but in the end, we decided on just hiring kayaks and doing our own thing. Bill and the team were friendly, helpful, and professional. We spent two hours paddling around the bend under the Story Bridge around to Dockside then back past Kangaroo Point cliffs to the Goodwill Bridge. All made much easier by a very cooperative tide and current. And given the lack of River Cats at the minute due to flood-damaged ferry terminals - this was a very stress-free way to spend a few hours on the Brisbane River.
As I'd paid for a tour but ended up just hiring, Bill just gave me a credit to use at a later date for more kayaking, or one of the other activities they offer. So all very easy.
As I'd paid for a tour but ended up just hiring, Bill just gave me a credit to use at a later date for more kayaking, or one of the other activities they offer. So all very easy.
Written 6 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Walt,
Thank you so much for your review and great to hear you had a fantastic time kayaking with your friends! We look forward to welcoming you back for more adventures and would recommend you use your credit for our abseiling experience, which is absolutely epic.
Written 8 May 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
BBLadies
Carbrook, Australia558 contributions
The Twilight Kayak tour was a great experience & a perfect way to experience the river & the lights of Brisbane city. The single kayaks were in good condition and all fitted with back rests & safety lights making our kayaking experience very comfortable & easy to paddle. We had a large group but the extra guides made it easy to paddle at our own pace making the tour enjoyable not rushing the slower ones yet allowing the more experienced kayakers to enjoy the tour at their own pace as well. This is a must do experience in Brisbane
Written 8 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GoPlaces370476
5 contributions
Feb 2021
I had a great time on the Kayaking tour. It was taken by Jayo, he was excellent giving instructions before hand on how to get into the Kayak and how to paddle and steer.
I throughly enjoyed my time kayaking and seeing life on the river.
I throughly enjoyed my time kayaking and seeing life on the river.
Written 17 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are so glad you enjoyed your adventure. Jayo is a great instructor and you were definitely in good hands.
Written 15 July 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
jinilil
Ocean Shores, Australia87 contributions
Mar 2021
Our tour was on a Sunday, midday.
A party of 10 year olds, (many first time paddlers), were dropped off without adult accompanyment and expected to keep up with the adults with only one guide to assist.
The guide assured us she was used to that, but the task was beyond her as the group of kids quickly spread beyond 100 meters in a strong current.
I stayed behind out of the clash of inexperienced paddles and was left to rescue a distressed child tangled up in a tree. Not a safe situation for either of us. And other children had difficulty with other barriers.
Needless to say, we spent the majority of the 'tour' holding back, waiting for the children to be sorted. We spent barely an hour actually paddling, covering very little distance, and there was no 'tour'.
We hadn't expected to be attending a kid's party. Nice kids, but we signed up for a Kayak tour not summer camp.
I would suggest that children's activities should be separate events with at least two assistants.
A party of 10 year olds, (many first time paddlers), were dropped off without adult accompanyment and expected to keep up with the adults with only one guide to assist.
The guide assured us she was used to that, but the task was beyond her as the group of kids quickly spread beyond 100 meters in a strong current.
I stayed behind out of the clash of inexperienced paddles and was left to rescue a distressed child tangled up in a tree. Not a safe situation for either of us. And other children had difficulty with other barriers.
Needless to say, we spent the majority of the 'tour' holding back, waiting for the children to be sorted. We spent barely an hour actually paddling, covering very little distance, and there was no 'tour'.
We hadn't expected to be attending a kid's party. Nice kids, but we signed up for a Kayak tour not summer camp.
I would suggest that children's activities should be separate events with at least two assistants.
Written 29 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
屹晨 楊 (Neil Yang)
Sydney, Australia2 contributions
June 2021
I have not done Kayaking since age 14 at High School, the instructors J.O and Shawn was exceptional in instilling confidence and providing useful tips for kayaking. J.O was also really knowledgeable about the cities history and the flora/fauna of the Brisbane river. Would highly recommend this as a starting point if you want to have kayaking as a hobby or as a general date idea.
The place might be a bit hard to find first time, I suggest give the centre a call and they will provide detailed instructions on how to get there.
The place might be a bit hard to find first time, I suggest give the centre a call and they will provide detailed instructions on how to get there.
Written 13 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are so glad you had a great experience and yes we can be hard to find but always happy to offer instructions!
Written 15 July 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
masa3015
Auckland Central, New Zealand
Do you have free parking at the meeting place?
Written 21 August 2019
Would it be a problem for deaf to attend?
We can lipread, watch hands and body language.
Written 25 April 2019
My son is partially deaf and he had no problems at all. The guides do a full presentation b4 anyone is allowed on the water 💧 going over safety procedures, and every other important details we all need to know which is expected and extremely comforting. This outfit is fantastic, fun, approachable, friendly and very professional. Trust me I wouldn’t nor my son would go on this water activity if we felt unsure and unsafe, it’s truly a worthwhile and fantastic experience you’ll love it and I’ll definitely do it again 👍
Written 25 April 2019
Sadly no, but my partner and I went on this tour on individual kayaks and it was so fun being able to cruise along side each other and chat while making our way along the river :)
Written 12 December 2018
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