Brisbane is Australia’s coolest city, or is it? I am not sure how any city that holds the world record for going to bed and waking up earliest can call itself “cool.” Either way, it is a city with quite a lot to offer, and it was our first cruise port off of the Radiance of the Seas, the Royal Caribbean cruise ship we are taking from Sydney to Perth, up and over the top of Australia.
Having already done the animal highlights on our last visit (Australia Zoo and Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary), and not being in the mood for amusement parks, we opted for a city tour, a walk through the Botanical Gardens, the Brisbane Museum, and a tour inside the old clock tower.
Like we have done in Barcelona, Madrid, Moscow, Vancouver, and other cities around the world, we found a free city walking tour. Our guide (Jonny) was extremely knowledgeable and expanded our tour a bit as he saw our small group were all interested.
Here are some of the highlights of our day:
Tips for Brisbane as a cruise port:
- Smaller cruise ships dock closer to town, but the larger ships, like the Radiance of the Seas, need to dock at Fisherman Island. It is about a 45-minute drive to the city. Royal Caribbean provided a low-cost shuttle bus option ($25 USD per person). We, along with many other passengers, felt it should have been included as walking from the port was not allowed.
- If you want to visit the Australia Zoo (The Steve Irwin Zoo) and your ship is docking at Fisherman Island, it is probably more economical to take a ship’s excursion. (If you have never been to this zoo, it would be my recommendation).
- We opted to take a 3-hour free walking tour from Brisbane Tours. Alternatively, the city greeters were available at the shuttle bus stop and offered free one-hour introductory tours.
- City Hall offers free tours at 10.30, 11.30, 1.30, and 2.30 daily.
- The Brisbane Museum is free to enter, filled with fascinating history, and offers free 15 minute tours up the clock tower.
- The streets in the city centre take their names from royalty. Interestingly, the names of the men running in one direction (NE to SW) and the women running perpendicular.
- Remember the currency conversion if you are comparing prices offered by the ship versus doing it on your own. In the case of Royal Caribbean, the ship’s currency is US dollars, while local currency is Australian dollars.
- If we had more time in Brisbane, we would have head to nearby Cape Byron Heads.
More about Brisbane:
- Brisbane sits along the Brisbane River.
- It was founded (1823) as a harsh penal colony with gallows in the streets. The worst criminals from Sydney were sent here, to try and restore order in Australia.
- Criminals wore 9kg leg irons on each leg, often leaving them crippled even after they were released from their prisons.
- The first free settlers came to Brisbane in the 1840s.
- Nearly 30% of the two million people living in Brisbane today were born overseas.
- Brisbane was part of the state New South Wales until 1859 when it became part of Queensland.
Our next port was Cairns.
Have you been to Brisbane? What were your highlights?
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Chloe
Love this!! I didn’t know Royal Caribbean sailed into Brisbane!! I’ve been dying to go to Aus and a cruise sounds like a fun way to see it!! Thank you for sharing on FlyAwayFriday!!
Rhonda Albom
To be honest, I didn’t know Royal Caribbean was here either, until we found them 🙂
James
Superb! Brisbane is so beautiful, and it is more enjoyable when traveling with a yacht. I’ll also plan for a yacht trip and this place to the right to spend holidays. Thanks for letting me know about it.
Rhonda Albom
A yacht would be awesome in Brisbane. You would be able to get close to the city.
Jim ~ ReflectionsEnroute
Brisbane is a cool city, but then again I also go to sleep and wake up early. The “wind”mill is a scary place! #wkendtravelinspiration
Rhonda Albom
I am the opposite. I go to bed late and get up around 7.30. 🙂
eileen g
you always hear a lot about Sydney but Brisbane looks like a charming and fun city. i love the whimsical street art.
Rhonda Albom
Brisbane was pretty cool, but I really do love Sydney 🙂
Debz
I spent a few days in Brisbane a long time ago, but didnt see any of these sights. Haunted windmill looks interesting.
Rhonda Albom
Our tour guide was really good.
Ruth
Rhonda, the city looks cool indeed. I discovered the free tour operation on my last trip to Europe. I can say I am hooked now! I can’t believe how much I learned with the guides who took us around different cities. I am checking more about the cruise around Australia. That sounds very nice! #wkendtravelinspiration
Rhonda Albom
Australia is uniquely suited for cruising as the cities are so far apart, and there is often so much nothing in between.
Kathy Marris
It was so interesting getting a tourist’s point of view of Brisbane. I live on the Gold Coast, about 1 hour drive south of Brisbane and visit this river city occasionally for events and functions. I think it is a beautiful city with a lot to offer visitors, so I am very glad you enjoyed your tour. My highlights would be the river views and the South Bank precinct. Australia Zoo is amazing, but an hour of more drive from Brisbane, depending on traffic. Hopefully the remainder of your cruise will be equally as enjoyable. 🙂
Rhonda Albom
Ah, the Gold Coast beaches was one of the options offered by the ship. I was glad to visit the city, and I am glad that I enjoyed it.
Anda
Your pictures are so beautiful, Rhonda! The idea to visit Australia with a cruise seems great. I’d love to be able to visit more cities during one trip. Brisbane looks really beautiful.
