6 Best Cruises and Boat Tours in Brisbane

Awaken your spirit of adventure with featured cruises from Queensland's capital, one of the best things to do in Brisbane. From the famous tour to Moreton Island, home to the Tangalooma Island Resort eco-centre, to cruises along Australia's east coast, the best things to do and see in Brisbane include the adventure of discovering it by water.

Admire the city's landmarks before exploring the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, a wildlife paradise. Dive or snorkel around the Tangalooma Wrecks or discover the island by quad bike or helicopter. Brisbane invites you to an unforgettable experience, and here you'll find prices, advantages, disadvantages, tips and options you shouldn't miss.

Grab your sunglasses, hat and sandals and embark on a sightseeing cruise on the river in Brisbane. The tour allows you to capture the best views of the city, thanks to the different perspective from the sightseeing boat.

It is an approximately 90-minute experience, designed to help you relax with the Australian sea breeze caressing your skin. Listen to live commentary from an expert guide who will share the fascinating history of the places you will see, such as Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park, part of Brisbane's northern and southern suburbs, and Story Bridge, an unmissable historical monument in the city.

Choose between morning or afternoon tours, which include tea, coffee, and water. As you gaze at Brisbane's impressive skyline, you can savour your drink, which is why this is one of the best cruises on the Brisbane River. A city map is provided to help you find your way around during and after your tour.

Details of interest

• Price: from £34 per person.
• Duration: approximately 90 minutes.
• What you need to know: this is an ideal boat trip for a quick look at Brisbane's landmarks. At the end of the tour, having listened to the commentary and with your map in hand, you can visit the places that caught your attention to discover them in more detail.
• What the tour may include: Catamaran or ferry ride. Live commentary from an expert guide. Unlimited non-alcoholic beverages. Map.

Embark on a whale watching cruise in Brisbane to Tangalooma Island Resort on Moreton Island. The trip is usually divided into two parts. After boarding at Holt Street Pier, the boat sets sail to take you to meet the crustaceans, especially the majestic humpback whales in their natural habitat.

Watch the whales from an excellent vantage point on the deck of the ferry or catamaran, while receiving detailed commentary on the habitats and behaviours of these impressive creatures. Afterwards, enjoy the light lunch and refreshments that the crew has prepared for you on board.

Later, the boat usually docks at the third largest sand island in the world, Moreton Island, where the is located. There you will have full access to its swimming pool, beach, restaurants and bars.

At the end of the day, you are taken back to the Brisbane pier, providing you with an unforgettable experience with the whales off the coast of Australia.

Details of interest

• Price: from €90 per person.
• Duration: between 10-12 hours.
• What you need to know: although whales can be seen all year round in Brisbane, you will increase your chances of sightings if you travel between June and November, which is the best time to see humpback whales.
• What the tour may include: Catamaran or ferry cruise. Informative commentary about the marine life around Australia. Unlimited non-alcoholic beverages such as water, soft drinks, coffee or tea on board the boat. Access to the facilities at Tangalooma Island Resort. Quad bike ride through the desert. Snorkelling and diving activities.

Take a boat trip from Brisbane and visit the famous deliberately sunk shipwrecks off Moreton Island known as the Tangalooma Wrecks. As the icing on the cake to this interesting visit to the shipwrecks, you will swim among the dolphins that live in the area.

During the dolphin feeding cruises from Brisbane, you will be accompanied by experts, often marine biologists from the Tangalooma Island Resort ecological centre, who will take you to explore this artificial breakwater created around 1963 so that other ships could reach a safe harbour. As a result, in addition to the human benefits, marine life was also attracted to this refuge.

Dive or snorkel on Adventure Island with the full equipment provided during these tours. It is common to spot trevally, dolphins, sea turtles, dugongs, wobbegong sharks and many other shallow tropical fish.

After the water activities, relax on a white sandy beach and treat your taste buds to lunch accompanied by local wine or frozen cocktails.

Details of interest

• Price: from €142 per person.
• Duration: from 10 hours onwards.
• What you need to know: you can usually choose an additional activity on the island, such as a quad bike tour of the desert, or enjoy the hotel facilities, including the swimming pool.
• What the tour may include: Boat trip from Brisbane to Moreton Island. Snorkelling. Diving. Lunch. Drinks. Visit to the Tangalooma Island Resort eco centre. Professional marine guide service.

Embark on an exciting cruise to Moreton Island, an unforgettable journey that begins just 20 minutes from the bustling heart of Brisbane's business district. From Holt Street Pier, a catamaran or speedboat will take you to majestic Moreton Island. The journey takes about 70 minutes, after which you can dive into the crystal-clear waters and explore the marine life around the Tangalooma Wrecks.

