Big sky, brown river, easy days.
River cruises and koala mornings, sandhills out on Moreton, wine up on Tamborine and the long green drive into the hinterland. What each day is really like, what it costs, and where to book.
The days that fill up first.
First trip or fifth, these are the days that fill up fast: the river cruise out to the koala sanctuary, a morning on Moreton’s sand, the Story Bridge climb your mates will ask about.
Brisbane River Cruise and Koala Sanctuary Visit
Brisbane River cruise to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary with onboard commentary, skip-the-line entry, and 3 hours to see 130+ koalas.
From $81 per person
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An hour to another world.
The catamaran leaves the city and forty minutes later you’re snorkelling the Tangalooma wrecks, sandboarding the dunes and hand-feeding wild dolphins at dusk. Bring nothing but sunscreen; the boat sorts the rest.
Which Brisbane will it be?
Same city, three different days. Choose the version that fits your trip and the tours behind it are compared, rated and ready to book.
From the water
On the river
from $82 · 1,522 reviews
The Brown Snake is the city’s main street. A commentary cruise past the cliffs, a paddle through the mangroves, or the classic run downriver to Lone Pine to meet the koalas. Slow, shaded, and the best angle on the skyline there is.
See the river trips →
From above
Over the top
from $355 · 205 reviews
Climb the Story Bridge for sunrise, lift off in a hot-air balloon over the hinterland, or take the 25-minute helicopter loop over the river bends. Short, sharp, and the photos do the talking.
See the high-up days →
On foot
Street level
from $53 · 195 reviews
Where the city actually lives: the laneway coffee, the convict-era history, the true-crime yarns after dark. A guide who knows which door to knock on beats a map every time.
See the walking tours →
The city changes after six.
The river turns to a strip of lights, the Valley warms up, and the best stories come out on the true-crime walk. Brisbane does nights better than it lets on. Here is where to spend one.
Brisbane is happiest on the river.
The city was built on a bend of it. Kayak the reach under the cliffs at first light, cruise out to the koala sanctuary, or push further to the bay. Three easy ways onto the water.
Koalas before lunch, easily done.
You are closer to the wildlife here than almost anywhere. Cuddle a koala at Lone Pine, meet the crew at Australia Zoo, feed wild dolphins off Moreton. The animals are the whole point.
The rainforest starts an hour from town.
Trade the towers for Tamborine and Springbrook: waterfalls you can walk behind, a canopy full of birds, and after dark a gorge that glows with a galaxy of glow-worms. The slow, cool half of South East Queensland.
Pick your patch of Brisbane.
The good stuff spreads out: the river through the middle, the bay and its sand islands to the east, the green hills to the west. Each one is a day.
Chase the day you’re after.
A dozen ways to fill a Brisbane day, from a dawn paddle to a rooftop tasting. Tap whichever fits the mood and the full list opens up.
The coast and hills are calling.
The bay islands, the Gold Coast, the wine hills and the zoo up the highway are all a morning’s drive, and back in time for a river dinner.
Three days that do Brisbane justice.
You won’t see all of Brisbane in one trip, but three days gets you the river, an island and the green behind the city. Here is the order we’d give a mate flying in tomorrow.
Day 1
The river and the koalas
Ease in with a morning cruise down the Brown Snake to Lone Pine, an afternoon through South Bank, sunset from the Story Bridge or Kangaroo Point. Gentle, and very Brisbane.
Plan day one →
Day 2
Out to the sand island
Catch the early cat to Moreton or Straddie. Snorkel the wrecks, sandboard the dunes, feed the dolphins at dusk, then doze the whole way home. The day everyone remembers.
Plan day two →
Day 3
Up into the hinterland
Trade the coast for cool green: Tamborine’s wineries and waterfalls by day, a glow-worm gorge after dark. Or point south for the Gold Coast if the beach is calling.
Plan day three →
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