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Brisbane Nature & adventure

Our most recommended Brisbane Nature & adventure

Moreton Island: Dolphin and Tangalooma Wrecks Day Cruise

1. Moreton Island: Dolphin and Tangalooma Wrecks Day Cruise

Discover Moreton Bay Marine Park and learn about marine life from an onboard marine naturalist on this cruise. Go on a guided snorkeling tour of the Tangalooma wrecks and keep an eye our for the dolphins, dugongs and sea turtles that call this glamour area home. Choose from a tour where you meet the boat at the Rivergate Marina or with pickup from the Gold Coast or Brisbane. Throw your swimwear into a bag and set sail to uncover miles of unspoiled white sand beaches. Departing daily from Brisbane, cruise in luxury to Moreton Bay Marine Park aboard the modern, air-conditioned catamaran Spirit of Migaloo II. Here enjoy the freedom to do as much or as little as you please with all activities included and no local fees. Dive in and snorkel the fifteen shipwrecks that have been deliberately sunk just off the coastline with an abundance of spectacular coral formations and colorful marine life that needs to be seen to be believed. No experience is required and all equipment and water safety items are provided. Afterwards, join our naturalist guides in a fish-feeding session with the 200 species that frequent the area. Satisfy your appetite with a gourmet tropical buffet featuring ocean king prawns, and quench your thirst with a glass of local wine, craft beer or frozen cocktail. Take the time to relax, enjoy free island time on the pristine white-sand beach. Kayak on sheltered crystal-clear waters, join a game with complimentary beach sporting equipment, or simply kick back and soak in the serenity. Watch out for some of Queensland’s best marine wildlife in this area that is home to one of the largest populations of bottlenose dolphins in Australia. Feel the joy of seeing them jump and play in turquoise waters. Search for six of the world’s seven species of sea turtles and herds of shy and gentle dugongs in one of the world’s remaining strongholds for this species. Get help from the onboard marine naturalists that have been working with these incredible animals for over a decade and have the experience to give you the closest wildlife encounters possible.

From Brisbane or Gold Coast: Moreton Island Full-Day Trip

2. From Brisbane or Gold Coast: Moreton Island Full-Day Trip

Enjoy a day on Moreton Island on this full-day trip from Brisbane or the Gold Coast. Relax on the cruise on the way, enjoy a delicious lunch, then take part in fun outdoor activities like kayaking and sand tobogganing. Be picked up from a centrally-located meeting point in Brisbane or the Gold Coast. Sit back and relax on the air-conditioned drive to the boat's departure point. Board a spacious boat with an outdoor area and a covered seating area. Enjoy ocean views as you cruise across Moreton Bay. Discover a vibrant underwater world as you follow your guide on a snorkeling tour around shipwrecks. Have the chance to spot turtles, fish, and rays. Stop to savor a sandwich lunch on the beach before taking a guided tour in a glass-bottom kayak. View the underwater wonders of the Tangalooma Wrecks as you paddle over crystal-clear water. Explore the area on the island that is known as "The Desert." Ride in a rugged 4X4, and experience the exhilaration of sand tobogganing at speeds of over 40 miles per hour. Admire the Gheebulum Coonungai National Park that covers most of Moreton Island.

Brisbane: Story Bridge Adventure Climb

3. Brisbane: Story Bridge Adventure Climb

The Story Bridge Climb provides the best 360-degree panoramic view of Brisbane city from the heart and soul of Brisbane’s most iconic landmark – the Story Bridge. Your adventure begins at base camp, directly under the Story Bridge itself. After a quick pre-climb brief, you’ll depart the base and ascend a spiral staircase that leads to the start of the suspended walkway directly beneath the Bradfield Highway (Brisbane's shortest highway). You’ll start your journey along the suspended walkway to the base of the southern pylon, learning about the colorful history of the Story Bridge and Brisbane as you go. From here - it’s climb time! Start to venture up through the inner Eastern bridge arm, climbing level with one of Brisbane’s busiest commute points, and then ascending straight up the south-eastern cantilever arm that stretches over the Brisbane River and reaches up into the sky. Before you know it you’re celebrating with your climb group on the summit platform, where you’ll get your bearings and hear some fun facts about the amazing 360 panoramic view before you. See Brisbane and its surroundings, including the Glass House Mountains, Moreton Bay, and the Scenic Rim. Venturing further along you’ll explore the bridge from a different angle, traveling approximately halfway across the river below before returning to the top platform for a final climb group photo before your descent back to base camp. Every climb to the top includes a group photograph, with additional individual photographs available for purchase afterwards - once your adrenaline has calmed down! See the glittering nighttime lights of Brisbane below - a unique vantage point for such a view with twilight option.

