A guide to the best things to do in Brisbane on your day ashore

Brisbane is a sunny, easygoing city with plenty of things to do nearby, from riverside gardens to koala sanctuaries to lush mountain hinterlands. Cruise guests spending a shore day in Brisbane will find no shortage of potential activities, but the easiest way to experience some of the best this region has to offer is by booking a curated Princess® excursion. Options range from wildlife encounters and wine tastings to beach visits and scenic drives into the Gold Coast hinterland.

The Best of Brisbane: CRIKEY! It's Australia Zoo excursion gives guests approximately four hours of free time to explore this remarkable zoo at their own pace. The zoo sits on the Sunshine Coast, about an hour each way by coach along a mountain road. Founded by the family of the late wildlife conservationist Steve Irwin, the zoo and its expansive grounds are home to koalas, kangaroos, crocodiles and many other Australian and international species. Daily wildlife shows in the “Crocoseum” showcase the behaviors and abilities of different animals, with crocodiles featured prominently. Hands-on wildlife experiences here provide opportunities to get closer to koalas, kangaroos and other native animals, and guests can also stop at one of the zoo’s restaurants for lunch at their own expense before continuing their exploration.

Closer to Brisbane, an excursion to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary offers another engaging way to experience Australian wildlife first-hand. Established in 1927, Lone Pine is recognized as the world’s oldest koala sanctuary and is home to more than 130 koalas. Visitors can also see kangaroos and other native species while learning about Australian wildlife through daily shows and keeper presentations. Koala experiences are not included in the excursion.

Guests can choose the wildlife experience that best fits their interests. Australia Zoo offers a larger, full-scale zoo experience closely associated with Steve Irwin’s conservation legacy, while Lone Pine gives a deeper dive with particular emphasis on koalas and Australian native wildlife.

Brisbane’s city center brings together grand historic buildings, government complexes and contemporary cultural and art institutions. The Easy Brisbane and Botanical Gardens excursion offers a relaxed introduction to many of the landmarks that tell the story of Queensland’s capital.

A sightseeing coach tour route through central Brisbane takes you past notable historic buildings including Parliament House, the Treasury Building, Brisbane City Hall and the Old Customs House. Together, these landmarks reflect different chapters in the city’s development, from its colonial-era institutions to the civic architecture that accompanied Brisbane’s growth into a major Australian city (now the third-largest in Australia).

The route also passes the Cultural Centre across the river, a landmark precinct that brings together the Queensland Art Gallery, Gallery of Modern Art, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Queensland Museum and State Library of Queensland, making the area a local hub for art, history, performance and learning.

Part of this excursion includes unguided time for guests to explore the Botanic Gardens, and this has become a favorite of many cruise guests spending a day ashore in Brisbane.

Flowing along amid this blend of historic and modern architecture is the Brisbane River. Its broad curves help define the layout of the city center, with bridges, waterfront spaces and cultural landmarks lining its banks. The city and the river sharing its name are inseparable, and locals affectionately call the river “the brown snake” due to its silt-filled color.

The Easy Brisbane & Botanical Gardens excursion includes views from the top of Mount Coot-tha, weather permitting, and time at the nearby Botanic Gardens. Mount Coot-tha rises 942 feet (287 meters) above sea level just west of Brisbane’s city center. From the lookout near the summit, visitors can take in sweeping views across Brisbane’s skyline and surrounding landscape. On a clear day, the elevated perspective makes it easy to appreciate the scale of the city and its setting.

At the base of the mountain, the Brisbane Botanic Gardens at Mount Coot-tha showcases an extensive living collection that ranges from heritage specimens to non-native and Australian native plantings. The gardens combine botanical diversity with natural and historic significance, providing plenty to explore along the various walking paths.

Highlights include the peaceful Japanese Garden, collections of cacti and other arid-region plants and the distinctive Tropical Display Dome, where visitors can step into a lush environment filled with tropical species. Independent visitors can join free guided walks on select days, though time at the gardens on the Easy Brisbane & Botanical Gardens excursion is unguided.

Mount Tamborine is a picturesque forested plateau about 40 miles (65 kilometers) south of central Brisbane in the Gold Coast hinterland, roughly an hour’s drive away. The plateau offers a dramatic change of scenery from Brisbane’s urban setting, combining subtropical rainforest, mountain villages and local food and drink experiences.

The Rainforest Discovery Skywalk provides an immersive way to explore this environment. Elevated walkways carry guests through the middle and upper rainforest canopy before the route descends past rockpools, waterfalls and a butterfly lookout. A highlight is the Cantilever, which extends approximately 98 feet (30 meters) above the valley and provides expansive views across the rainforest below. You can combine this experience with a set-menu lunch at Cedar Creek Estate, a guided walk through a private glow-worm cave and a winery tasting on the Sirromet Winery, Glow Worms & Rainforest Skywalk excursion.

The Tastes of Tamborine excursion begins with a visit to a local coffee plantation, where you can learn how coffee travels from bean to cup before sampling freshly brewed coffees. Continue to Mount Tamborine’s Gallery Walk, an eclectic precinct featuring art galleries, boutique stores and shops selling locally made artisan crafts and treats. Then visit a local winery for a guided tasting accompanied by a charcuterie lunch featuring fine cheeses, cured meats and fresh produce. Finish your tour at a gin distillery, where you’ll learn about the artisanal distillation process and enjoy a guided tasting of different gins.

Another option for a Mount Tamborine excursion is the Elite Collection- Mount Tamborine Rainforest Adventure, which features a mountain adventure to the plateau, a rainforest walk to a waterfall, an included meal, a “Gallery Walk” stop at the area’s arts and crafts village and a tasting at a local winery.

The Gold Coast Beaches: On Your Own excursion takes guests about 48 miles (77 kilometers) south of Brisbane, a popular option for those who want an easy change of pace, spending their day swimming, walking along the beach or simply relaxing on the sand before browsing the nearby shops and dining options. Travel to and from the area is roughly 1.5 hours each way.

The Gold Coast offers a classic Australian beach escape with a long stretch of sand, rolling surf and a lively waterfront atmosphere. Your excursion from Brisbane takes you to Surfers Paradise, one of the region’s best-known coastal destinations and a convenient base for spending a relaxing day by the water.

Surfers Paradise Beach stretches alongside the heart of the city, placing shops, cafés and restaurants within easy reach of the sand. The beach is a popular swimming spot, with patrolled areas providing designated places to enter the water.

A day ashore in Brisbane offers a wide range of activities, from rainforests and hinterlands to wildlife encounters and Gold Coast beaches, or simply enjoying the shopping and dining in this remarkable city.

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