Imagine settling in for a Brisvegas BBQ Cruise, enjoying local seafood, cold drinks and a Queensland sunset as the Brisbane city skyline glides by.
Perhaps you’re boarding a high-speed adventure vessel for a thrilling trip into Moreton Bay, watching a movie on a boat under the stars, or taking a guided eco-tour through mangroves and wildlife habitats.
Or even getting out on the water in a floating hot tub or sauna.
While some of these ideas might sound ambitious, many are already attracting visitors in cities around the world.
As Brisbane prepares for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and continues to embrace its identity as a River City, we’re highlighting some of the more unique ways visitors could experience the water.
The world’s most successful marine tourism destinations are always evolving, adding new and memorable adventures that tourists will undoubtedly remember for a long time.
In Helsinki, floating sauna boats combine sightseeing with one of Finland’s most famous cultural traditions. Tourists can also try sauna experiences in Tasmania and Vancouver.
In Copenhagen and Chicago, electric hot tub boats allow visitors to enjoy the city’s canals from the comfort of a heated floating spa.
London has transformed sightseeing into an adrenaline experience through high-speed river adventures that combine tourism and excitement.
Amsterdam has embraced life on the water so completely that former vessels have been transformed into floating boutique accommodation.
Meanwhile, across Scandinavia, eco-tourism operators are creating immersive wildlife and environmental experiences that showcase local waterways while promoting conservation and sustainability.
What all of these experiences have in common is that they reimagine the role of water.
Rather than simply being a backdrop, the river itself becomes the attraction.
Brisbane already possesses many of the ingredients needed to support innovative tourism experiences. The city has a subtropical climate, a major river winding through the CBD, world-class waterfront precincts and direct access to Moreton Bay and its islands.
The challenge is no longer whether Brisbane has the natural assets, but rather what entrepreneurs, operators and innovators choose to do with them.
As Brisbane’s tourism economy continues to grow and more river activation opportunities emerge, the potential for new experiences on the water has never been greater.
Perhaps the next great marine tourism idea is already sitting in someone’s business plan.
Or perhaps it hasn’t been imagined yet.
Expressions of interest are open for tourism, transport, charter and commercial operators seeking a berth on the Brisbane River. https://colmsliewharves.com.au/register/
