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.

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

“Activity was perfect, a relatively short cruise with a good amount of time at the sanctuary. We went to a few sanctuaries in Australia, and this one was the best.”

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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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4.Brisbane: Sightseeing River Cruise with Morning Tea

Experience Brisbane’s scenic river with a 1.5-hour sightseeing cruise including morning tea, informative commentary, and stunning city views for just $32.

★ 4.5

“When I made the booking, I made a mistake and only booked for one person. The crew was so accommodating and worked things out for us. The scones were delicious. The history information was really interesting. We had never been to Brisbane before, so it…”

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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

“Really fun experience despite me having a bad seasickness during the trip. Happy with everything from the transportation, the guide/bus driver, and the whale watching experience itself. Got really lucky that our ship was surrounded by pods of whales within such proximity. Highly recommended! Just…”

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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

“We took overseas visitors on this river/lunch cruise . We all had a wonderful time & enjoyed the experience immensely. Highly recommend”

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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

“It’s a nice experience. We learned a bit of the history of the city. If you have a limited time in Brisbane, I recommend this activity”

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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

“All Good, it was timely and saw plenty along the riverfront, Snack was good, but the music was far too loud.”

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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

“Fantastic day with lots of whales spotted. Superlucky to see so many. Staff were great and the lunch was actually really good! Unfortunately sea quite rough so lots of people seasick. But the staff handled it really well.”

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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

“Friendly attentive staff, pleasant short river trip. Commentary interesting and informative-plenty enough to keep our interest as we also wanted to enjoy the experience without a full on history lecture. Fully stocked bar -( pay ) Included in tRead more”

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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 ferry across was good & the staff were great. We arrived to a very windy day but it still didn’t take away how beautiful the island is. The marine discovery was disappointing as we Only saw the shadow of a few turtles and some…”

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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.