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Anda. Cruising seems a good way to see the cities in Australia, but we will be missing a lot in between. We also love to cruise.
Nancie
Hi, Rhonda! Brisbane looks like a lovely city to roam around in for a few days. I always try to take advantage of free walking tours wherever I go, too. I find that most of the guides are quite knowledgeable.
Rhonda Albom
I agree. Free tours are so often best because the guide is working for tips.
beatravelling
Didn’t do Brisbane on my AU trip. Kinda looks like Melbourne… Am I totally off…??
Rhonda Albom
I haven’t spent enough time in either to be an expert. However from my limited experience, Melbourne is more relaxed than Brisbane.
Kat @anaussieinsf
You’re putting me to shame. I don’t know why we (or at least) didn’t travel my own country more before travelling overseas. I’ve never been to Brisbane I don’t think – just to the Gold Coast.
Rhonda Albom
LOL – I think that makes you normal. Most people don’t spend enough time touring their own country.
Comedy Plus
♪♪Happy Birthday to you,♪♪
♪♪Happy Birthday to you,♪♪
♪♪Happy Birthday Dear Rhonda,♪♪
♪♪Happy Birthday to you.♪♪
Rhonda Albom
thanks Sandee 🙂
Lyn aka The Travelling Lindfields
I don’t know about being haunted, but the Jacaranda trees in the background of your windmill photo are gorgeous. I hope you stopped to admire them.
Rhonda Albom
I sure did, and I admired them near the Rocks in Sydney.
Kreete
Thank you for telling me more about Brisbane! I have been there, but reading your experience, it might as well been a different city! Couldn’t find parking, just drove around. When we finally did found parking, we just visited the Mount Coot-tha Lookout and the inner-city oasis, walked along the river and visited the Kangaroo cliffs and had drinks at a rooftop bar to end the night. Never went to the zoo as I try not to support them. The only one I’ve been is in Dubbo and it’s the largest in Southern Hemisphere, open range with plenty of room.
Rhonda Albom
LOL – yes, reading your description, I would agree, it sounds like a different city.
Bill Kasman
We have friends near Brisbane. A cruise holiday to see them sound just great!
Rhonda Albom
Remember, you only get a day with your friends if you visit from a cruise.
Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti
Hi Rhonda!
I’ve visited Sydney, Autralia once while my husband had a business trip there. I visited Taronga Zoo there which was phenomenal. I would love to visit Autralia again someday and taking a cruise sounds like a wonderful way to see many coastal cities. Brisbane looks so interesting.
Vicki Green
I enjoy walking tours, too and I will definitely take one if I ever go to Brisbane. The botanical garden was lovely!
Rhonda Albom
This was a super informative tour. The guide could answer all the questions, and our group sure had a lot. 🙂
Rhonda Albom
We have never been to that zoo, as we have enjoyed both Zoos in Brisbane. A cruise is a great way to see a city.
Paul F. Pietrangelo
Beautiful photos Rhonda. Continue having a great time on your cruise. My cruise on the Carnival Vista is coming soon and I can’t wait. See ya my friend.
Cruisin Paul
Rhonda Albom
This is our first cruise with Royal Caribbean, and we are loving heading over the top of Australia. Where are you headed?
Merlinda Little (Glimmer of Hope)
I love how the Cathedral against the new buildings. The buildings just works perfectly together =)
Rhonda Albom
The city is a real mix of old and new.
David @ Travelsewhere
I’ve visited friends in Brisbane a few times and think it’s such a fun, laid-back place. Never thought of it as a cruise destination before. I think it gives a great contrast to Melbourne and Sydney. Great rundown on the city and its history.
Rhonda Albom
Thanks David. We had visited before, but spent most of our time either north in the Sunshine Coast or south in the Gold Coast.
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Hi Rhonda – I love that kangaroo …. but how interesting having that walk round and finding out more about the city. Fun photos … thanks – Hilary
Rhonda Albom
There were four of those kangaroos. The strange part is we had coffee practically right there and didn’t notice them on our own. We were glad Jonny showed them to us.
Paula McInerney
It’s been a while since we have been to Brisbane, but we have a lot of friends there, so might have to go up for a weekend.
Rhonda Albom
Auckland would also be a good spot for you to visit for a weekend 🙂
Lexa Cain
Brisbane is lovely. It’s like the perfect blend of old and new. I love the look of the windmill. Too bad it has such a frightening history! :O
Rhonda Albom
Our tour guide was so knowledgeable on the history, it really made sites like the windmill so much more exciting.
Mary {The World Is A Book}
Beautiful photos! We visited Brisbane a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it. We hung out a lot at South Bank Parklands and Queen Street and did the river cruise. This makes me wish we did this walking tour too. I just learned quite a bit.
Rhonda Albom
We didn’t get to South Bank. Maybe next time.
Alex J. Cavanaugh
The Shrine is beautiful.
Some great sights to see. Dig the kangaroos.
Rhonda Albom
The entire ANZAC park was filled with interesting memorials.
Comedy Plus
Great shots of some great places to explore.
Have a fabulous day. ☺
Rhonda Albom
Brisbane is an interesting port.