Two decades ago, armed with a few kayaks, a bucket of prawns and a bold plan to provide outdoor experiences in the heart of the city, Riverlife Adventure Centre made its maiden voyage.
This year, Brisbane’s iconic outdoor centre celebrates 20 years of delivering a catalogue of adventures spanning abseiling to kayaking with the ultimate birthday bash.
The festivities begin on Saturday 1 September – Riverlife’s official birthday and Father’s Day – with a 20 per cent off sale followed by special Paddle and Prawn offers each Friday and Saturday evening throughout September.
The month-long celebrations culminate with a Family Fun Day on Saturday 27 September from 9am to 2pm.
Children under 16 can try their hand at a range of Riverlife’s signature activities for free including abseiling, rock climbing, kayaking and biking. Face painting, drinks, food and balloons are also on the menu, with 20 per cent off adventure deals plated up as party favours.
For Riverlife Owner and Founder John Sharpe, the event marks far more than an anniversary; it is a full-circle celebration of how a small team with a love for the Brisbane River became one of the city’s biggest outdoor tourism operators.
“From the very first moment we took those kayaks down the river back, it’s been the ride of a lifetime,” John said.
“Twenty years ago, you couldn’t even hire a kayak on the river, let alone abseil Kangaroo Point’s iconic cliffs. Through Riverlife, we have opened Brisbane’s access to both.”
Since opening in 2004, the centre has expanded to become the city’s leading outdoor hub, offering experiences including rollerblading and segway expeditions and hosting events from yoga classes to weddings, helping more than 1000 couples tie the knot over the years.
Yet Riverlife never strayed from its crowd-please core activities including day and twilight kayak tours, rock climbing adventures, abseiling, team building, children’s birthday parties, and more.
The Riverlife team is passionate about connecting with Brisbane’s community and has branched out in recent years to expand its local footprint.
“We’ve partnered with Brisbane Powerhouse to execute Australia’s first vertical restaurant, Vertigo, and worked closely with Uncle Eddie Ruska (Elder of the Yuggera people) to deliver Mirabooka, an exclusive and intimate Indigenous cultural experience,” John said.
In 2023, Riverlife saw the start of a new era with local tourism heavyweight and entrepreneur Sam Jarmy taking the helm as owner and Managing Director, in partnership with John who remains as minority owner.
The duo has collaborated on numerous startups and ventures within the industry over the past decade. Now, they aim to propel Riverlife to new successes, enhancing its reputation as a premier destination for outdoor adventure enthusiasts.
Looking ahead, Sam says Riverlife will focus on making its adventures inclusive for all abilities to ensure the centre remains as welcoming and accessible as possible.
“For us, it’s the year of accessibility which started with us launching Vertigo. We’re now hoping to do accessible tours that will see wheelchairs up on the cliffs and even in kayaks,” Sam said.
“We’ve got plenty of ideas for the future – especially with the Brisbane 2032 Games on the horizon – but above it all, we want Riverlife to remain the place where people come to enjoy, make memories and try something new.”
Riverlife Adventre Centre 20th Anniversary
1-27 September 2024
Various locations along the Brisbane River
www.riverlife.com.au
