What to Expect
Ships dock at the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal at Portside Wharf, Hamilton — 10 km from the city centre. The Hamilton CityCat ferry stop is adjacent to the terminal; CityCats run upstream to South Bank and the CBD every 30 minutes (A$6.20, 40 minutes). Alternatively, a taxi to South Bank: A$25–35. South Bank Parklands — the cultural precinct built for the 1988 World Expo — has the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA, Australia's most-visited gallery of modern and contemporary art, free), the Wheel of Brisbane, and a free public swimming lagoon. The CBD is one stop further on the CityCat.
Getting Around
CityCat ferry from Portside Wharf to South Bank: A$6.20, 40 minutes, frequent service. Go card (TransLink) for all public transit: A$10 card, fares from A$2.50. Taxi from Portside to South Bank: A$25–35. Uber available. For the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary (14 km southwest of the CBD): taxi A$35–50 or bus + train combination. For the Gold Coast: Airtrain from Brisbane Central (30 min to airport, then Surfside bus) or direct bus — allow 2.5 hours return minimum; only practical if your ship has a long day in port.
GOMA and the Koala Sanctuary
GOMA (Gallery of Modern Art) at South Bank is Australia's largest gallery of modern and contemporary art, with a permanent collection strong on Australian and Pacific art and a consistent programme of international exhibitions. Free admission for the permanent collection. The Queensland Museum on South Bank covers natural history, science, and Queensland history with a genuine collection of Jurassic-period fossils from the Cooper Creek basin; free. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary (Fig Tree Pocket, 14 km southwest) is the world's largest koala sanctuary, with 130 koalas plus wombats, echidnas, and Tasmanian devils; entry A$49, koala cuddle A$24 extra.
Tipping and Currency
Australian Dollars (AUD). Tipping not expected; 10% tip for particularly good service is increasingly appreciated but not the norm. Cards accepted everywhere. ATMs at South Bank and throughout the CBD.