St Helena Island, Inc Lunch (Bretts Wharf Plaza Hamilton Departure)

River and Bay cruise to Brisbane’s best kept secret “hell hole of the south pacific”.  St Helena Island is only 6 km SE of the Brisbane River mouth. Join us for our “St Helena Island Cruise Experience including a buffet meal”

Includes: delicious BBQ lunch.  

COVID-19:  In the interest of Safety for all passengers and crew, we’re asking our passengers to please:
*BYO face mask/scarf (wear at food service time only-10mins only)
*BYO coffee/tea reusable mug
NB: On boarding:-temperature checks MAY be done   

Prices:- Adults:  $80   Children:  $40 (4-14 years)

Departs:- 8.30am, 9am or 9.30am (scheduled time will be confirmed on booking)  returns 3pm or 3.30pm approx, from  Brett’s Wharf Plaza Pontoon, Kingsford Smith Drive, Hamilton, 4007 (150m upstream from Brett’s Wharf City Cat terminal) 

*pontoon map & parking details emailed with booking confirmation

Bookings available through our office for week days. Please call our Fabulous Booking Crew on 07 3630 2666

St Helena was a penal settlement for Queensland’s most hardened prisoners from 1867 to 1932. Officials travelled here from all parts of the world to study the settlement’s techniques.  A most important feature being that the island was self sufficient. The prisoners grew their own food and crops, made their own boots hats and uniforms and exported goods to the mainland.

Our continuing research unearthed BUSHRANGER Captain Starlight alias Walter Gordon as a St Helena inmate!

Aboriginal usage of the Island dates back over 2,400 years.

The remaining buildings are over 100 years old.  They are made from a locally quarried beach rock joined together with cement made from the island’s lime kiln.

ESCAPES: Only about 3 prisoners escaped in 65 years.  In modern prisons, it’s about 3 escapes per month. Was this low figure due to the isolation OR the SHARKS that were actively encouraged around the island by throwing in blood, offal and meat scraps?

People travel all the way to Port Arthur and Norfolk Island to see similar penal settlements – and yet this special Historic National Park and bird haven is right on our own doorstep!                          

“We‘ll whip you into shape so you don’t become a prison inmate”. 

* Call our Fabulous Booking Crew on 07 3630 2666 for more information and to book