Brisbane cruise port

Where the ship docks

• Brisbane International Cruise Terminal (BICT), 1 Cruise Terminal Drive, Pinkenba · 21 km to the centre

  Opened in 2021 and now Brisbane's only cruise terminal. About 30 minutes' drive (21 km) from the CBD and about 15 minutes (12 km) from Brisbane Airport. Some GPS units do not know the address; use Marine Road, which becomes Cruise Terminal Drive. The terminal opens only on days when a ship is at berth. It has a café and gift shop on cruise days, a baggage drop in the Plaza Area by the entrance, and a Tourist Refund Scheme counter on level 1 in the immigration area. There are no luggage lockers, no car hire and no airport or city shuttle run by the port.

• Portside Wharf, Hamilton (former cruise terminal)

  The old riverside terminal at Hamilton, which took ships up to 270 m, closed to cruise ships in 2022. It is now a dining, shopping and cinema precinct. If an older booking or blog mentions Portside, check your cruise documents: your ship will use the Pinkenba terminal.

Can you walk? No. The terminal is on an industrial peninsula next to the river mouth with nothing within walking distance. You need a taxi, rideshare, transfer or ship shuttle to reach the city or the airport.

Getting to town

When to head back

Leave the CBD or South Bank at least 2 hours before all-aboard (by 15:30 for a 17:30 all-aboard). Leave Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary at least 2.5 hours before all-aboard.

The drive is about 30 minutes in clear traffic, but you depend on finding a taxi or rideshare in town, and road traffic on the way out to the port can add time. Aim to be at the terminal 60 minutes before all-aboard. There is no bus or train to fall back on.

If you are running late: If no rideshare is available, call Black and White Cabs (133 222) or 13cabs (13 2227) directly rather than waiting at a street rank. If you will miss all-aboard, call the port agent number on your ship's daily programme straight away.

Where people go wrong: Assuming a bus, train or CityCat runs to the cruise terminal, or heading to the old Portside Wharf at Hamilton.

A day in Brisbane

Assumes the ship docks at 07:00 and all-aboard is 17:30. On a homeport day, use the same route in reverse before boarding or after disembarking.

1. 08:30Walk the covered path to the taxi rank or rideshare zone, about 120 m from the terminal entrance, and head for South Bank (about 30 minutes).
2. 09:15Walk through South Bank Parklands along the river: the Brisbane sign, the arbour walkway and Streets Beach.
3. 10:00Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art open; general entry is free.
4. 11:30Take a CityCat (50 cents) from South Bank downriver to Riverside or QUT Gardens Point and walk through the City Botanic Gardens.
5. 12:30Lunch in the CBD or back at South Bank, or a swim at Streets Beach.
6. 14:30Ride the CityCat a few more stops for the river views, then return to South Bank or the CBD.
7. 15:30Book a taxi or rideshare back to the cruise terminal, 2 hours before all-aboard.
8. 16:30Back at the terminal and on board, 60 minutes before all-aboard.

What to see

Beaches

What to eat

• Light lunch with a river view · QAG Café or GOMA Café Bistro, South Bank
• Street food from many cuisines · Eat Street Northshore, Hamilton (Friday to Sunday evenings)
• Riverside dinner · Restaurants at Portside Wharf, Hamilton
• Coffee and snacks before boarding · Terminal café, Brisbane International Cruise Terminal (cruise days only)

On your own or a ship excursion?

On a port call, the ship's excursion or shuttle is worth more here than in most ports, because the terminal has no public transport and taxis are the only independent link to the city. If a shuttle to the city is offered, it usually beats paying for taxis both ways. For Lone Pine, a ship tour removes the two-car-leg return risk; doing it yourself is fine on a long call if you leave plenty of margin. If you are starting or ending your cruise here, you do not need an excursion: stay in the city and take a taxi or rideshare to the terminal.

Common mistakes

• Planning to take a bus, train or CityCat to the cruise terminal.

  No public transport serves Pinkenba. Book a taxi, rideshare, transfer or your line's shuttle.

• Using an old guide that says ships dock at Portside Wharf, Hamilton.

  Portside closed to cruise ships in 2022. All ships use the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal at Pinkenba.

• Turning up to park without a booking.

  P1 and P2 are prepaid only and P3 has only a few drive-up bays. Book through Wilson Parking before you travel; the exit gates take Mastercard and Visa only.

• Expecting to leave bags at the terminal while you explore.

  There are no lockers. The baggage drop is for checking in luggage for the ship, so keep spare-day luggage at your hotel.

• Assuming the 50-cent fare covers Airtrain.

  Airtrain is excluded and charges its own fare. Buses, city trains, CityCats and trams are 50 cents.

Safety, access and bad weather

Safety

Brisbane is a safe city for visitors. The main risks are sun and heat: carry water and sunscreen, and swim only in patrolled areas such as Streets Beach. Do not walk on the roads around the terminal, which serve the port and carry heavy vehicles. Watch your bags at the taxi rank and in the baggage drop area; the port asks passengers never to leave luggage unattended. Emergency number: 000.

Accessibility

The terminal is modern and step-free. The 2-minute drop-off zone in front of the building has two accessible bays, and all three car parks have accessible bays. Taxis and rideshares stop about 120 m away along a covered walkway. Security staff can help passengers with wheelchairs, mobility aids, medical implants, assistance animals and prams; tell your cruise line about your needs before you arrive. In the city, South Bank and the galleries are largely level.

If it rains

Stay at South Bank: the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art are free and large enough for a whole morning, and the Queensland Museum is also at South Bank. The CityCat is covered and still gives river views. Skip Mt Coot-tha and the outdoor gardens in heavy rain.

Crowds

The terminal is busiest when one ship's passengers disembark and the next ship's board on the same morning, so taxi and rideshare queues are longest then. On a port call, wait until the first rush has gone, or use your line's shuttle. In town, South Bank and Streets Beach fill on weekends and school holidays; go early or on a weekday.

Brisbane cruise port FAQ

Sources

Checked November 2026. Spotted something out of date? Email hello@porttrip.com.

1. Port of Brisbane – Cruise: Getting here
2. Port of Brisbane – Cruise FAQs
3. Port of Brisbane – Cruise car parking
4. Carnival Australia – Port information (Brisbane)
5. Translink – 50 cent fares
6. Brisbane City Council – CityCat and ferry terminal locations
7. Brisbane City Council – Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha
8. QAGOMA – Hours and admission
9. Visit South Bank – QAGOMA
10. Visit South Bank – Streets Beach
11. Visit Brisbane – Swimming at South Bank
12. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary – Tickets
13. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary – Plan your journey
14. Economic Development Queensland – Eat Street Northshore
15. Cruise Passenger – Brisbane cruise passengers call for public transport links
16. Wikipedia – Portside Wharf
17. Cruise Critic forum – Portside cruise terminal ceasing activities (2022)
18. Lonely Planet – Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mount Coot-tha