Category Cruises & Boat Tours

Brisbane · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS

The 15 Best Brisbane Cruises & Boat Tours

24 reviewed

Everything that floats, in one place: river sightseeing, lunch and dinner cruises, whale watching off the bay, and the run out to the koala sanctuary. Below are the best Brisbane cruises, ranked, with prices, durations, and what is included on board.

Brisbane River Cruise with entry to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Brisbane River Cruise with entry to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary - Lone Pine Entry: 3 Hours with Koalas, Platypus, and More

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

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,522 reviews · from $82Our pick

Take a Brisbane River cruise to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, with captain commentary and 3 hours to meet koalas, kangaroos, and more.

“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 sanctuary staff were also friendly and knowledgeable. The return journey had no commentary (same route in reverse so unnecessary) and the cruise was leisurely and relaxing. We all enjoyed this trip”

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Brisbane River Cruise and Koala Sanctuary Visit

Brisbane River Cruise and Koala Sanctuary Visit - The 75-minute river cruise on MV Mirimar II: where the city softens

2.Brisbane River Cruise and Koala Sanctuary Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,397 reviews · 5h 30m · from $81

Brisbane River cruise to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary with onboard commentary, skip-the-line entry, and 3 hours to see 130+ koalas.

“Amazing the see the animals in the sanctuary. They keep it very clean and treat the animals well from what we saw. Great trip. Loved the river cruise - sat up top.”

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Brisbane Whale Watching Cruise from Redcliffe or Sunshine Coast

Brisbane Whale Watching Cruise from Redcliffe or Sunshine Coast - Eye Spy Viewing: Cabin Comfort vs Deck Sightlines

Morning Sightseeing Cruise: 10:30am-12pm (90min)

Morning Sightseeing Cruise: 10:30am-12pm (90min) - Morning tea on board: scones, jam, and coffee before the views

4.Morning Sightseeing Cruise: 10:30am-12pm (90min)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 973 reviews · from $37

90-minute Brisbane River morning cruise with live commentary, scones and coffee, plus Story Bridge, CBD sights, and Southbank views.

“Great way to see the city from the river, amazing photo opportunities and some interesting information given by the guide. I did the morning tea version so had a couple of scones and some coffee while I sat upstairs and enjoyed the view.”

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Brisbane: Morning Sightseeing Cruise: 10:30am-12pm (90min)

Brisbane: Morning Sightseeing Cruise: 10:30am-12pm (90min) - The 90-minute flow: what happens during the cruise

Cruise to Lunch Package: 10:30am – 2pm (3.5hr)

Cruise to Lunch Package: 10:30am – 2pm (3.5hr) - Meeting at the Cultural Centre Public Pontoon in South Brisbane

6.Cruise to Lunch Package: 10:30am – 2pm (3.5hr)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 487 reviews · from $68

Relax on MV Neptune on the Brisbane River, hear the city’s story, then enjoy morning tea and a pub lunch with keg-tap beer at Breakfast Creek.

“A delightful experience, well organised and enjoyable. From the first boarding to the return sail home this was more than expected. Will do this again.”

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Brisbane: Whale Watching Cruise with Lunch

Brisbane: Whale Watching Cruise with Lunch - Captain Kerry Lopez and Respectful Wildlife Viewing

7.Whale Watching Cruise with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 448 reviews · 5 - 8 hours · from $113

Cruise Moreton Bay on the MV Eye Spy to spot humpback whales, enjoy a picnic lunchbox onboard, with an expert guide and whale research support.

“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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Brisbane: Sunset City Lights Cruise 5.30pm or 6pm *seasonal


Brisbane: Midday 1.5-Hour Sightseeing Cruise 12.30pm-2.00pm

Brisbane: Midday 1.5-Hour Sightseeing Cruise 12.30pm-2.00pm - Meeting at South Bank: where to start so you don’t waste your first minutes

9.Midday 1.5-Hour Sightseeing Cruise 12.30pm-2.00pm

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 384 reviews · 1h 30m · from $34

A 90-minute Brisbane River cruise at midday with guided sights like the Story Bridge, photo stops, and complimentary afternoon tea.

“Lovely crew Very informative commentary All very professional and safe The best way to see and learn about this wonderful city I would thoroughly recommend”

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Brisbane: Cruise to Lunch Package: 10:30am-2pm (3.5hr)

Brisbane: Cruise to Lunch Package: 10:30am-2pm (3.5hr) - The 45-minute river cruise: photo angles plus live narration

10.Cruise to Lunch Package: 10:30am-2pm (3.5hr)

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 326 reviews · 3h 30m · from $63

3.5-hour Brisbane river cruise with commentary, morning tea scones, lunch at Breakfast Creek Hotel, and keg-tapping beer tasting.

“Boat ride down the river was nice with commentary from the captain. Lunch was fresh and the private bar and wooden barrel spiking was interesting and informational. This is a good activity to start your day. I recommend to go hungry!”

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Moreton Island Eco Marine Safari Cruise and Snorkel

Moreton Island Eco Marine Safari Cruise and Snorkel - Tangalooma Wrecks snorkel: how it’s run and why it matters

11.Moreton Island Eco Marine Safari Cruise and Snorkel

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 172 reviews · from $142

Moreton Island eco cruise with guided snorkeling at the Tangalooma wrecks, beach time, and included meals from Newport Marina.

“Absolutely loved this trip! I have done other tours on the island but this one took the cake! Having the boat take us right up to the wrecks meant we didn't have to do the whole swim out and back. The free time we had on shore was the perfRead more”

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Midday Sightseeing Cruise: 12.30pm-2pm (90min)

Midday Sightseeing Cruise: 12.30pm-2pm (90min) - Stop 1: Southbank Parklands (where Expo 88 used to be)

Sunset City Lights Cruise: 5.30pm or 6pm *seasonal (90min)


Moreton Island: Tangalooma Day Trip & Whale Watching Cruise

Moreton Island: Tangalooma Day Trip & Whale Watching Cruise - Getting from Brisbane to Moreton Island: ferry timing and your best prep

Mid-Afternoon Sightseeing Cruise: 2:30pm-4pm (90min)

Mid-Afternoon Sightseeing Cruise: 2:30pm-4pm (90min) - What you’ll see along the Brisbane River: bridges, cliffs, and skyline views

15.Mid-Afternoon Sightseeing Cruise: 2:30pm-4pm (90min)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 28 reviews · from $37

A 2:30pm Brisbane River cruise with live commentary, afternoon tea, and river views of Story Bridge and Kangaroo Point Cliffs. 90 minutes.

“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 quick- it didn't feel like 90 minutes :) Lovely complimentary food and hot drinks, and a nice little shop to buy cold drinks from.”

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