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

“Fun, relaxing, informative history of Brisbane River The ferry ride was cool and smooth and the crew were helpful and fruendly”

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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

“Fantastic boat cruise to explore the river and sites of Brisbane and the crew were very helpful. Easy access if walking with a stick”

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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

“We enjoyed ourselves. Staff were great. If from elsewhere a map to get to the Hotel would be helpful. Several of us took wrong turns and a few ran across the road dangerously as there was no obvious signage to the underpass. Only improvement needed.😁Don’t…”

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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

“What an amazing day. All the crew were amazing, the food was so fresh and tasty, but obviously we were there for the whales and they did not disappoint. A pod of Mother, Aunty and baby stayed with us the whole time and the baby…”

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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

“Staff were friendly. Morning tea was ok. We enjoyed the rump steak for lunch at Breakfast Creek Hotel. Overall it was a nice experience.”

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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

“The driver was very knowledgeable and friendly. It was a very enjoyable ride in the water. I’ll highly recommend 😊 Mabel and friends!”

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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

“There was no commentary provided & the ship had mainly over seas visitors who l am sure would have liked to know something about the area. The captain clearly had major difficulty docking the vessel. He retried multiple times & took 15 - 20 minutes…”

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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

“A great day having the opportunity to see lots of whales in the wild. Staff were friendly and great at directing us to look towards where whales were. Food was nice. Sadly only 30minutes on the island, so no opportunity to use the facilities or…”

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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

“This was an awesome experience, I highly recommend it. The staff were very friendly and helpful. There was plenty of room on the boat to walk around and different areas to sit. There is so much to see and the ride seemed to go so…”

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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

“An amazing experience. Very well organised! Seeing the fish and turtles on the marine discovery was great and the dolphin feeding was just the best. We had a great time so I’d highly recommend”

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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.