Brisbane Itineraries: Day Charters and Multi-Day Routes

Moreton Bay’s 3,400 square kilometres of sheltered marine park offer everything from a quick Brisbane River cruise to a multi-day island-hopping adventure. The 3-day and 4-day itineraries below cover different ground and can be combined into a 7-day route linking Brisbane, the sand islands and the southern bay – without repeating a single anchorage.

Day Charter Routes from Brisbane

Brisbane River to Moreton Island: The Tangalooma Day Out

Depart Howard Smith Wharves (pontoon access for vessels up to 24 metres) or Raby Bay Harbour at Cleveland, and cruise east across Moreton Bay toward Moreton Island. Anchor off the Tangalooma shipwrecks (roughly 40 nautical miles from Brisbane) and spend the morning snorkelling the fifteen sunken vessels – 200-plus fish species, 130 coral species, wobbegong sharks and sea turtles patrol the encrusted hulls. Your chef prepares lunch on the aft deck with Moreton Island’s dunes as your backdrop. In the late afternoon, wade into the shallows for the wild dolphin feeding as the sun sets behind the island. Return to Brisbane under the stars. Duration: 10–12 hours (full day).

Brisbane to Peel Island: The Sheltered Bay Cruise

A shorter outing for guests who want calm water and easy snorkelling. Cruise east from Cleveland across the sheltered western bay to Peel Island (Teerk Roo Ra) – roughly 4 kilometres offshore. Anchor in Horseshoe Bay, a crescent of white sand with crystal-clear water completely sheltered from northerly winds. Swim, paddleboard and kayak in the shallows, then snorkel over the SS Platypus wreck in Platypus Bay. Your chef lays out a gourmet lunch on the aft deck. Scan the water for dugongs and sea turtles as the afternoon unfolds. Duration: 6–8 hours.

Brisbane River Sunset Cruise

For a shorter experience focused on Brisbane’s waterfront. Cruise the Brisbane River from Howard Smith Wharves, passing beneath the Story Bridge, along the Kangaroo Point cliffs, past South Bank’s cultural precinct and the city skyline. Your chef serves canapés and cocktails on the aft deck as the golden hour light paints the cliffs and the city’s glass towers. Dock at Howard Smith Wharves for dinner at one of thirteen waterfront restaurants – Greca, Stanley, or Mr Percival’s for seafood under the bridge. Duration: 3–4 hours.

3-Day Brisbane Yacht Charter Itinerary: Moreton Island and the Tangalooma Wrecks

Day 1: Brisbane River to Moreton Island

Board your yacht at Howard Smith Wharves by mid-morning. Cruise the Brisbane River past the Story Bridge, Kangaroo Point cliffs and the city skyline, then enter Moreton Bay and set course for Moreton Island. Anchor off the western shore near the Tangalooma shipwrecks by early afternoon. Spend the afternoon snorkelling the fifteen sunken vessels – an underwater wonderland of coral-encrusted hulls, tropical fish, wobbegong sharks and sea turtles. As the sun begins to set, wade into the shallows for the wild dolphin feeding programme. Your chef prepares dinner on the aft deck: freshly caught seafood, tropical fruit and a Queensland craft beer from Felons Brewing Co. Overnight at anchor off Moreton Island, the Milky Way bright above the sand dunes.

Day 2: Moreton Island to Peel Island

Morning swim in Moreton Island’s calm western waters, then cruise south across the bay to Peel Island (Teerk Roo Ra). Anchor in Horseshoe Bay – a semi-circular crescent of white sand with crystal-clear, sheltered water. Swim, paddleboard and snorkel over the SS Platypus wreck in adjacent Platypus Bay. Your chef lays out a gourmet lunch on the aft deck as you scan the water for dugongs and sea turtles. In the afternoon, take the tender to nearby St Helena Island – a heritage-listed former prison established in 1867, accessible only by boat. Explore the crumbling cell blocks, workshops and officers’ quarters. Return to the yacht for a sunset dinner at anchor in Horseshoe Bay.

