Brisbane River Sunset City Lights Cruise

South Bank and the Cultural Centre pontoon

South Bank is Brisbane’s riverside cultural and leisure precinct, created on the site of the World Expo held in 1988. Along its banks stand the Queensland Museum, the Queensland Art Gallery, the Gallery of Modern Art, the State Library and the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, together known as the Cultural Centre, as well as parklands and a free inner-city lagoon beach.

Your cruise boards at the Cultural Centre Public Pontoon on the river, in front of the Cultural Centre, close to Victoria Bridge and the striking Kurilpa pedestrian bridge. It is easy to reach on foot from the city centre or by train and bus to South Brisbane. Board 15 minutes before departure: 6:00 pm from October to March and 5:30 pm from April to September.

The Brisbane River and the city skyline

The Brisbane River winds through the city in a series of wide loops on its way to Moreton Bay, so a cruise reveals the skyline from constantly changing angles. As the sun sets, the glass towers of the central business district reflect the orange sky before their lights switch on and shimmer on the water.

This is the moment the Brisbane River sunset cruise is named for: within minutes the city is transformed into a display of coloured lights along the bridges, riverside walkways and buildings. Without commentary, the experience is calm and unhurried, with music in the background and plenty of time to take photographs from the deck. A Brisbane River cruise is one of the easiest ways to see the city’s landmarks in a single evening.

The Story Bridge

The Story Bridge is the most recognisable landmark in Brisbane. Opened in 1940, this steel cantilever bridge is the longest of its kind in Australia, linking Fortitude Valley with Kangaroo Point high above the river. It was designed and built during the Great Depression, giving work to many local people, and it is heritage-listed today.

At night the bridge is lit by thousands of programmable lights that change colour for special occasions, and seeing it from the water as the boat passes beneath is a highlight of the cruise. Beneath its northern end lies a renovated wharf precinct with riverside restaurants and parkland. Visitors who want more can also climb the bridge on a separate adventure climb.

Kangaroo Point Cliffs

The Kangaroo Point Cliffs rise straight from the riverbank opposite the city centre. They are made of Brisbane tuff, a volcanic rock that was quarried here from the early days of the colony and used in some of the city’s older buildings, which left the sheer pale cliff faces you see today.

On top of the cliffs lies a long riverside park with picnic areas and some of the best views of the skyline, and in the daytime climbers and abseilers use the rock face. At sunset, the cliffs catch the last golden light, and after dark they are floodlit, creating a striking contrast with the black water. Seen from the river, they are one of the most photographed views in Brisbane.