Brisbane (Queensland Australia)
Cruise Port schedule, live map, terminals, news
Region
Australia - New Zealand - Pacific Ocean Islands
Local Time
2024-08-24 10:04
20.3°C
0.9 m/s
58 °F / 15 °C
Port Brisbane cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Brisbane, Queensland Australia. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.
Day | Ship | Arrival | Departure |
---|---|---|---|
5 June, 2026 Friday | ![]() | 07:00 | 16:00 |
9 June, 2026 Tuesday | ![]() | 06:00 | 15:00 |
19 June, 2026 Friday | ![]() | 07:00 | 16:00 |
22 June, 2026 Monday | ![]() | 06:00 | 15:00 |
26 June, 2026 Friday | ![]() | 06:00 | 15:00 |
Brisbane cruise port is located in Southeastern Queensland. It is the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast gateway. The city is Australia's 3rd most populous - after Sydney (New South Wales) and Melbourne (Victoria) and is followed by Perth (Western Australia) and Adelaide (South Australia). Trends show that the Australian cruising market is growing at a rapid pace. It has some of the industry's highest penetration rates nationally. The Australian cruise ports' strongest competition today comes only from Singapore and Hong Kong (China).
Brisbane is geographically the only cruise port from which can be operated 7-day roundtrip Queensland cruise itineraries that visit 2-3 Australian ports (like Airlie Beach, Cairns, Port Douglas). The shorter the itinerary - the lower the price, which means more potential customers able to afford a Queensland cruising vacation. The city's location additionally gives year-round good weather, plus a large number of local residents living within 4 hours drive from the cruise port.
Port Brisbane
The seaport is located in one of city's suburbs and on Fisherman Island - man-made, with land reclaimed from the islands group at Brisbane River's. Brisbane is ranked Australia's 3rd busiest and also Queensland's largest and fastest-growing cargo port (followed by Gladstone and Townsville) with annual international shipping trade over AUD 50 billion. The port is managed by the private company Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd under a 99-year lease from the state's government. The port has a total of 29 berths including 9 deep-water (for container ships) and 3 deep-water (for bulk carriers), plus 17 other for bulk and general cargo ships. The annual traffic is over 2600 vessels, with handled over 28 million tons of cargo.
The port area also includes the shipping channel across Moreton Bay - extending 90 km (56 mi) north to Mooloolaba. Port's channels and berths are dredged annually to maintain the 14 m (46 ft) depth at lowest tide.
Beside its cruise terminals, the port has facilities to handle cargo ships (oil tankers, bulk carriers and container ships) and dry-dock facilities for major marine vessel refurbishments and repairs.
- UN-LOCODE (United Nations location code) - AUBNE
- supported by excellent road, rail and air infrastructure
- deepwater berths
- sheltered harbor area
- access unrestricted by tides
- Gateway Bridge restricted access (185 ft / 56,4 m clearance)
In bad weather (15+ knot winds - 17 mph / 28 kph) turning around cruise ships in the Brisbane River is impossible since the ship's side acts as a sail).
capability to accommodate 2 vessels at a time
Port pilot assistance is provided by "Brisbane Marine Pilots Pty Ltd" (privately-owned company). Port pilotage is compulsory for vessels of 164 ft / 50 m LOA length or more and also for any vessel when directed by Harbour Master.
The Brisbane cruise ship terminal doesn't provide shore-to-ship power (shore-side electricity supply) which could reduce significantly the levels of emissions, noise and vibration in port.
The cruise port is accessible the whole year round – 24/7, 365 days a tear.
Cruise ships usually arrive in Brisbane in early morning (6 or 8 am) and depart from Brisbane in the late afternoon and early evening (at 2, 4 or 5 pm).
Among the Port's main cargoes is coal, of which roughly 60% originates from the open-pit mining site New Acland Mine. Cruise wharves are two. Portside Wharf (2006-opened) is the international terminal for smaller cruise liners. The facility has restaurants, coffee bar, gift shops. Due to Gateway Bridge's height restrictions, larger liners dock at the industrial Multi User Terminal.
In January 2008, Port of Brisbane Corporation signed an agreement with Brisbane Container Terminals (subsidiary of Hutchison Whampoa) to operate cargo berths 11 and 12 for 42 years (until 2050).
