Brisbane,
Australia
Brisbane, Australia
000
For all emergencies.
Emergency Number
Australian Dollar ($)
Local Currency
2,780,063 (2024)
Population
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Local Time
UTC+10
Time Zone
English
Official/Primary Languages
Port Essentials
Everything you need to know for your visit to Brisbane.
Cruise Terminal
General Information
Australian Dollar (AUD $).
Below we've listed some conversion rates for the Australian Dollar against popular international currencies. The exchange rates are based on 100 AUD, are refreshed once per day and were last updated on 20 Aug 2025
Currency | Equivalent |
---|---|
USD | 64.38 |
EUR | 55.16 |
GBP | 47.80 |
AUD | 100.00 |
CAD | 89.26 |
JPY | 9465.13 |
CNY | 461.71 |
To convert custom amounts, or to see the exchange rate of the Australian Dollar against different currencies, try our currency converter by clicking the button below.
Major credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, and American Express are widely accepted in Brisbane. While Visa and Mastercard are almost universally accepted, American Express might not be accepted in some smaller locations or can incur an additional processing fee.
Tap-and-pay systems like Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely accepted. Contactless payments are common, including public transport and retail purchases.
Late Night Shopping:
On Fridays, some shops - particularly in major shopping areas like Queen Street Mall - stay open later, often until 9:00pm.
Supermarkets & Larger Retailers:
Many Coles, Woolworths, and other major retailers are generally open until 9:00pm Monday to Saturday, and until 6:00pm on Sundays.
Public Holidays:
- Good Friday and Christmas Day: Most stores are closed.
- Anzac Day (April 25): Limited hours; many open after 1:00pm.
Always check with individual stores or shopping centers for exact hours, especially around public holidays or special events.
Brisbane is well-connected when it comes to free public WiFi, making it easy for visitors to stay online across the city. The Brisbane City Council offers complimentary WiFi in many key areas, particularly within the CBD and nearby neighborhoods. You’ll also find free access at the following locations:
- Brisbane Airport
- Queen Street Mall
- South Bank Parklands
- Brisbane Botanic Gardens
- Roma Street Parklands
- King George Square
- Chinatown Mall, Fortitude Valley
Public WiFi is great for maps, messaging, or finding places to eat - but avoid logging into sensitive accounts or accessing private information. Use a VPN if you need extra security.
PortQuest recommends Nomad eSIM
Whether you're checking maps, messaging friends, or booking last-minute tours, staying connected matters. That’s why we recommend Nomad eSIMs — one of the best travel eSIMs on the market (and we've tried a few!)
Nomad offers reliable, affordable data in over 100 countries, including most cruise ports. No physical SIM swap, no roaming surprises — just install and go.
Get a Nomad eSIMTransportation
Below is a list of common transport options for cruise ship visitors. We haven't included every possible choice — public transport, for example, is not listed since most visitors won't need it for a short, one-day stay.
Ride-share
Website: Click here.
Bike Rental
Website: Click here.
Website: Click here.
Website: Click here.
Taxi
Website: Click here.
Phone: 13 2227
Phone: 133 222
Website: Click here.
Phone: 133 100
Private Bus
Website: Click here.
Phone: 1300 842 822
Phone: 1300 615 165
Phone: (07) 3354 3633
Phone: 1300 615 165
Phone: 0427 659 990
Phone: +61 (0)75 609 8400
Phone: +61 (0)75 609 8400
E-Scooter and E-Bike
Website: Click here.
Motorcycle & Scooter Rentals
Website: Click here.
Phone: 0435 064 450
Private Ferry
Website: Click here.
Phone: 0414 668 187
Phone: 1800 270 946
Brisbane offers a moderately walkable experience, especially in and around the city center. Neighborhoods like the CBD, South Bank, and Fortitude Valley are pedestrian-friendly, with cafes, parks and public transport all within easy reach.
That said, your experience in Brisbane can vary depending on where you are and what you're looking for. Here’s some things to keep in mind:
Terrain
Brisbane’s landscape can be hilly away from the river and inner-city flatlands.
Infrastructure
The city has made strides in pedestrian infrastructure - projects like the Green Bridges Program and the Bicentennial Bikeway are prime examples. But challenges remain. Over 6,000 local streets still lack footpaths, and some areas suffer from poor connectivity.
Urban Layout
Brisbane is geographically spread out, and once you venture beyond the inner suburbs, walking becomes less practical.
Accessibility
The Brisbane City Council provides a range of resources for those with mobility needs, including:
- Accessibility guidelines for streets and footpaths
- Disability parking info
- A mobility map for navigating the city
Public transport is also designed with accessibility in mind, including low-floor buses, accessible train stations, and CityCats.
