Brisbane, Australia

St. Stephen’s Cathedral

The Cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brisbane was consecrated in early December 1989, and the first stone of the foundation was laid back in the 19th century - on 26 December 1863, the day devoted to Saint Stephen. The building was constructed from tufa, sandstone, and porphyry quarried near the city. Interestingly, the stained-glass windows adorning the cathedral’s Gothic windows were brought from Munich, and the vivid, fanciful images of reflections from the stained-glass colored panes-created on sunny days on the stone floor tiles and on the walls-continue to amaze parishioners even in the 21st century. Externally, the church looks very small and compact, while the interior spaces, thanks to high ceilings and a well-thought-out layout, appear simply vast-an aspect noted as the second interesting feature of the architectural design.

St. John’s Cathedral

A unique cathedral built in a Neo-Gothic style, notable for the fact that its construction took an entire century. Traditional stone masonry, tall pointed spires, stained-glass lancet windows, granite and basalt columns connect the cathedral in Brisbane with examples of European Gothic art. The idea of the third bishop of Brisbane, William Webber (who previously served in London as a vicar) - to erect a church funded by an open subscription - proved impossible to complete within a short time for financial reasons. And the construction, which began in 1887, was only completed… in 2009!

Story Bridge

Story Bridge - the calling card of Brisbane and one of the city’s “postcard views.” This bridge is a cantilever bridge connecting the banks of the Brisbane River. It is a historic landmark of the city; however, despite its appearance, it is not the oldest bridge in town. The idea of building the bridge as the second bridge to relieve the traffic flow on Victoria Bridge downstream was voiced in 1920. Anyone can climb its steel frameworks (not an activity for the faint of heart). The journey lasts 2.5 hours, and upon completion you receive a certificate confirming your feat.

Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium

Thomas Brisbane made an enormous contribution to the development of astronomy. The most important exhibit in the planetarium is a catalogue in which Brisbane provided descriptions of 7,385 stars, compiled by him during his study of the night sky of the Southern Hemisphere. Based on the catalogue, a detailed star chart was produced by the scientists. In a separate hall, the planetarium houses a collection of meteorites found in Australia over the past one hundred years. Next to the planetarium there is a small theatre where interesting lectures and performances on astronomy are held regularly. There is also an observation deck with telescopes, so everyone can admire the beauty of the night sky, the subject of Mayor Brisbane’s research.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Opened in 1927, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is the oldest sanctuary in Australia and one of Brisbane’s top attractions. About 100 koalas live here. The sanctuary grounds have become home to kangaroos, emus, possums, dingoes, wombats, reptiles, and many species of birds. The sanctuary’s main goal is to protect koalas. For a small fee, visitors can take photos with a koala. A scenic route leads to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Another way to get here is by ferry. Every day, it departs from Victoria Bridge.

Botanical Garden

Botanical Gardens are one of the city’s main attractions in Brisbane. They are located seven kilometers from the city center, at the foot of Mount Coot-tha. During weekdays, you can drive around the park by car; on weekends and holidays, cars are not allowed on the premises. The exhibition is mainly made up of representatives of the local, Australian flora, but there is also a fascinating collection of exotics. The garden is divided into several themed areas. There is a Tropical Pavilion, a Cactus Alley, a Garden of Aromatic Herbs, a Bamboo Grove, a Savannah Plants Pavilion, and a Fern Garden. The Bonsai House is especially popular with visitors - a classic Japanese garden. Here you can watch the annual cherry blossom season, see a traditional rock garden, take part in a tea ceremony and even make an ikebana.

South Bank area

A picturesque district located on the south bank of the Brisbane River and known as “Parklands” includes a performing arts center, a museum, a state library, two colleges, an art gallery, an opera, a conservatory, and an exhibition center. In South Bank, there are many excellent restaurants, cafes, market pavilions, and various street entertainment options; concerts of classical and pop music are held regularly. Another popular spot in South Bank is an artificial lagoon with a sandy shore. The South Bank cinema shows the latest films. A true highlight of South Bank is the 450-meter pedestrian and cycling bridge, which connects the southern edge of the district with the Botanic Gardens. It’s spacious, clean, and most importantly-free.

Golden Coast

Gold Coast is an elite resort in Australia, attracting around 3 million tourists every year. The Gold Coast is located half an hour’s drive from Brisbane and is something of an island enclave. Washd by the ocean to the south, the coastline is, as it were, “cut off” from the mainland by the Nerang River to the north. 30 km of uninterrupted beaches, entertainment venues, and little shops make the Gold Coast a tourist paradise. Not only golden sands, bright sunshine, and good waves bring tourists to the Gold Coast. There are many entertainment parks here; the most outstanding of them are Sea World, Dreamworld, Movie World, and the Tropical Fruit World, as well as an water park, Lamington National Park, Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum (“Believe It or Not”), and the Park of Unusual Attractions.

Sea World Aquarium

Sea World Oceanarium is a place of amazing entertainment. Visitors of the Sea World oceanarium have access to a total of 12 exciting and unexpected attractions using pyrotechnics, optical technologies, animatronics, and a host of stunt performers: “Bermuda Triangle,” “Vikings’ Revenge,” “Sesame Street Beach,” “Rescue in the Ocean,” “Fish Detectives,” “Fierce Pirates,” and more. Those who want to swim and slide down water slides can enjoy a cozy water park. At the Sea World oceanarium, you can watch shows with trained orcas, dolphins, and sea lions. There’s also an opportunity to learn about the life of a separate coral reef with its inhabitants; to see 11 little penguins and even three white bears-the park is their most southern habitat range on Earth!

Brisbane City Sights Tour

Your Brisbane journey will begin with a guided tour of the city’s historic center. Then you will set off on a cruise along the Brisbane River. Next, you’ll visit Newstead House-the oldest house in Brisbane. Its rich interiors, antiques, and works of art will leave you truly impressed. After that-tea and a visit to Brisbane’s most beautiful park. You will also stop by the Arts Gallery, the Queensland Museum, and the Cultural Centre. After lunch, you’ll climb up to the lookout point at Mount Coot-tha, from where you’ll enjoy an exhilarating panorama of the city. At the Lone Pine park sanctuary, you can cuddle a koala, feed kangaroos, listen to the multi-voiced songs of birds, and spend time with the friendly marsupials-wombats.

Moreton Island

Moreton Island is a true tropical paradise. It is famous for wild dolphins that swim right up to the shore, calmly eating from tourists’ hands. The island has its own real sandy desert, the world’s highest sand dunes, a freshwater lake in a vivid blue color, creeks, a waterfall, wild Australian wildlife, an oyster farm, a beautiful lighthouse, and of course, magnificent beaches. Near the island there are several sunken ships, where you can swim with a mask or go diving. There are also 2 restaurants and several cafés on the island.

Brewery XXXX

Excursion to the XXXX Brewery is an opportunity to travel back 130 years. It was founded in 1878, but today, too, they continue to carefully preserve the traditions of producing delicious beer. Experienced guides will tell you the story of the origin of beer and brewing, as well as the fascinating history of the XXXX beer. The route runs through the very heart of the brewery, and visitors can see for themselves all the technological techniques used to make the famous beer. In the packaging hall, you can see a modern packaging line, which is rare for most such enterprises-usually these processes are closed to outsiders. During the excursion, you will be taught how to pour the beer yourself and taste it, just like a real brewer does. At the end of the tour, you can relax in the bar and enjoy your favorite beer varieties.

For a more detailed list of excursions and their prices, you can check it after booking your cruise in your “Client Personal Account”.