Brisbane River Cruises & Island Tours

Brisbane cruises here are day trips and evening sails on the Brisbane River and across Moreton Bay, the sheltered water between the city and the sand islands. Boats leave from the Cultural Centre pontoon at South Bank, from Redcliffe and Cleveland, and from the Pinkenba wharf. If you're working out things to do in Brisbane, a boat is the easy way to see the Story Bridge, the Kangaroo Point cliffs and the bay's dolphins without hiring a car.

Brisbane River sightseeing and sunset cruises

Most river cruises leave from the Cultural Centre pontoon at South Bank, beside the Queensland Art Gallery. The Brisbane River morning sightseeing cruise leaves at 10.30am with the skipper's commentary and morning tea, passing the Story Bridge and the riverside homes. A midday sailing leaves at 12.30pm and has a licensed bar on board.

The Brisbane River sunset and city lights cruise runs on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. It's a 90-minute sail with music and charcuterie boards to share, and no formal commentary, so the talk stays with whoever you bring. Winter sailings (1 April to 30 September) leave at 5.30pm and summer ones (1 October to 31 March) at 6pm.

Lunch and dining cruises on the river

If you'd rather eat than just look, Brisbane dining cruises pair the water with a proper meal. The sightseeing cruise with lunch at the Breakfast Creek Hotel leaves South Bank at 10.30am with morning tea and commentary, then stops for lunch at the pub and returns around 2pm. The South Bank combo pass stretches it to a 4-hour day with a river cruise, lunch at The Plough Inn and a private gondola ride on The Wheel of Brisbane.

Moreton Bay and Tangalooma day cruises

Boats to Tangalooma Island Resort on Moreton Island leave the Pinkenba wharf at 7.30am or 10am and get back between 7pm and 8pm, so it's a full-day trip. Each trip includes a resort day pass and a dolphin feeding at sunset. The add-on is what changes: the Tangalooma day trip with a quad bike tour adds a 45-minute guided ride, the desert safari option takes a 4WD to the dunes for sand tobogganing, and the snorkelling and dolphin feeding day goes over the Tangalooma wrecks with a guide.

The Moreton Bay eco marine safari cruise starts at Newport Marina in Redcliffe and is a 50-minute sail to the island, with a wrecks snorkel and lunch. Closer to shore, the Moreton Bay oyster farm cruise is a half-day catamaran trip from Raby Bay Harbour at Cleveland to a working oyster farm, where you shuck and taste oysters before lunch.

Whale watching cruises from Redcliffe and Tangalooma

Whale and dolphin cruises from Brisbane follow the humpback migration, which runs from June to mid October. Brisbane Whale Watching sails from Redcliffe Jetty, north of the city, boarding at 9am and leaving at 10am. The choice is mostly about where you sit: the premium whale watching cruise has a guaranteed main deck window table, while the VIP cruise gets you an indoor, climate-controlled cabin.

The whale watching tour with lunch and Brisbane transfers adds a buffet lunch and hotel pick-up. From the south, a 4-hour Gold Coast whale watching cruise leaves Southport at 9am. The full set sits in our Brisbane whale watching collection.

Sailing and boat hire in Brisbane

Sailing in Brisbane is mostly Moreton Bay. The Moreton Bay sailing tour is a 4.5-hour catamaran trip from Raby Bay with 12 to 24 passengers, where you can learn to sail with the crew or stay put, then swim off the national park islands. To skipper yourself, the electric picnic boats at Breakfast Creek in Newstead need no boat licence and take up to eight passengers past the Woolstores, the WWII Submarine Base and New Farm Park.

Choosing a cruise from Brisbane

Start with where you're staying. South Bank sails suit a short morning or evening and Newstead suits a self-drive boat, while Redcliffe and Cleveland both need a drive or a transfer, so pick a trip with hotel pick-up if you don't have a car.

Then check the length and the season. A river sightseeing cruise is a 90-minute outing, a Moreton Bay sail or oyster farm trip fills a half-day, and Tangalooma uses most of the daylight. Whale watching only runs from June to mid October. For family days, our Brisbane things to do with kids collection groups the kid-friendly cruises with zoos and climbs.

Frequently asked questions

Where do Brisbane River cruises leave from?

Most Brisbane River sightseeing cruises leave from the Cultural Centre pontoon at South Bank, beside the Queensland Art Gallery. The electric picnic boats start at Breakfast Creek in Newstead.

How long is a Brisbane River cruise?

A Brisbane River sightseeing cruise is a 90-minute trip. Lunch cruises and combo passes stretch to a 3 or 4-hour outing.

When is the whale watching season in Brisbane?

Brisbane whale watching runs from June to mid October, when humpback whales pass through Moreton Bay. Cruises from Redcliffe board at 9am and leave at 10am.

Do you need a licence to hire a boat in Brisbane?

The electric picnic boats at Breakfast Creek need no boat licence or experience. One boat takes up to eight passengers, and you can bring your own picnic.

How do you get to Tangalooma from Brisbane?

Tangalooma day cruises sail from the wharf at 220 Holt Street, Pinkenba, at 7.30am or 10am. Some trips include optional bus transfers from Brisbane hotels.

Are Brisbane cruises suitable for children?

Most Brisbane river and bay cruises take children, and child ticket ages differ by trip. Check the age range on the cruise you choose.

A lazy loop past the Story Bridge or a day on Moreton Island, a Brisbane cruise gets you off the road and onto the water. Pick a departure point that suits your day and book it.