Climate Considerations
Brisbane's climate can be a challenge for walking, especially during hot and humid summer months. Make sure to have good sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen), and stay hydrated.
Safety & Health
Call 000
Notes: For all life-threatening emergencies requiring Police, Fire, or Ambulance.
Call 131 444
Notes: To report non-urgent incidents or make general police inquiries.
Call 13 12 33
Notes: For non-emergency patient transport.
Call 13 11 26
Notes: For advice and information regarding poisonings or suspected poisonings.
Call 1300 642 255
Notes: Confidential mental health telephone triage service that provides the first point of contact to public mental health services.
Call 132 500
Notes: For assistance with flood, storm damage, and other similar emergencies.
Call 131 677
Notes: For assistance on the water.
No official Smartraveller advisory for Australia.
Australia is a safe and stable country. Still, all travellers should stay alert and informed, especially regarding local conditions like bushfires, wildlife, and health alerts.
- Use common sense and follow local laws and signage.
- Check seasonal hazards like fires or flooding.
- Stay aware of conditions when exploring regional or remote areas.
For more info, visit Australia’s official tourism safety guide.
Weather
°C °F | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maximum Temp | 29.1 | 28.7 | 27.5 | 25.4 | 22.7 | 20.5 | 20.4 | 22.2 | 24.4 | 25.9 | 27.7 | 28.6 |
Minimum Temp | 21 | 20.8 | 19.9 | 16.8 | 13.6 | 11.3 | 10.3 | 10.8 | 13.3 | 15.8 | 18.2 | 19.8 |
Avg Rainfall (mm) | 167 | 149 | 146 | 52 | 60 | 49 | 35 | 38 | 45 | 97 | 87 | 129 |
Avg Rainy Days | 14 | 12 | 14 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 13 |
Daylight Hours | 13.7 | 13 | 12.2 | 11.4 | 10.8 | 10.4 | 10.6 | 11.2 | 11.9 | 12.7 | 13.5 | 13.8 |
Avg UV Index | 9.8 | 9.6 | 8.8 | 7.3 | 5.8 | 4.8 | 5.2 | 6.7 | 8.1 | 9 | 9.5 | 9.7 |
Best Time to Visit
Cruise ships usually just spend one precious day in port — and we want to help you make the most of it.
To give you the best chance of an enjoyable visit, we’ve created a custom “Best Time to Visit” score for each month, unique to each destination. The score is calculated using factors that are likely to matter the most:
- Comfortable temperatures
- Lower rainfall and fewer rainy days
- More daylight hours
- Moderate UV levels
Each score is based on historical monthly averages and adjusted for each port’s climate. We weight the above factors — for example, long daylight hours and fewer wet days matter more when you're only ashore for part of the day. That's also why no month gets a 10/10, as there's always a trade-off. For example, warmer weather and clear skies comes with higher UV (and more sweat!).
This chart isn't meant to suggest that a port is bad to visit outside the highest rated months — each season provides something memorable for each location. But if you’re deciding when to cruise, this will hopefully give you the best chance of having perfect weather on your visit.
Temperature Chart
Rainfall Chart
UV Index Chart
1–2: Low
3–5: Moderate
6–7: High
8–10: Very High
>10: Extreme
Tours & Experiences
Each tour you see below has been selected for cruise ship visitors. For example, each tour has Free Cancellation, as most of us have experiened the stress of trying to refund a tour when a port visit is cancelled or an itinerary changed on short notice. They're also no more than 6 hours in length, leaving you plenty of time to make dinner on the ship, or explore the port further on foot.
By booking through our links, you help support PortQuest and allow us to continue providing valuable content to enhance your port visits (at no extra cost to you).
Top Attractions
Discover the top attractions in Brisbane, selected for cruise passengers!
Streets Beach
View DetailsNorth Stradbroke Island (Straddie)
View DetailsStory Bridge
View DetailsKangaroo Point Cliffs Park
View DetailsCity Botanic Gardens
View DetailsEagle Street Pier
View DetailsPortQuest Picks
Our team has hand-selected these tours to showcase the best and most unforgettable experiences each port has to offer — ones we've either personally enjoyed or have at the top of our bucket list.
Browse Tours

Brisbane Brewery Full Day Tour with Lunch
Book direct with Hop On Brewery Tours for the BEST price! Your educated, passionate guide will show you around four local craft beer breweries in Brisbane, and...
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Ultimate Brisbane Walking Tour (Small-Group, Drink Included)
Discover the story of Brisbane on this expert-led small-group walking tour, while hitting all of the city’s main attractions. Perfect for those who have just ...
