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When in Brisbane one of the best ways to see the city is from the River.  Kookaburra River Queens offer you a memorable and spectacular experience, taking in the city sights, either by day or night. The authentic paddlewheels are a truly unique icon of Brisbane. Your River Queen experience, combining elegant dining, live entertainment and breathtaking views, will be an experience you will never forget.

 

Gary Balkin, a Brisbane hotelier, who believed that Brisbane’s greatest asset was the river, had seen the paddlewheelers along the Mississippi, and the Murray River in Victoria; and felt that Brisbane was ready for “something nostalgic, old-fashioned and different”.  So Balkin commissioned the building of the River Queen 1, which was launched in 1986, built mainly from Queensland timber. This was the first wooden paddlewheeler built in Australia in the last century. The second Queen was launched in 1988. Both vessels played in important role in the 1988 World Expo held in Brisbane.

 

Each of the 30 metre paddlewheelers weigh a whopping 140 tonnes and are powered by two 350hp engines. Having been built using techniques that date back many centuries, they were designed to be as close as possible to the original steamers. Each panel was individually shaped using steam, and every nail was hand nailed to ensure the quality of the workmanship. The vessels were named for the native Australian native bird that is never seen to drink water - the Kookaburra.

 

Kookaburra River Cruises offer a variety of cruises, including the "River Lights Dinner Cruise". Operating from Tuesday to Sunday, boarding is from 7pm for a 7.30 departure, and return is at 9.30pm, or 10pm on Friday and Saturday evenings.

 

While on board you will enjoy a delicious buffet dinner, which includes fresh Queensland seafood, roasts from the carvery, hot and cold buffet dishes, salads, deserts, cheeses and tea and coffee. Live entertainment is also provided.

 

Kookaburra River Queens run a number of other cruises, including the Midweek Lunch Special, the River Sights Lunch Cruise, the Laid-back Live on Sundays Jazz cruise, a Captain’s High Tea for groups and the Seniors Tuesday lunch special. There are also special themed cruises, such as the Valentine’s Day cruise, the St Patrick’s dinner cruise, the Rockin’ with Elvis dinner cruise, a Bollywood Nights cruise, the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht day cruise; among others.

 

Admire Brisbane by Night >>