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

“Wonderful afternoon spent at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. The boat ride there was also nice and relaxing. The captain and the crew were nice and respectful.”

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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

“a stunning view from a very unusual place, our guide Abby was very friendly, funny and genuine. If you want to go up during the summer, take the complimentary hat and sunglasses, it will be very hot up there.”

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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

“Awesome experience. Great staff. Great way to see Brisbane. It is amazing how much it has grown. Highly recommend”

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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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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

“Lovely evening boat trip in Brisbane. Loved seeing the city lights in the evening. Well organised, thank you to the team.”

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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 had a great experience. The River tour was informative and relaxing. Morning and afternoon tea was delicious and the boat is licensed if you prefer something a little stronger. Lunch at the Breakfast Creek hotel is a great inclusion. The food and atmosphere is…”

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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

“Awesome experience from the moment we got onto the boat, informative commentary of the river's history and hospitality.”

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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

“Decent cruise, not for kids. The one we boarded didn’t have any kids and it looked like it was good for couples or families with older kids. Departure point was tough to find, we had two families in our group one couldn’t make it because…”

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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

“We attended the Whale Watching tour. The weather was calm and sunny. We saw heaps of whales over the 2-hour tour. Lunch was great and the staff were really helpful and informative. I have already recommended the tour to a number of friends.”

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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.