The completed in 2 years and inaugurated in August 2018 "Port Drive Upgrade" was Brisbane Harbour's ever-biggest infrastructure development project (budgeted AUD 110 million). The project was crucial as 3,1+ million vehicles use its roads annually.
On April 5, 2018, the new China-built gantry crane (by ZPMC / "Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries") started operations at Brisbane Container Terminal. Same ZPMC cranes were also delivered and installed in Sydney (one, in April) and Melbourne (two, in March).
- The equipment (all 9 gantry cranes) was ordered by DP World Australia (Australia's main and largest container port and supply chain operator) ’to serve the country's container terminals. By this USD 180 million project were also delivered 20x straddle trucks, 4x RTGs (rubber tyred gantry cranes), 38x forklifts (industrial trucks).
- Each of the 9x ZPMC cranes costs USD 14 million, has rated capacity 65 tons (under spreader) and 75 tons (under heavy lift beam), rail gauge 25,3 m, above rail hoist height 38 m, hoist speed 90 m per min (loaded) and 180 m / min (unloaded).
- In June 2018, Port Brisbane launched a pilot project for recycling garbage from international vessels. Before that, crews separated recyclable garbage on the ships, but have limited options to offload the materials for recycling at Australian seaports. Upon offloading, any garbage is combined and either incinerated, autoclaved or deep-buried, without any recycling alternatives, thus creating a disincentive for vessels to discharge it in Australian ports.
Brisbane cruise port
(statistics) In 2006 (first year of operation), the cruise port handled 55 ships and 45000 passengers, making it Australia's second largest - after Sydney. In 2014, passenger numbers increased by 207% in comparison to 2006 - up to 138000.
(statistics) in the period between October 2013 and April 2014, the cruise port was visited by 24 unique ships (from a total of 71 ship calls). Those cruise ships disembarked here over 138,000 passengers plus over 50,000 crew.
(statistics) Queensland is Australia's second-largest cruise market that supports over 2100 jobs. In 2015 it generated around AUD 590 million in direct/indirect local expenditure from 239 ship calls and 442253 passenger days at port.
In March 2013, the City Council approved a new cruise port terminal plan at Myrtletown Precinct. It will be capable to welcome the world's largest cruise vessels. In November 2014, "Portside Wharf Hamilton" cruise terminal welcomed its millionth passenger.
During season 2015-2016, Queensland was visited by a record number of cruise ships - 329, ranking it Australia's most visited state. In April 2015, Princess Cruises (second largest Carnival Corporation brand) announced that for season 2016-2017 the company homeport 5 ships in Australia - Emerald, Golden, Sun, Sea and Dawn. The new deployment expanded the company's capacity by 20%. The vessels were deployed for departures from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. Each of the Princess Cruises Australia deals offers two optional "Land and Sea Vacation" packages. The "Australian Outback" package offers the opportunity to immerse in the Aboriginal culture and tradition on cruises to Great Barrier Reef and Uluru (aka Ayers Rock, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park). The "Ultimate Australia" package includes Sydney city tour, visiting Great Barrier Reef, port Darwin, plus the "Australian Outback" package inclusions.
In February 2016, PBPL ("Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd") confirmed the Queensland Government's approval for building the new Luggage Point cruise ship terminal. The new facility (at the mouth of Brisbane River) allows longer ships to dock in a location closer to the city. Bigger vessels currently berth at the multiuse (grain) terminal, which is a cargo area. Currently, the port has no place where large ships (longer than 885 ft / 270 m) can be berthed. By year 2020, the port's new passenger terminal Luggage Point will be able to accommodate even the world's biggest cruise vessels, which will represent ~60% of all calls. The new terminal will also act as a gateway to South East Queensland for many thousands of additional tourists every year.