The experience is a true paradise for diving enthusiasts, regardless of their level of experience, and this is just one of the activities offered by the resort. You can also go snorkelling, stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking, the latter of which is included among the best day experiences in Australia according to Australian Geographic.

The setting is charming, and cruises to Moreton Island are full-day trips packed with extra activities. How so? Regardless of the type of cruise you choose , you can enjoy the resort's facilities —including the bar, showers, toilets, and swimming pool—at no additional cost. Choose between the adrenaline rush of water sports or a relaxing day by the pool.

Details of interest

• Price: from £145 per person.
• Duration: 10 hours or more.
• What you need to know: when it comes to boat trips to Tangalooma, you can choose between marine exploration cruises, snorkelling tours or staying all day at the resort facilities.
• What the tour may include: return transport from Brisbane to the port. Motorboat or catamaran cruise. Snorkelling equipment. Paddle surfing equipment. Kayak tour of Brisbane. Access to Tangalooma Island Resort facilities. Introductory diving session. Non-motorised sports on the resort's courts.

This is one of the most popular activity packages at Tangalooma Resort because it allows you to capture the best views of Moreton Island while having a close encounter with marine wildlife.

This type of day tour takes you on a journey to discover the magic of the underwater world as you snorkel on the shipwreck reef known as Tangalooma Wrecks, home to an amazing diversity of marine life, including sea turtles, dolphins, trevally and coral formations. Afterwards, move on to your next activity: a helicopter ride.

The experience offers breathtaking views of Tangalooma and Moreton Island, from its shallow beaches to the shipwrecks. From above, you can see brown and grey splashes in the blue sea. These are pods of dolphins and schools of fish! The ride is picturesque, lasting about 15 minutes with panoramic views to remember this must-visit destination in Oceania.

Once the guided activities are over, you will have time to explore the island at your own pace. Take a dip in the pools, walk along the beach, visit the eco-tourism centre, have a drink in the resort bars, or sign up for one of the other activities such as a desert safari. In the late afternoon, you will be taken back by boat to your point of departure in Brisbane.

Details of interest

• Price: from €240 per person.
• Duration: approximately 12 hours.
• What you need to know: this type of tour is not suitable for children under 5 years of age.
• What the tour may include: Cruise to Moreton Island. Helicopter ride. Eco Ranger experience. Access to Tangalooma Island Resort facilities. Snorkelling around the Tangalooma Wrecks. Lunch. One cocktail. Non-alcoholic drink on board the boat. Professional guide service for the included activities.

Discover Australia's fascinating biodiversity with a cruise on the Brisbane River and admission to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, home to hundreds of these adorable marsupials. Departing from Southbank, this relaxing tour takes you along the capital's main waterway. The activity could be described as a city tour by boat, where you will hear live commentary while admiring some of the landmarks of Queensland's capital until you reach the world's largest koala sanctuary.

Explore the sanctuary at your own pace and discover the Platypus House, home to these elusive creatures. Marvel at the Birds of Prey show, where owls, kites and a variety of birds display their talents (sorry, Harley Queen won't be there, but the close encounter with the animals is worth the visit). Watch wild lorikeets feeding and admire eastern water dragons, snakes and huge lizards.

The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary adds excitement as you watch a group of sheepdogs in action, herding sheep with mastery. After exploring Lone Pine, return to your boat for the trip back to Southbank, ending a day full of natural wonders and unforgettable experiences.

Details of interest

• Price: from €60 per person.
• Duration: 3-4 hours.
• What you need to know: the cruise includes live commentary, while the visit to the sanctuary is self-guided; this activity includes admission only.
• What the tour may include: Cruise on the Brisbane River on a ferry or sailboat. Commentary from an expert guide. Admission to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Lunch. Non-alcoholic beverages such as water, tea and coffee on board the boat.

• Language. All tours are usually offered in English only.
• Activities on Moreton Island. Cruises to this popular resort allow you to choose at least one activity from those offered at the resort. What are the options? Desert safari on quad bikes, Segway rides on the beach, scenic helicopter flights, snorkelling trips to shipwrecks, sunset kayaking trips in transparent-bottomed kayaks, underwater scooter safaris, parasailing and more.
• Duration of cruises. Cruises from Brisbane are usually one day long. On the other hand, tours around the city are usually half-day, leaving you enough time to explore the places that caught your attention for the rest of the day.
• Transport from your accommodation. The usual meeting point is at Holt Street Harbour. You will often have to make your own way to the harbour to catch your cruise. Return transport to your accommodation is not usually included.