Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary with Return Scenic Cruise
Highlights & inclusions
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August 2026
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Highlighted reviews
The staff on the cruise were very friendly & helpful.
My 3-year-old niece from the UK had a fabulous day, experiencing kangaroos & koalas! Great day out for the kids. The only disappointment was that we were unable to hold a koala. The cruise staff were really helpful and assisted us with the stroller on & off of the boat.
Recommend highly. Great price for relaxing day out
We had our relos from England here and booked this trip. The boat ride down the river was fantastic with the added commentary. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary was great. The boat to go back to Brisbane was was well organised and expectations set out so you knew when you had to be back to boat from sanctuary Great trip.
What you can expect
Discover one of Brisbane's most iconic experiences aboard Koala and River Cruises, with a relaxing return Brisbane River cruise from South Bank to the world-famous Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.
Cruise past Brisbane's skyline, historic bridges, leafy riverside suburbs and impressive waterfront homes while enjoying a captivating commentary from your Captain, bringing Brisbane's history, landmarks and hidden stories to life.
Arriving by river offers a unique entrance to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, where you'll have over three hours to explore the world's first and largest koala sanctuary. Meet koalas, hand-feed kangaroos and emus, watch the Birds of Prey show, discover the platypus and experience Australia's remarkable native wildlife at your own pace.
With spacious indoor and outdoor seating, an onboard café and spectacular river views, Koala and River Cruises delivers one of Brisbane's best sightseeing and wildlife experiences.
Location
What you need to know
- Book your preferred date and receive your confirmation instantly.
- Board Koala and River Cruises at the Cultural Centre Public Pontoon in South Bank from 8:30am. Relax on a scenic Brisbane River cruise with live commentary before arriving at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Spend over three hours exploring the sanctuary before returning to South Bank by river, arriving back at approximately 2:45pm.
- Return Brisbane River cruise between South Bank and Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
- Entry to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
- Captivating commentary from your Captain
- Over 3 hours to explore the sanctuary
- Indoor and outdoor seating
- Food and beverages (available to purchase from the onboard café)
- Koala photos and animal encounters (available for purchase at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary)
- Hotel transfers
- Personal expenses
- 8:30am – Boarding at Cultural Centre Public Pontoon, South Bank
- 9:00am – Depart South Bank aboard Koala and River Cruises
- 10:15am – Arrive at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
- 10:15am – 1:30pm – Explore the sanctuary, meet koalas, feed kangaroos and enjoy wildlife presentations
- 1:30pm – Depart Lone Pine
- 2:45pm – Return to South Bank
- Our licensed onboard café offers freshly prepared snacks, sandwiches, cakes, hot and cold drinks, beer, wine and soft drinks for purchase throughout your Brisbane River cruise.
- Additional animal encounters and professional koala photos are available directly from Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.
- Boarding: 8:30am
- Departure: 9:00am
- Return: Approximately 2:45pm
- Koala and River Cruises operates daily except Christmas Day, Anzac Day and scheduled annual maintenance.
- 5:75 Hours (9am – 2.45pm)
- The cruise departs from Cultural Centre Pontoon located on the boardwalk outside the Queensland State Library
- Cultural Centre Public Pontoon South Bank, Brisbane QLD 4101
- Boarding commences at 8:30am, with departure at 9:00am.
- Located beside the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), the pontoon is an easy walk from South Bank Parklands, South Brisbane Station and Brisbane CBD.
- This experience does not include hotel transfers.
- The departure point is easily accessible by train, bus, ferry, taxi and rideshare, with several public parking options available nearby.
- Is Lone Pine admission included? Yes. Your ticket includes return river cruise and sanctuary admission.
- How long do we spend at Lone Pine? Over three hours.
- Is 3 hours enough at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary? Yes. Three hours is enough time for most visitors to experience the highlights of Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, including seeing koalas, hand-feeding kangaroos and emus, watching the Birds of Prey show, visiting the platypus enclosure and exploring Australia's largest koala sanctuary at a relaxed pace. If you are worried about time, you can book our one way option.
- Is food available? Yes. Our onboard café serves drinks, snacks and light meals.
- Are there bathrooms on board? Yes. The vessel includes three restroom.
- Where does the Brisbane River Cruise depart from? Koala and River Cruises departs daily from the Cultural Centre Public Pontoon in South Bank, Brisbane. Boarding begins at 8:30am with departure at 9:00am.
- Is this the best way to visit Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary? Many visitors consider arriving by river to be the most relaxing and scenic way to visit Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. The return Brisbane River Cruise allows you to experience Brisbane's landmarks, riverside homes and live commentary before arriving directly at the sanctuary.
- Is the Brisbane River Cruise suitable for families? Absolutely. The cruise is popular with families, couples and international visitors, offering a relaxed journey to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and a full day exploring Australia's iconic wildlife.
- Is this one of the best things to do in Brisbane? Yes. Koala and River Cruises to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is consistently rated as one of Brisbane's most popular attractions, combining a scenic Brisbane River Cruise with Australia's iconic wildlife in a single day.
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Hat and sunscreen
- Camera
- Refillable water bottle
- Weather-appropriate clothing
- Koala and River Cruises has been connecting Brisbane with Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary for decades and is one of the city's most popular visitor experiences. The relaxing Brisbane River cruise is as much a part of the day as the sanctuary itself.
- Student and Concession purchases require a valid ID
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before your scheduled departure.
- Cancellations made within 24 hours of departure are non-refundable.
- Changes to bookings within 24 hours are subject to availability.
- Late arrivals or no-shows may result in forfeiture of the booking.
- Please arrive at least 30 minutes before departure to allow time for boarding.
- Your confirmation email contains boarding instructions and directions to the departure point.
Accessibility
- Steps/changes of level indicated with colour or texture
- Large print menus available
- Auditory tour option available
- Carer can be accommodated in the experience to provide support
- Companion card accepted
Recent reviews
The staff on the cruise were very friendly & helpful.
My 3-year-old niece from the UK had a fabulous day, experiencing kangaroos & koalas! Great day out for the kids. The only disappointment was that we were unable to hold a koala. The cruise staff were really helpful and assisted us with the stroller on & off of the boat.
Recommend highly. Great price for relaxing day out
We had our relos from England here and booked this trip. The boat ride down the river was fantastic with the added commentary. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary was great. The boat to go back to Brisbane was was well organised and expectations set out so you knew when you had to be back to boat from sanctuary Great trip.
Great day out and lovely scenic , informative way to get to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary where you can lunch surrounded by koalas, see eagles/owls up close and more.
Great day out and lovely scenic , informative way to get to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary where you can lunch surrounded by koalas, see eagles/owls up close, lots of birds and plenty of active koalas and more. Plenty of time to see everything, including photo with a koala.