In 2016, Royal Caribbean (the world's second-largest cruise ship owner) increased its Australian passenger capacity by 20%. Scheduled were more than 90 AU departures (by the company's 3 brands - RCI, Celebrity and Azamara). RCI deployed Legend of the Seas (now Marella Discovery 2) in Brisbane. However, in mid-April 2016 was announced that with the Legend's re-deployment from Australia to Europe (2017), Royal Caribbean will discontinue offering Brisbane departures as the bigger-sized RCI ships can’t dock at the Portside terminal. The company will not offer cruises out of Brisbane until the new "Luggage Point" terminal (east of Gateway Bridges) is constructed. Also, due to a lack of appropriate transportation to downtown, many passengers prefer to stay on the ship rather than going downtown. Unfortunately, Legend was the only RCI ship small enough to berth at Portside.
In December 2016, here arrived RCI's newest Quantum-class ship Ovation of the Seas. In 2017, NCL Norwegian homeported Norwegian Star for regular departures out of Brisbane and Auckland NZ.
For season 2017-2018, the cruise port handled a total of 78 ship calls. For season 2018-2019, their number grew to 94 (out of Queensland's total 520 calls). The port plans to create a new (bigger) cruise terminal by relocating the current terminal to a permanent building part of a retail precinct (adjacent to Portside Wharf) where can be found fine dining venues, cafes, supermarket, fashion boutique, beauty services.
In February 27, 2018, ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) made a proposal to allow port development arrangements between Port Brisbane and Carnival Cruise Line for AUD 158 million (USD 113 million) port development project that will result in building a new cruise terminal. By this 15-year lease deal, Carnival will pay a fixed price to use the facility, and in exchange will receive preferential berthing. ACCC's conditional authorization for the deal was granted in May 2018.
In 2018, the port handled 151 cruise ship calls. For 2019 were booked 155 calls. Most operations are homeport (roundtrips). Nearby-located tourist attractions include Australia Zoo (Sunshine Coast), Gold Coast Theme Parks (Australia's largest theme park), Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary (in Brisbane's Fig Tree Pocket suburb).
In 2018 started works (AUD 650 million project) for upgrading Kingsford Smith Drive (boulevard and esplanade) connecting Pinkenba suburb to the city's central business district (Breakfast Creek). The boulevard was upgraded from 4-lane to 6-lane and a riverside boardwalk was added. The project resulted in easier cruise terminal access, improved parking and public transportation.
In December 2022, the Brisbane Cruise Terminal was temporary closed for conducting a USD 20 million (~AUD 30M) revamp of the Portside Wharf. During the renovation works, Port Brisbane accommodated ships at Pinkenba Wharf's new Brisbane International Cruise Terminal (2022-opened/inaugurated). Between 2006-2022, Portside Wharf's Brisbane Cruise Terminal handled 1250+ vessels (of various types) and around 3,3 million cruise tourists.
Cruise itineraries to and from Brisbane Australia
Follows a list of destinations visited by cruise ships leaving out of Brisbane:
- World Cruises – from Brisbane are offered around the world voyages by bigger luxury lines (mainly by Cunard, P&O, Princess). Full-length itineraries (eastbound or westbound) can be up to 110+ days round-trips and usually start from the UK (out of Southampton). On those, Australia is only a mid-itinerary destination offering one-way departures from Fremantle-Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane back to Southampton (disembarkation port). The length of such segment itineraries is up to 2 months (UK disembarkation). Smaller segments offer between 14-30+ days long itineraries to ports in Asia (Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai) or eastbound to USA (San Francisco, Los Angeles). Longer segments may end in some of the biggest Mediterranean ports (Piraeus-Athens, Venice, Civitavecchia-Rome, Barcelona) and on eastbound routes - in the USA (Miami, Fort Lauderdale, NYC New York).
- Eastbound world cruise segments from Brisbane may include Panama Canal transition and even Transatlantic crossing to Europe (UK). Segments with westbound routes may include Suez Canal transition.
- Longer (up to 2-weeks) itineraries between Brisbane and Singapore (or extensions to Hong Kong) usually visit ports in Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines.
- "Circle Australia" cruises are longer (up to 15-days) one-way itineraries between Brisbane and Fremantle.
- "Around Australia" cruises with round-trips from Brisbane are up to a month long and do a full circumnavigation of the continent. The itinerary includes most of Australia's big ports plus Hobart Tasmania (overnight stay), New Guinea, and often Indonesia.
