Middle Brisbane River
by Gavin C.
The Middle section of Brisbane River is from Mt Crosby Weir to Lake Wivenhoe. There are several launch areas with easy access direct to the water.
Colleges Crossing
Located on Mt Crosby Rd, Mt Crosby. Take the Warrego Highway to the Mt Crosby Road turn off. The parkland is on Mt Crosby Road. (Alternately, take Moggill Road out through Kenmore and Pullenvale then turn onto Mt Crosby Road.)
Pros: Has a ramp to launch from, parking, cafe, picnic tables, barbeques, playground, toilets, and nice park lands. Less than 45 minutes from Brisbane.
Cons: Gates close at 6pm which makes it difficult to have a decent afternoon/evening fish. Unknown what time they open.
Best attack: Paddle upstream toward Mt Crosby Weir and then drift back with the current. Be aware there is a total fishing ban for 400 metres below the Mt Crosby Weir. The flow seems fairly slow but picks up pace closer to Colleges Crossing.
Mt Crosby Weir
Located on Stummers Road (off Mt Crosby Road). Continue on Mt Crosby Road past Colleges Crossing to Mt Crosby. Where Mt Crosby Rd takes a sharp right continue straight ahead and you're on Stummers Rd.
Pros: Toilets, parklands, picnic tables, and barbeques. Less than 45 minutes from Brisbane.
Cons: Steep banks and definitely a two person launch job.
Fernvale / Lowood area
Fernvale is an easy 70km drive from Brisbane. Take the Warrego Highway and turn off onto the Brisbane Valley Highway. Fernvale itself has petrol stations, food outlets, a pub, and roadside fruit stalls. Smack bang in the middle of Fernvale is Banks Creek Road. It runs off the highway and will take you (via a bitumen and dirt road) to Savages Crossing.
Pros: Not many, old toilet block (if that's a pro).
Cons: The flow here is pretty swift and unless you're doing a launch point to launch point paddle it would be a tough paddle. Bit isolated so if your car is there alone it could be a target for thieves.
Twin Bridges
About 3km from the Fernvale Service Station turn left onto Wivenhoe Pocket Road. A few hundred metres you will come across the "twin bridges". This by far the best looking launch point for a solo fishing/paddling session.
Pros: Parking, easy access to the water, easy flow of water. This section of the river is quite wide and the flow only picks up as the water is funnelled under the bridges. I didn't see any toilet blocks but I think there would be some nearby as it is a very popular spot. For a Friday afternoon there were several camp sites set up, kids swimming in the river and at least one canoe fishing the snags.
Cons: Bit isolated so if your car is there alone could be a target for thieves.
Best approach: For a single paddler would be to go as far up stream as you want and then drift back fishing as you go. A good afternoon/evening fishing spot.
Comments
Be aware that bull sharks inhabit the Brisbane River at least as far upstream as Colleges Crossing.