Riverlife Adventure Centre

Last updated

Riverlife
FounderJohn Sharpe
HeadquartersNaval Stores Lower River Terrace, Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, QLD 4169 Australia
Website http://www.riverlife.com.au/

Housed in Brisbane's heritage listed Naval Stores, Riverlife is an adventure centre on the Kangaroo Point of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia providing leisure activities. It can be found via Lower River Terrance and is known for its guided kayaking tours, rock climbing instruction, and abseiling. It also offers equipment hire for, such as kayaks, mountain bikes, kick scooters and rollerblades. [1] [2]

Contents

History

Founder and owner of Riverlife John Sharpe John Sharpe, 2017.jpg
Founder and owner of Riverlife John Sharpe

The term Riverlife was coined in December 2003. After 18 months of market research, project development and public consultation, Riverlife was launched on 5 April 2005, from the heritage-listed, Kangaroo Point Naval Stores. The building is one of two constructed in 1886 -1888 as a depot for the Queensland Marine Defence Force. The other Naval Stores building burned down in 1987.

The distinctive pink and green stone of the Kangaroo Point Cliffs was quarried from the imposing cliffs from the early days of the Moreton Bay penal colony until 1976, of which evidence can be seen on the cliff face and the stone itself, which is known as Brisbane tuff. This stone can also be seen on many of Brisbane buildings.

The January 2011 Queensland floods caused a damage bill for Riverlife of over $100,000.

In 2012, Riverlife was rated in the Top 4 of Brisbane's Attractions and Things To Do. [3] Additionally, it is nominated as one of Queensland's Must-Do experiences. [4]

Aboriginal culture

Aboriginal people settled the area at least 22,000 years before the arrival of Europeans in 1823. The river supplied fish and shellfish and the stringy bark trees growing along the river were used to build canoes. The dreamtime story of ‘The Rainbow Serpent' tells of the creation of the cliff area along the river bank at Kangaroo Point. Various Aboriginal groups shared this story and owned parts of it.

In 2005, Riverlife Mirrabooka was created as a joint venture between Riverlife and the Nunukul Yuggera Dance Troupe. It began operating in Brisbane and on Moreton Island, exhibiting rich Australian Aborigines cultural heritage of both regions. It performs 'Welcome to Country' ceremonies and plays traditional musical instrument didgeridoos. It is a member of Aboriginal Tourism Australia and is completing the Respecting Our Culture (ROC) Tourism Business Development Program. [5]

Tangatours

In 2008, Riverlife established Tangatours in Moreton Bay - Moreton Island also known as Tangalooma. It invested in and purchased segways for guided tours along the beach.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brisbane River</span> River in Queensland, Australia

The Brisbane River is the longest river in South East Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay on the Coral Sea. John Oxley, the first European to explore the river, named it after the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Thomas Brisbane in 1823. The penal colony of Moreton Bay later adopted the same name, eventually becoming the present city of Brisbane. The river is a tidal estuary and the water is brackish from its mouth through the majority of the Brisbane metropolitan area westward to the Mount Crosby Weir. The river is wide and navigable throughout the Brisbane metropolitan area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brisbane</span> City of Queensland, Australia

Brisbane is the capital and most populous city of Queensland and the third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of approximately 2.6 million. Brisbane lies at the centre of South East Queensland, which includes several other regional centres and cities. The central business district is situated within a peninsula of the Brisbane River about 15 km (9 mi) from its mouth at Moreton Bay. Brisbane is located in the hilly floodplain of the Brisbane River Valley between Moreton Bay and the Taylor and D'Aguilar mountain ranges. It sprawls across several local government areas, most centrally the City of Brisbane. The demonym of Brisbane is Brisbanite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moreton Bay</span> Inlet in southern Queensland, Australia

Moreton Bay is a bay located on the eastern coast of Australia 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) from central Brisbane, Queensland. It is one of Queensland's most important coastal resources. The waters of Moreton Bay are a popular destination for recreational anglers and are used by commercial operators who provide seafood to market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moreton Island</span> Island off the Queensland coast, Australia

Moreton Island (Mulgumpin) is an island on the eastern side of Moreton Bay on the coast of South East Queensland, Australia. The Coral Sea lies on the east coast of the island. Moreton Island lies 58 kilometres (36 mi) northeast of the Queensland capital, Brisbane. 98% of the island is contained within a national park and a popular destination for day trippers, four wheel driving, camping, recreational angling and whale watching and a 75-minute ferry ride from Brisbane. It is the third largest sand island in the world. Together with Fraser Island, Moreton Island forms the largest sand structure in the world. It was the traditional country of the Ngugi before settlement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kangaroo Point, Queensland</span> Suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Kangaroo Point is an inner southern suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Kangaroo Point had a population of 8,063 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kangaroo Point Cliffs</span>