- Themed "Barrier Reef Discovery" and "Queensland Cruise" itineraries are round-trips from Brisbane to Airlie Beach, Yorkey's Knob, Cairns, Willis Island (Coral Sea), Hamilton Island, Port Douglas, and of course - the Great Barrier Reef itself.
- Round-trip Australia to New Zealand cruises out of Brisbane are 14-days in length, with Auckland NZ as turnaround port.
- "South Pacific Islands" itineraries are mostly 7-day round-trips (some up to 12-days) visiting ports in New Caledonia, Fiji, Vanuatu, Espiritu Santo, Papua New Guinea.
- Cruise to Nowhere Brisbane deals are on 3-day round-trip itineraries without any ports of call along the route. Generally, these are themed voyages with themes like "food and wine", comedy, sports, wellness, music, "Australia Day", etc. There are onboard pre-scheduled theme events and activities like parties, concerts, meetings, presentations, tastings, etc.
- Short-break ("Mini Cruises") visit Moreton Island (3-4-day), Airlie Beach (4-day), Hamilton Island (4-day), Moreton Island and Gladstone (4-day).
Australia's ship relocations (RepositionCruises.com) are considered most of the one-way itineraries between Australia and Asia and the USA (Hawaii-Alaska-California), and also when ships change their Australian homeports. The latter include short one-ways between Sydney-Brisbane-Melbourne, also Adelaide and Fremantle. Brisbane to Sydney mini-cruises are offered as 2-day relocation voyages.
Brisbane cruise terminal
Brisbane cruise terminal is in service since August 29, 2006, and it is the second biggest Australian cruise port. The terminal building was part of an AUD 750 million port development project by Brookfield Multiplex.
(NEW) Brisbane International Cruise Terminal (Luggage Point)
The facility is located near Myrtletown (across Fisherman Island, southeast of Multiuser Terminal), at the mouth of Brisbane River, on Gateway Bridge's ocean side, near Brisbane Airport. With berth length 1130 ft (345 m), here can dock some of world's largest passenger liners - like RCI's Quantum-class (4100 passengers).
- In March 2013, a plan for a new passenger terminal at Myrtletown Precinct was approved by City Council. The land (owned by Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd / PBPL) was designated for the future facility and included in City Plan 2014.
- In January 2016, Queensland Cabinet opened a discussion about the port's proposal to allow building of a new cruise ship docking facility at Luggage Point.
- In February 2016, Southeast Queensland PBPL (Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd) confirmed it had received first stage of approval from Queensland Government to build an USD 100 million terminal at Luggage Point.
- The final agreement between Port Brisbane and Queensland Government over the construction was announced on April 9, 2017.
- On June 6, 2018, Carnival Australia signed the commercial agreement for the "Brisbane International Cruise Terminal (BICT) project.
- In February 2019, for the wharf construction was contracted "Brady Marine & Civil" (Brisbane-based marine infrastructure and engineering company). For the terminal building construction was contracted Hindmarsh (Australian company). Works were scheduled to start in April 2019.
The facility is privately built by Carnival Corporation (via its subsidiary Carnival Australia) and RCG-Royal Caribbean Group (via the subsidiary RCCL Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd). The project is 100% privately-funded, with budget AUD 177 million (USD 130M). By the deal signed with Carnival (May 2018), the company is limited in the number of weekend days dockings and not given the first option on which days to berth in case the terminal is expanded. Carnival also pays the seaport a fixed fee for 15 years (until 2035) in return for the preferential berthing rights.. As of 2018, Carnival Australia is the only company homeporting in Brisbane. Carnival Australia signed a long-term agreement with Port Brisbane committing to purchase a max of 100 ‘berthing days of no more than 4 per any week for 15 years (until 2035), and in exchange receives priority berthing rights.
After its completion (2019-2020), in the first 5 years, the new cruise terminal will handle projected 1,8 million passengers and over 1100 vessels. By 2020, mega liners will represent approx 60% of all ship calls.
When built, the new terminal at Luggage Point will also take ships that currently can't dock in Sydney NSW due to its own infrastructure challenges.
- The new facility is at no risk to the Government and will potentially triple the size of the Queensland cruise industry over the next 20 years. The project will generate over 3750 new jobs. Annually are expected over 766000 cruise ship visitors, contributing around AUD 1 billion in gross output to state's economy (fees and charges, fresh produce purchasing, passenger spending).