Day 3: North Stradbroke Island and Return

Depart Peel Island and cruise south-east to North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) – roughly 24 nautical miles from Brisbane. Anchor off the western shore and tender to Point Lookout for one of Australia’s finest headland walks: clifftop trails with views across the Pacific, whale-watching platforms (during June–November), and rock formations sculpted by millennia of surf. During whale season, humpbacks breach and tail-slap just offshore. Return to the yacht for a farewell lunch on the aft deck – fresh prawns, local cheeses and a chilled Australian sparkling – then cruise west back across Moreton Bay and up the Brisbane River, arriving at Howard Smith Wharves by early evening. Step ashore for a final dinner beneath the Story Bridge.

4-Day Brisbane Yacht Charter Itinerary: Sand Islands and the Southern Bay

Day 1: Brisbane to St Helena Island and Peel Island

Board at Howard Smith Wharves or Raby Bay by mid-morning. Cruise east into Moreton Bay, stopping first at St Helena Island (21 kilometres east of Brisbane) for a tender visit to the heritage-listed prison ruins – established in 1867, atmospheric and accessible only by water. Continue south-east to Peel Island and anchor in Horseshoe Bay for the afternoon. Crystal-clear water, white sand, complete shelter from northerly winds. Snorkel the SS Platypus wreck, paddleboard in the shallows, and scan the seagrass beds for dugongs. Your chef prepares dinner on the aft deck as the subtropical night wraps around the bay.

Day 2: North Stradbroke and South Stradbroke Islands

Cruise south to North Stradbroke Island. Anchor off the western shore and tender to Point Lookout for the clifftop headland walk – sweeping Pacific views, whale-watching platforms and rock pools teeming with marine life. After a chef-prepared brunch back on the yacht, cruise south through the Jumpinpin Channel (formed in 1898 during storms) to South Stradbroke Island – 21 kilometres long, population 142, fringed with wild wallabies and sandy beaches. Anchor on the bay side for an afternoon of swimming and watersports in calm, sheltered water. Overnight at anchor off South Stradbroke.

Day 3: Moreton Island and the Tangalooma Wrecks

Cruise north across the bay to Moreton Island. Anchor off the Tangalooma shipwrecks for a morning of world-class snorkelling: fifteen sunken vessels, coral-encrusted hulls, 200-plus fish species and the chance to spot wobbegong sharks and sea turtles. After lunch on the aft deck, explore Moreton Island’s western shoreline – calm, crystal-clear water backed by sand dunes and coastal forest. Hike to Mount Tempest (280 metres, the world’s highest stabilised coastal sandhill) for panoramic views of the bay, the distant city skyline and the Pacific beyond. At sunset, wade into the shallows for the wild dolphin feeding programme. Overnight at anchor off Moreton Island.

Day 4: Moreton Island and Return to Brisbane

A final morning on Moreton Island. Swim in the calm western waters, paddleboard along the shoreline, or explore the sand dunes and coastal forest by foot. Your chef prepares a farewell brunch on the aft deck: tropical fruit, fresh pastries, reef fish with lime and chilli. Cruise west across the bay in the late morning, scanning the water for dugongs and dolphins as you go. Enter the Brisbane River and cruise upstream past Kangaroo Point’s cliffs and the city skyline. Arrive at Howard Smith Wharves by early afternoon – step ashore beneath the Story Bridge for a final stroll through the precinct and a farewell meal at one of thirteen waterfront restaurants.

Guests looking for a longer voyage can combine the 3-day Moreton Island–Peel Island–North Stradbroke route with the 4-day sand islands–southern bay route for a comprehensive 7-day Brisbane charter covering every major island, the Tangalooma shipwrecks, dugong encounters and the Brisbane River dining scene – without repeating a single anchorage.