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Gold Coast Full Day Brewery Tour
Book direct with us for the BEST price! Please note this tour takes place on the GOLD COAST (not Brisbane) and is a one-hour (approximately) train ride from B...
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Best of Brisbane Walking Tour: local guide, snack, small group
Experience the best of Brisbane while giving back to the local community. A portion of every ticket supports local causes through donations and our litter reduc...
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Afternoon Brisbane Half-Day Brewery Tour
Book direct for the BEST price and flexible options! Explore the local craft beer scene in and around Brisbane by getting behind the scenes at three microbrew...
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Half Day Gold Coast Brewery Tour
Book direct on our website for the BEST deal!! Please note this tour takes place on the GOLD COAST (not Brisbane) and is a one-hour (approximately) train ride...
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Kangaroos, mangroves and the ocean
The Coastal Tour takes you to several different natural habitats with the chance to observe land and sea birds, mangroves, and kangaroos. We will visit Osprey ...
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Brisbane City Walking Tour: local guide, small group, 100 mins
Experience Brisbane like never before on a small-group walking tour with a maximum of 8 people. Led by a passionate local guide, you'll explore iconic landmarks...
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Brisbane Small Bars and Street Art Tour
Visit some of Brisbane’s best small bars while discovering amazing street art with an expert. Perfect for solo travellers, couples, friends, non-drinkers, local...
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Helicopter Tour - Sirromet Winery & Scenic Flight
Experience luxury with a private helicopter flight over Brisbane before landing in true VIP style at Sirromet. Located at the picturesque Mount Cotton, upon lan...
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4 Hour Jetski Adventure from Brisbane to Moreton Bay
Join us for an amazing tour of the entire Brisbane River on the epic 4-hour adventure! Start in the lush jungle near the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and make your...
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Brisbane City Art and Design Walking Tour
We LOVE art. And Brisbane's ever changing art scene has something for everyone. Take our private three-hour Art + Design Tour and get an up close introduction ...
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Brisbane And Gold Coast Helicopter Pub Crawl 3 Stops
Experience the best hand-picked pubs in the region while touring around the regions of Brisbane, Gold Coast, Moreton & Straddie Islands and the Scenic Rim The ...
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Brisbane Food Tour: A Taste of Queensland
With everything from coffee to a seasonal lunch, as well as some delicious beers or wines, cocktails, and delectable nibbles along the way, this food tour will ...
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6 Hours Brisbane Private Tour – Popular Sights in One Day
Looking for what to do in Brisbane for a half day? Well, we have a fantastic tour for you! With a range of comfortable vehicles, your group will experience some...
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4 Hour Jetski Adventure to the Top of South Stradbroke Island
See more than ever before with this premium Jetski experience through the beautiful Gold Coast on our brand new Sea-Doo (Jetskis) equipped for long-range advent...
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Brisbane City Highlights Sightseeing Tour
This is a great snap shot of our gorgeous city, with historical and factual information given by our friendly driver/guides. We will show the sunshine, our cit...
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Helicopter Tour - Spicers Peak Lodge
Experience luxury with a private helicopter flight from Brisbane to Spicer's Peak Lodge. Elevated over 1km of the picturesque Maryvale, you will have up to two ...
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Pumicestone Chase
Ride the entire length of the Pumicestone Passage Marine Park from Bribie Island to Caloundra. It's a four hour extravaganza - discovering the magic of Pumicest...
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Brisbane Insights 4 Hour Tour
Experience Brisbane's vibrant mix of history, nature, and city life on this comprehensive 4-hour driving tour. We'll journey across iconic landmarks like the St...
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Brisbane Local Icons Tour
Enjoy a lunch full of Brisbane’s local icons, from iconic buildings, restaurants, and bars to local iconic ingredients. This tour will take you on a historic jo...
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Springbrook, Natural Arch & Numinbah Valley + Hot Air Balloon with Breakfast
We are the only Hot Air Balloon Company with a 5 Star Champagne Buffet Breakfast, that can combine this unique package with a Full Day Springbrook Tour. Come ...
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Brisbane River Cruise with entry to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
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 ...
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South Bank Combo Pass
Three of Brisbane's most notable operator have joined forces to create the SOUTH BANK COMBO PASS. • River City Cruises • The Wheel of Brisbane • The Ploug...
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Brisbane Cruise To Lunch Package
Aboard the boat, the sights will be accompanied by informative commentary about the region as well as a morning tea to satisfy your on board cravings. The morni...
Find out moreBrisbane Travel Map
Legend
Cruise Terminal
Restaurants
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Hospitals (Emergency)
Pharmacies
General Attractions
Museums & Galleries
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