- Among new terminal's features are sufficient berth length and turning basin, deep-water frontage (minimizing dredging costs), separation from port's main cargo-shipping, airport-close location, avoiding air draft issues (Sir Leo Hielscher bridges restrictions).
- A second swing basin (ship turning basin) could be needed after year 2022. It should be closer to the mouth of Brisbane River (where it's deeper), with minor impact to the nearby mangroves. The current swing basin can support up to 150 cruise vessels planned for the new terminal.
- Port's road infrastructure will be upgraded. New roads to Luggage Point will be built (project cost USD 10 million) to upgrade its road connections (Main Beach Rd, Pipe Rd and the roads leading into the terminal).
The first cruise ship to dock at Brisbane's International Cruise Terminal had to be Pacific Dawn/now Ambassador Ambience (scheduled for October 3, 2020) but the call was prevented by the global Coronavirus crisis.
(NEW) Gold Coast Cruise Ship Terminal (Wavebreak Island)
In April 2014, Wave Break Island was proposed as the place for Brisbane's new cruise terminal and casino complex. The project was officially named "Broadwater Marine Project" (the below photo /click to enlarge). Among the 12 bidders is the consortium ASF Group. ASF is an Australian investment company (ASX-Listed) joint venture between Australia and China. ASF wants to build an AUD 7,6 billion Gold Coast development project, without digging an underwater tunnel. Such channel was previously planned to connect Wavebreak Island with The Spit. The no-digging plan saves Doug Jennings Park.
According to the plans, cruise ships will dock on the island's north-eastern side, where the cruise ship terminal and the casino complex will be positioned. The idea is supported by the 1640 ft / 500 m turnaround circle (swing basin south of Gold Coast Seaway).
- By this project, Wavebreak Island will be expanded, a new (man-made) island will be created and the north of Southport Spit will be developed.
- Land dumping options were estimated at AUD 365 million. Project's total cost was estimated at around USD 450 million (AUD 610M), to be entirely funded by private investments. An environmental impact study will be completed by the end of 2018.
- On the new island (called "Moon Island") will be constructed a total of 35 resort villas plus a clubhouse. Its total commercial space will be 333,680 ft2 (31000 m2) plus twice that size retail space.
- Landscape plans for the island show as centrepiece a 50-story tower building and a large marina (south), plus several smaller towers on the island's north side. Among the project's features are luxury hotels, modern casinos, yacht marinas, waterfront parks.
- Approvals are expected to be granted by 2017. By the new plans, the construction is set to finish in 2026.
- Plan updates revealed that the Gold Coast cruise terminal is unlikely to be built before 2019.
- The Broadwater Marine Project will be delivered in 9 stages. Stage 1 (by July 2019) includes canal dredging, environmental offsets, eco-marine park and part 1 of the Wavebreak's integrated resort. Stage 2 (by January 2021) includes the resort, “southern Spit Hotel” and residential developments. Between Jan 2021 and July 2026 on the Wavebreak island will be built residential and commercial buildings, retail district, leisure attractions (incl international street, art museum and school).
- The Gold Coast Cruise Ship Terminal (at the top-page photo) and the adjacent resort will generate full time jobs for over 12,000.
The Wavebreak Island was artificially created in 1985 as part of the Gold Coast Seaway to protect the Broadwater's western foreshore and to stabilize the entry.
Gold Coast is a port city located approx 66 km (41 mi) south-southeast of Brisbane.
Portside Wharf Hamilton cruise terminal
- address - "Port Office, 3 Port Central Avenue, Port of Brisbane QLD 4178, Brisbane, Australia"
- location - on Brisbane River (upstream from Gateway Bridge, at the river's north bank), at approx 6 mi / 10 km drive distance from the city's center and 4,5 mi / 7 km from CBD (central business district). The terminal offers easy access to Gateway Motorway leading to Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast (both at 1 1/2 hours drive distance). The cruise ship terminal is also close to the Brisbane International Airport.
- Located across Brisbane River is a working dry-dock facility.
- 1 berth (max ship length 886 ft / 270 m)
- River channel depth (and berth depth) is 30 ft / 9 m (max draft).
