Brisbane

15 Best Brisbane River Cruises

The river cruises through the city’s brown-water spine: morning-tea runs under the Story Bridge, lunch sailings and the koala-sanctuary route that arrives by water. Brisbane bends around its river; the boats read every curve.

1.Brisbane River Cruise with entry to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Experience Brisbane’s wildlife and city views with a scenic river cruise to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, featuring koalas, platypus, and bird shows for a memorable half-day outing.

Most Popular★ 4.5

“The boat was clean and the crew were friendly and helpful. The onboard cafe bar was well stocked with good service. The commentary for the outward journey was clear and interesting. Plenty of time was allowed to walk around the sanctuary and buy refreshments. The…”

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2.Brisbane River Cruise and Koala Sanctuary Visit

Experience Brisbane’s wildlife and city sights with a scenic river cruise to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Enjoy up-close animal encounters and stunning views.

★ 4.7

“This is an excellent way to take in the Lone Pine experience. The relaxing river cruise accompanied by informative and amusing commentary is a lovely way to get to and from the sanctuary.”

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3.Morning Tea River Cruise/Tour

Enjoy a 1.5-hour Brisbane River cruise with live commentary, morning tea, and iconic sights like Story Bridge and Southbank. Perfect for a quick city overview.

★ 4.5

“A leisurely trip along the Brisbane River. Staff were friendly and drinks could be purchased. Small sweet treats were provided. Great views and interesting information.”

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5.Brisbane Cruise To Lunch Package

Discover Brisbane’s sights with this relaxing river cruise and lunch at a historic pub, combining scenic views, local history, and tasty food for a great value day out.

★ 4.5

“Relaxing, enjoying, information , had a great time , the lunch at the pub was great value, would recommend the upgrade”

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6.Brisbane: Whale Watching Cruise with Lunch

Experience close-up whale encounters and enjoy a delicious onboard lunch on this 5-hour Brisbane whale watching cruise, guided by knowledgeable locals.

★ 4.8

“An absolutely unforgettable experience seeing these beautiful creatures!! The Guide was extremely knowledgeable and showed so much compassion for these animals. I 100% will be doing this again next year! A must do if visiting or passing through Brisbane!!”

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7.Brisbane: Sunset City Lights Cruise

Experience Brisbane’s stunning skyline at sunset on this 1.5-hour river cruise featuring iconic landmarks, relaxing music, and optional drinks.

★ 4.7

“This evening river cruise was the highlight of our trip to Brisbane! From the moment we stepped aboard, the atmosphere was wonderful—relaxed, welcoming, and just plain magical. The crew was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, pointing out key landmarks and sharing interesting tidbits about the city's…”

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9.Brisbane: River Cruise with Lunch

Discover Brisbane from the water with this 3.5-hour river cruise, including live commentary, morning tea, and a delicious lunch at Breakfast Creek Hotel.

★ 4.6

“Overall the trip was very good. Good views and guiding. Some direction boards to the location from uber drop point will be helpful for tourists as it takes some time to reach the boarding point.”

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10.Brisbane River Cruise 12.30pm

Experience Brisbane's highlights on a 1.5-hour river cruise with live commentary, stunning skyline views, and a relaxed atmosphere for just over $33.

★ 4.5

“I’m so glad we did this. I booked it last minute on our first day in Brisbane. It was so lovely and relaxed. We saw so much of Brisbane and it gave us great ideas of what else to do on our trip. We saw…”

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11.Sunset City Lights Cruise

Experience Brisbane at night on a 1.5-hour Sunset River Cruise with city lights, snacks, and friendly guides. Perfect for relaxing evenings and scenic views.

★ 4.5

“Family visiting from UK a great way to have a relaxing trip showing them sites Brisbane at night. Recommend”

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12.Moreton Island: Tangalooma Day Trip & Whale Watching Cruise

Discover the highlights of the Tangalooma Day Trip & Whale Watching Cruise, including whale sightings, resort access, and eco-guided experiences—perfect for nature lovers and beachgoers.

★ 4.5

“It was one of the memorable trips for us whilst in Austrakia for the past 3 weeks. The Tour organizers were exemplary in service , guidance, promptness, politeness, audio commentary, food served, and incredible timing of start and ending the trip as scheduled. The whale…”

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13.2.30pm Mid Afternoon Sightseeing Cruise

Enjoy a 1.5-hour Brisbane River cruise with live commentary, iconic views, afternoon tea, and a relaxed vibe—perfect for a summer afternoon.

★ 4.5

“We had a great time on the boat ride. They gave us all the history of everything we saw, & the boat layout made it easy for all on board to see. They also had refreshments available- some for purchase. We would recommend this excursion…”

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14.Moreton Island: Marine Discovery Cruise & Dolphin Feeding

Discover Moreton Island with a day of marine adventures, dolphin feeding, and relaxation at Tangalooma Resort, all from Brisbane for $151.

★ 4.0

“The dolphin feeding was the highlight of the day, such an amazing experience feeding wild dolphins in the bay! Make sure you get down there before the listed feeding time to see the dolphins playing in the bay before it gets dark. The marine tour…”

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15.Moreton Island: Tangalooma Day Trip Marine Discovery Cruise

Discover Moreton Island with a full-day Tangalooma Marine Discovery Cruise, including resort access, wildlife viewing, and a scenic boat ride from Brisbane.

★ 3.9

“The tour was over-rated and expensive. The Marine Discovery cruise was a waste of time and money. We hardly spotted any marine life except for some fishes during fish-feeding. The commentary on the boat was hardly audible n clear as there was no speaker system…”

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More Brisbane River Cruises

Explore Brisbane

Sand-island wrecks, the oldest koala sanctuary and a climbable bridge.