From Brisbane: Australia Zoo Transfer and Entry Ticket

4. From Brisbane: Australia Zoo Transfer and Entry Ticket

Enjoy a convenient pickup from your Brisbane accommodation and make your way to the world-famous Australia Zoo aboard an air-conditioned vehicle. Explore this interactive attraction with an included admission ticket, gaze at exotic animals, and witness fascinating live shows. Visit Australia Zoo, accompanied by your friendly and experienced guide. You will have approximately 6 hours, heaps of time to enjoy the best Zoo in Australia. Explore the world's most interactive zoo at your own pace and watch daily animal shows including saltwater crocodiles and more. Don't miss the Wildlife Warriors show at 1.00PM! Relax at the end of the day as your tour concludes with drop off back at your hotel in Brisbane's CBD.

From Brisbane: Tangalooma Day Cruise with ATV Quad Bike Tour

5. From Brisbane: Tangalooma Day Cruise with ATV Quad Bike Tour

Head out on a day trip of adventure and exploration on Moreton Island. Receive full resort access, lunch, Eco Ranger experiences, a dolphin presentation and get your adrenaline pumping with an ATV quad bike ride at Tangalooma. Check in at the wharf, then travel from Brisbane to Moreton Island on a scenic boat ride. You may choose to enjoy a complimentary beverage either on the boat ride over or on the return journey. Arrive at beautiful Moreton Island after a 75-minute boat journey. Experience the thrill of riding an ATV quad bike along the beach and through the bushland at Tangalooma, regardless of your experience level. Receive basic beach track training to handle the best dedicated ATV quad bike tracks in Australia. Learn from a dedicated team of Eco Rangers about conservation and the surrounding ecosystems. Throughout the day, you’ll have full access to the resort facilities including pools, restaurants, and bars. Enjoy the 'Discover the World of Dolphins' video presentation at the Eco Centre. Head back to the wharf to depart for Brisbane at 4:00 PM. After the 75-minute return journey, you arrive back in Brisbane at 5:15 PM.

From Brisbane: Australia Zoo Ticket and Roundtrip Transfer

6. From Brisbane: Australia Zoo Ticket and Roundtrip Transfer

Explore the world-famous Australia Zoo which was founded by the late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin and his family on this day trip from Brisbane. Skip the stress of driving to the zoo and relax on the air-conditioned coach ride from and to your Brisbane hotel. Enjoy the convenience of being picked up from selected hotels in Brisbane. Relax on the drive in a comfortable and spacious coach. Along the way, soak up scenic views of the Glass House Mountains and the pineapple farms that line Steve Irwin Way. Stop at the Australia Zoo, which is dedicated to conserving wildlife through education and research. Have 6-hours of free time to spend at the zoo. Stroll among exhibits housing impressive mammals, birds, and reptiles. Have the chance to view outback and bush species like Tasmanian devils, wombats, dingoes, and kangaroos. See animals from around the globe at the new African savannah exhibit, like giraffes, rhinos, and zebras. Choose to learn about impressive endangered species and breeding programs that Australia Zoo is involved with. Make your way to view the animals that made the Crocodile Hunter famous like snakes, crocs, and free-flight birds, or watch the Wildlife Warriors show in the Crocoseum. Board the coach and return to your hotel in Brisbane at the end of your tour.

From Brisbane: North Stradbroke Island Day Trip with Sunset

7. From Brisbane: North Stradbroke Island Day Trip with Sunset

Spend the day on North Stradbroke Island with a guide. Enjoy scenic walks, beautiful lakes, and relaxing beaches as you learn about the island's history, culture, and wildlife. On the way back to the mainland watch as the sun sets into the sea. Start your morning with a departure from Brisbane at 9 AM. After a 45-minute drive to the ferry port, have the chance to purchase breakfast at the port or on the ferry during the crossing. Arrive at North Stradbroke Island and deboard the ferry to head to your first stop, Brown Lake. On the way there your tour guide will talk about the island as well as the historic and cultural importance of the Quandamooka people. Refresh and reenergize with the fresh and beautiful water of the lake. From there and after a quick stop at Myora Springs, your guide will take you to the northwest side of the island, a perfect lookout spot to take pictures and go for a walk at Cylinder Beach. Then head for one of the main attractions of the day, the Gorge Walk. On this 40 - 45 minute walk, take in views of the Coral Sea and its incredibly rich marine life, from manta rays, turtles, to dolphins and more. After the Gorge Walk, take a break to have lunch at Point Lookout. Following your lunch break, the tour will head to Amity Point. Your tour guide will take you on a walk to search for koalas in the wild. Optionally, if koala-spotting is not your thing, spend even more time at the beach instead. Conclude your day with a ferry ride back to the mainland in time to watch the sunset from the sea. Your expected arrival time in Brisbane is about 7 PM.

