Brisbane River Cruise with entry to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Experience a day trip to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary from Brisbane including a river cruise. Get up close to koalas, kangaroos, and more amazing Australian animals!

Duration: 5 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • The Brisbane River - You’ll board your boat in Brisbane’s Southbank district and leave the city behind on a relaxing cruise to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Enjoy informative commentary from your captain as you glide along Brisbane’s waterfront, passing from the bustle of the city’s skyscrapers to leafy suburbs with waterside mansions. After about an hour you’ll arrive at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary where you’ll be free to explore for 3 hours.
  • Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary - Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary opened in 1927 as a safe refuge for sick, injured, and orphaned koalas, at a time when the species was being culled for the fur trade.

Today, Lone Pine remains as a destination not only see native Australian animals, but to also connect and learn, and to leave feeling inspired to make small, positive changes in your daily lives to help protect native wildlife and habitats.

Along with koalas and kangaroos, Lone Pine hosts a sheepdog show where you see the dogs round up a herd of sheep, responding to their master’s whistles, calls and signals. You can see owls, kites and sea eagles soar above you at the Birds of Prey show, or marvel at the colorful feathers of the wild lorikeets that fly in twice daily for feedings. Other bird species and a population of Eastern Water Dragons, a lizard that grows up to 3 feet (90cm) long also like to visit Lone Pine’s natural parkland.

What's Included
  • General Admission into Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
  • Round-trip cruise
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks (available to purchase)
  • Hotel pick-up and drop-off
  • Koala Moments (Touch a Koala)bookings online
Additional Information

See Australia’s amazing animals on a day trip to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary from Brisbane. Your river cruise takes you from the bustling waterfront of Southbank to the lush parklands of Lone Pine, with the chance to see iconic sights as you glide along the water. At the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, you can get up close to koalas, kangaroos and watch platypus, sheepdogs, and birds of prey in action. Animal lovers will not want to miss this experience!

Check-in is required by 8.45 am, departs at 9am sharp, arriving at Lone Pine Sanctuary 10:15- departing Lone Pine at 1:30pm and arriving back in the city at 2:45pm

  • Wheelchair: Cruise is accessible however Lone Pine has a set of 28 steps to climb from the jetty to the entrance
  • No health restrictions apply to this tour
Location
Cultural Centre Public Pontoon
Check in 8:30 am The pontoon is located on the riverside boardwalk, just outside the Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art Cultural precinct, Southbank.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.7
(1146 Ratings)
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Karenshepp12
Jul 28, 2024
Fantastic day, memories made ! - What a wonderful trip from the moment I stepped on board. The sanctuary was amazing lots to do and see. Fantastic first experience of kangaroos and Koalas… Thank you will def go again. Highly recommended
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jayne_r
Jul 28, 2024
Travel to Koala sanctuary in styke - Great way to get the Koala sanctuary. Informative commentary. Friendly crew who couldn’t do enough for you.
Review provided by Viator
Adam_k
Jul 26, 2024
A a not so lonely day at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. - I wanted a chance to experience with wildlife of Australia, so what better way than a relaxing boat ride up the river to Lone Pine. The 70 minute boat ride was full of interesting facts and history about the city of Brisbane, and Lone Pine was a lot of fun, with lots of up close and personal interactions with Australian wildlife. I especially loved my time spent petting the back of koala named Spoon. A great trip for the family or just the traveler looking to meet some of the unique critters from this continent.
Review provided by Viator
Twatanabe17
Jul 21, 2024
A nice relaxing day - It was a nice relaxing cruise to and from the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. At the Lone Pine, we were able to take pictures with a koala and play with free roaming kangaroos. Unfortunately, starting July 1, 2024, they no longer allow people to hold koalas - I believe it is a nation-wide law. At least it was good to know that the sanctuary was following the regulation.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Don_g
Jul 15, 2024
Great Koala experience. - Lots of lovely Koalas. Plenty of other wildlife & opportunity to interact. Good facilities, friendly helpful staff.
Review provided by Viator
Manuela_k
Jul 14, 2024
Lots of koalas!! - A great easy-going day trip. Best place to get close to koalas!! There are so many of them!!!! And they were unusually active when we were there. Loved it!!
Review provided by Viator
Eric_l
Jul 8, 2024
Cute Koalas - Great to see native species especially when you are from another country. Pass on lunch @ the sanctuary for more viewing time.
Review provided by Viator
Georgie1706
Jun 25, 2024
Koala delights - Enjoyable day out on the Koala & River Cruise - VIP COMBO DEAL- RETURN CRUISE- ENTRY INCLUDED. The VIP combo includes morning tea, with a choice of a sweet slice or muffin, entry into the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, and then a cheese platter with wine or beer on the return. The cruise is lovely and relaxing - the staff look after you. Enjoyable time at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary - the staff here are very helpful and will answer any questions you may have regarding the koalas. There is also birds, dingoes, kangaroos and the like. Highly recommend a visit to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary via the Mirimar cruises.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jessica_k
Jul 5, 2024
Nice experience - The crew were all lovely and helpful. We had a nice time at the sanctuary and thankfully we were travelling on a nice day.
Review provided by Viator
Matthew_m
Jun 28, 2024
Great Way to Get Up & Close with Koalas & Kangaroos - The Koala sanctuary was absolutely wonderful! We went for the koalas but were also thrilled to hang out with many kangaroos and to see a Tasmanian devil and wombats. The « koala hold » experience felt quite rushed and expensive for what it was, but we made our peace with it considering that funds went to support the sanctuary’s work. The boat ride up to Lone Pine was a good experience and well organized by the vendor. It was a tad long, though, so if we did it again, I think we’d opt to return to Brisbane by car.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 9 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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