- jet bridge gangway
- The terminal (max capacity 3000 passengers) was privately developed. Its owner and operator is Brookfield Residential. The facility was inaugurated in August 2006. Its construction cost was USD 750 million.
- Hamilton Portside cruise terminal is part of a premium retail-dining precinct (Hamilton being one of city's most luxurious suburbs). Portside Wharf is the commercial international cruise ship terminal, with adjacent car parking, large taxi area, bus parking (capacity 40 tour buses). The area also has a luxury residential and retail shopping precinct with restaurants, boutiques, cinema complex (Dendy Portside), public plaza, fish shop, supermarket. Precinct's visitors are mostly cruiseship tourists, but also locals arriving from Bretts Wharf by CityCat ferries.
- Portside Wharf attracts some of the world's top-rated luxury vessels. Once a week (on average), here dock also expedition cruise ships, as well as mega yachts.
- Across the Brisbane River there is a working dry-dock shipyard.
(Grain) Multiuse Terminal (for large cruise ships)
Gateway Bridge has a height restrictions and because of that larger ships berth at the Multiuse Terminal (the Grain Berth at Fisherman Islands) or Pinkenba Wharf.
- location - at the mouth of the Brisbane River, at ~ 16 mi / 25 km drive distance from CBD, (central business district) and at ~ 14 mi / 23 km drive distance from Brisbane Airport. The nearest train station (Wynnum North) is at 10–15 min drive distance. From there to go to the city takes around 30 min. The Brisbane port's Visitors Centre (3 Port
Central Ave) is at 5-min drive distance from the Terminal. The Centre is open Monday to Friday (between 8.30 am - 3 pm) and offers educational displays, port tour program, Observation Cafe (with panoramic views). - This terminal is also at 15âmin drive from the Wynnum and Manly suburbs, both offering multiple shopping and dining options and beautiful parks overlooking Manly Boat Harbour and Moreton Bay.
- 3 berths are available (total length 2300 ft / 700 m), berth max depth is 46 ft / 14 m
- Due to Gateway Bridge's height restrictions (185 ft / 56,4 m clearance), large cruise liners can not to pass underneath to proceed and dock at Portside Wharf. Instead, they dock either at Pinkenba Wharf (QLD) or at Port of Brisbane (Multiuser Terminal, Grain Berth) at the Fisherman Island's Cargo Terminal. The Pinkenba suburb (in the city's eastern part) is on Brisbane River (northern banks, some 6 mi / 10 km from the CBD district).
- The Multiuser Terminal is equipped only for periodical day ship calls, which means it has limited facilities in comparison to the Hamilton cruise terminal at Portside Wharf. There is only a small cafe bar for coffee, tea, cold beverages and light snacks (no EFTPOS facilities, public
telephones, postal office, ATM, car-rental). The closest ATM machine is at Caltex Truck Stop (Port Drive), at 5âmin drive distance from the terminal. - The facility (Australian Customs) operates 24/7 (CCTV onsite security). Road access is from Port Drive. The terminal can handle general cargoes (excepting drybulk and wetbulk). The machinery includes a Gottwald mobile crane and a Deer Park gantry crane.
Multiuser Terminal doesn't offer regular public transportation services. For cruise passengers are available the following options: pick up / drop off by family/friends (free parking), taxis (waiting at the terminal;s taxi rank) and shuttle bus arrangements (must be made by Shipping Agent).
Howard Smith Wharves (CityCat ferry terminal)
In early-November 2018, Port Brisbane announced plans to build a new CityCat ferry terminal at Howard Smith Wharves (HSW). The facility will become Brisbane’s 26th passenger terminal.
The project is budget USD 12 million and is part of Howard Smith Wharves USD 100 million development project. The CityCat terminal was co-funded by Brisbane City Council ($9 million) and Howard Smith Wharves Consortium ($3 million). Joint funding agreements with private developers is a new policy to keep building and maintenance costs down.