From Brisbane: Stradbroke Island Day Tour

8. From Brisbane: Stradbroke Island Day Tour

Take a day trip from Brisbane to Stradbroke Island and discover Queensland's most popular island and its National Park. The park is almost completely controlled by the aboriginal Quandamooka people. At almost 40 kilometers long, Stradbroke Island is the second-largest sand island in the world. Located just off the coast from Brisbane, it has beautiful beaches, a rugged coastline and forests that are home to large numbers of kangaroos and koala bears. Following your transfer from Brisbane, enjoy a memorable experience where the waters teem with large schools of dolphins, manta rays and turtles. All of these creatures can be seen from Point Lookout, Australia’s best land-based point to spot migrating humpback whales in the winter. During the tour, you will enjoy a 45-minute cruise across Moreton Bay before exploring the main destinations of the Island. Visit Cylinder Beach. Stroll along the beach and have the option to walk up to the Headland. Enjoy the beautiful white sands and get your feet wet in the crystal clear waters. Walk the North Gorge with your guide and admire the rugged views. Keep an eye out for playful dolphins, manta rays, turtles, and sea birds. Also, you may even see some many kangaroos that call the area home. Explore the area around Amity Point where you may have the opportunity to see dolphins, sea birds and koala. Admire excellent views of Moreton Bay and the city of Brisbane. Experience Myora Springs by walking the boardwalk. Your guide will explain the significance of this peaceful and beautiful "oasis."

Brisbane: Springbrook and Mt Tamborine Rainforest Day Tour

9. Brisbane: Springbrook and Mt Tamborine Rainforest Day Tour

Discover the diverse wildlife of South East Queensland when you travel to Mt Tamborine on this day tour from Brisbane. Often witnessing the elusive lace monitor, inquisitive bush turkeys, a cheeky kookaburra, beautiful white cockatoos, and the noisy whip birds who are always calling out to each other. Take a guided tour through the man-made Glow Worm Caves to experience the magical world of the Glow Worms by visiting The Glow Worm Cave on Tamborine Mountain, located at Cedar Creek Estate Winery. During the tour, the knowledgeable guides will explain about the lifecycle of the Glow Worm and how and why these amazing little creatures emit light. Since its opening in 2005 the glow-worms have thrived reaching over 3000 in number. Enjoy a leisurely lunch break with some yummy lunch If time permits you can enjoy some time for shopping, before finishing the day at the picturesque Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk attraction. Set in a magical 30 acres of privately owned rainforest beside the crystal clear rock pools of Cedar Creek on Tamborine Mountain, Queensland, Australia. The walk departs directly from the Eco Gallery with a comprehensive array of Australian rainforest flora and fauna displays. The walk takes approximately 45 minutes at a leisurely pace, when pausing to view the many points of interest and information along the way. The entire walk totals 1.5 km and is a combination of forest floor trails, 300 meters of high-tech steel bridges through the highest points of the upper canopy, and a 40-meter cantilever bridge that soars a breathtaking 30 meters above the creek and rainforest below.

Brisbane: Whale Watching Cruise with Lunch

10. Brisbane: Whale Watching Cruise with Lunch

See the amazing humpback whale and enjoy an onboard fresh lunch on this exciting, 5-hour whale watching cruise near Brisbane. Marvel at the magnificent humpback whale in one of the world’s best whale watching destinations, Moreton Bay. Enjoy a tasty lunch aboard the Eye-Spy catamaran whilst watching the whales - an experience you're unlikely to forget in a hurry!

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What people are saying about Brisbane

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 637 reviews

I had an amazing experience with Riverlife, they were super friendly and helpful. Everything was set up very well, from the showers to the lockers which you hire out. It was very informative, with a friendly demonstration and safety brief to start you off which was very reassuring! It was such a great place to spend the morning I definitely would recommend going to Riverlife.

It was a really wonderful day trip with Fernando. The tour took us to some wonderful parts of the island, to observe the wildlife and sealife. After the recommendation for lunch, I ordered the delicous prawn and avocado roll. A small group tour of 11 International tourists was perfect.

An incredibly beautiful and well-preserved island without exploitation. Fantastic views and a real animal and nature life. Circular Beach was magical with big lovely waves and clear water.

We had a great city tour of Brisbane. Very friendly and knowledgeable guide. I highly recommend the tour.

workers were very kind and had a blast on the island