The Kangaroo Point Cliffs are heritage-listed cliffs located at Kangaroo Point just across the Brisbane River from the Brisbane CBD in Queensland, Australia. A popular recreation spot, especially for climbing and running, they are conveniently close to the city and the South Bank Parklands. It can be reached by the Pacific Motorway, South East Busway or a ferry to Thornton Street ferry wharf. The cliffs were formed after stone was quarried from the site and used in the construction of a number of local structures in the Moreton Bay penal settlement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redcliffe Peninsula</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

The Redcliffe Peninsula is a peninsula located in the City of Moreton Bay in the northeast of the Brisbane metropolitan area in Queensland, Australia. The area covers the suburbs of Clontarf, Kippa-Ring, Margate, Newport, Redcliffe, Rothwell, Scarborough and Woody Point.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caloundra</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bribie Island</span> Island in Queensland, Australia

Bribie Island is the smallest and most northerly of three major sand islands forming the coastline sheltering the northern part of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. The others are Moreton Island and North Stradbroke Island. Bribie Island is 34 kilometres long, and 8 kilometres at its widest. Archibald Meston believed that the name of the island came from a corruption of a mainland word for it, Boorabee meaning koala. However, the correct Joondaburri name for the island is in fact Yarun.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woody Point, Queensland</span> Suburb of Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia

Woody Point is a coastal suburb of Redcliffe in the City of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Woody Point had a population of 4,418 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tangalooma, Queensland</span>

Originally a whaling station, Tangalooma Island Resort is a resort on the west side of Moreton Island in Queensland, Australia. It lies on the eastern shore of Moreton Bay and is known for its resort accommodation, dolphin-feeding program, sand dunes and wreck diving. Swimming is popular along the white beaches. It has a population of over 300 and receives more than 3,500 visitors every week as it is about 70 minutes from Brisbane by express catamaran. Moreton Island National Park covers 98% of the island, though there are three small townships including Bulwer, Kooringal and Cowan Cowan. The adjacent waters are protected as the Moreton Bay Marine Park. Tangalooma is the aboriginal word meaning "where the fish gather".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferry transport in Queensland</span>

The article Ferry transport in Queensland provides both historical and current information relating to scheduled public passenger ferry services in Queensland. The first ferry started on 1 January 1843 at Russell Street with a service across the Brisbane River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tourism in Brisbane</span>

Tourism in Brisbane is an important industry for the Queensland economy, being the third-most popular destination for international tourists after Sydney and Melbourne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commissariat Store, Brisbane</span> Heritage-listed storehouse in Brisbane, Queensland

Commissariat Store is a heritage-listed storehouse at 115–127 William Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is bordered by William Street, Queen's Wharf Road and the Brisbane River, and is the birthplace of Queensland. It was designed by William John Dumaresq and built from 1828 to 1913 by convict labour under the direction of Captain Logan as a permanent Commissariat Store for the Moreton Bay penal settlement. It is also known as Government Stores, State Stores Building, and Colonial Store. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Anglican Church, Kangaroo Point</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

St Mary's Anglican Church is a heritage-listed churchyard at 433, 447 & 449 Main Street, Kangaroo Point, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Richard George Suter and built in 1873 by Alfred Grant. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brisbane tuff</span> Type of rock formed as a result of a volcanic eruption

Brisbane tuff is a type of rock, formed as a result of a volcanic eruption. As the name suggests, it is a type of tuff found in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is a form of welded ignimbrite. Brisbane tuff comes in a variety of colours: pink, green, blue (grey) and purple. The different colours are due to the extent of oxidation of iron and manganese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naval Stores, Kangaroo Point</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

Naval Stores is a heritage-listed storehouse at 34 Amesbury Street, Kangaroo Point, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1886 to 1900s. It is also known as Naval Brigade Stores and Naval Depot. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moreton Bay Penal Settlement</span>

The Moreton Bay Penal Settlement operated from 1825 to 1842. It became the city of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dunwich Convict Causeway</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

Dunwich Convict Causeway is a heritage-listed causeway at Junner Street, Dunwich, North Stradbroke Island in the City of Redland, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1827 by convict labour for the Moreton Bay penal settlement. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 22 October 1999.

Kooringal is a coastal town and locality on the south-west coast of Moreton Island within the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census the locality of Kooringal had a population of 45 people.

References

  1. "Riverlife Adventure Centre". Visit Brisbane. Archived from the original on 29 May 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  2. "Riverlife Adventure Centre in Brisbane, Australia". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  3. "Riverlife Adventure Centre - 219 Reviews of Riverlife Adventure Centre". TripAdvisor. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  4. "Brisbane River Adventures | Queensland 150 Must Dos". 150mustdos.com.au. Archived from the original on 13 April 2010. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  5. "Champion Profiles". Aboriginaltourism.australia.com. Archived from the original on 1 January 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2012.