Brisbane's new CityCat terminal was scheduled for completion in 2020. In mid-September 2020, Brisbane City Council contracted a single supplier to construct Howard Smith Wharves Ferry Terminal and to upgrade South Bank Ferry Terminal. The South Bank project is for combining all ferry services (including CityCats and smaller boats) into a single passenger terminal that serves both berths. HSW terminal project was co-funded with USD 3 million by HSW (Howard Smith Wharves) and The Fantauzzo Brisbane Hotel Group. The reconstructed ferry terminal will allow dual berthing - for CityCats and monohull boats. The USD 25 million (~AUD 34,1 M) tender for building both terminals was won by Fitzgerald Construction Australia. For Howard Smith Wharves, works were scheduled to start in 2020 (off-site production) and early-2021 (on-site construction). South Bank terminal works start in mid-2021.
QLD's government in 2020 announced a plan to extend (with 3 new pontoons) the HSW ferry terminal and start from there regularly scheduled daily direct ferry crossings to North Stradbroke Island (aka Minjerribah, in Moreton Bay). Travel time is ~2 hours, covering the distance of 35 mi (56 km) from downtown Brisbane.
Cruise ship terminal directions and parking
- (to Multiuser Terminal) - follow the street signs to "Port of Brisbane". Continue along Port Drive. Look on the left for tall grain silos. Turn left into Seafarers Str. Security will guide to the Grain Wharf's entrance gate. For dropping off / picking up cruise passengers, the onsite security will assist and direct through to the terminal's parking area.
- (to Portside cruise terminal) the facility has a taxi rank. It is also at some 10 min walking distance to a City Council bus station and a CityCat ferry stop.
- (from Portside Terminal to the city) Council Bus - walk around 650 ft / 200 m to the Bretts Wharf bus stop and catch bus line 300 (runs every 15 minutes Monday to Friday). Getting into the city takes ~ 25 min.
- (from the city to Portside Terminal) - catch bus line 300 on Adelaide Str (City Hall, bus stop 18) and travel to Bretts Wharf (bus stop.Riverview Tce).
- (by CityCat ferries) - Bretts Wharf ferry stop is around 650 ft / 200 m from Portside cruise terminal. CityCat ferries run every 10-15 min (during all the week). It it takes around 30 min from the Portside Terminal to the city.
- (by train) two train stations (Ascot and Doomben) are at ~ 30 min walking distance from Portside Terminal. Trains run at 30 min intervals (Monday to Saturday only).
- Car parking areas are available at the Brisbane Cruise Terminal and at the "retail and dining precinct". The number of parking spaces is 350 (some shaded). However, both car parks are short-term only and free of charge up to 3 hours.
- The list of available long term car parks in the area (which is close to Brisbane Airport) includes: Portside Parking, Abel Park, Kingsford Smith Parking, Brisbane Airport Parking, Gateway Parking, Alpha Car Parking. Each of those has a website and also offers car cleaning services (for a fee). Some of those even offer car repair services.
Brisbane tours, shore excursions, hotels
City Tours and Shore Excursions
River cruise: explore the city with a tour by City Cats. The trip is 19 km from Lucia to Hamilton and you can bargain the price.
Riverlife Adventure Centre: a lot of sun and adventure activities in Kangaroo Point (Brisbane’s inner city).
Moreton Island: get wild or just laid back, the Island won’t disappoint you.
Cuddle a koala: go to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and catch a cutie, located half an hour from downtown Brisbane.
Brekky Creek Hotel: Queensland’s most popular watering hole. Try amazing steaks and taste “beer off the wood.”
Stradbroke Island: quiet place with beautiful sand. Explore amazing nature and lakes with fresh water.
Story Bridge Adventure Climb: you will need two hours and a half to climb to reach the bridge’s eastern side. The view from the top will take your breath away.
Go to a park: 25% of the area in Brisbane is green. The city is proud of its public gardens and parks (nearly 1,500). Visit the City Botanic Gardens, walk along Energex Brisbane Arbour to South Bank Parklands or just smell rose aroma at New Farm Park.
The Museum of Brisbane: explore the people, the culture and the heritage of Brisbane. The museum is located at the King George Square in the City Hall, ground floor.
Queensland Art Gallery/ Museum of Modern Art: you will find one of the biggest Aboriginal and Asian art collections in the world.
The Brewery at Milton: you will go through all the process of beer making and you will have the opportunity to try it at the Ale House bar.
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