Batty Boat Cruises
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© Canva NFP
Wildlife Queensland’s Batty Boat Cruises provide an opportunity for everyone to see flying-foxes in their natural habitat and learn why they are so important to our environment. Cruises run each year from October until February/March. Cruise dates will be posted on our site, in our free Talking Wildlife eBulletin, and on our Facebook page.
About Batty Boat Cruises
One of Wildlife Queensland’s most successful public education initiatives, since 1984 Batty Boat Cruises have introduced thousands of people to the fascinating world of flying-foxes (or fruit bats).
Each cruise on the MV Mirimar takes passengers up the Brisbane River for a fascinating wildlife experience in the spring and summer months.
On the trip upriver, passengers hear expert commentary about flying-fox habits and wildlife facts as they cruise at a leisurely pace past landmarks on the ever-changing riverscape.
The boat pauses at sunset at Norman Creek, home to breeding black, grey-headed and sometimes little red flying-foxes. However, our environment is ever-changing and bats sometimes move roosts, so numbers are unpredictable. Still, as the sun sinks, silhouetted flying-foxes swirl into the darkening sky, scattering to find food for themselves and their young in the flowering trees of Brisbane suburbs.
Ticket pricing
- $43.29 adult
- $30.00 concession
- $22.19 child (0–15 years)
- $117.14 family (2 adults, 2 children)
- $132.96 family (2 adults, 3 children)
Snacks/hot snacks and light meals can be purchased on board. Tea and coffee, soft drinks and bar service are available. Sorry, no self-catering allowed.
Proceeds from Batty Boat Cruises fund bat conservation and support bat carers within Queensland.
© Wildlife Qld
Join Wildlife Queensland on a bat-tastic Brisbane River cruise! Watch the bats fly over the Brisbane River at sunset, interact with orphaned baby bats on board and listen to live commentary about Brisbane, the flying-fox species and other amazing wildlife.
© Wildlife Qld
A highlight is meeting orphaned baby bats that are under the care of Bat Conservation & Rescue QLD.
“Additional Information & FAQS
Where is the departure/return location?
Cultural Centre Pontoon, Cultural Centre Boardwalk, South Brisbane QLD 4101 (50 m upstream from the Victoria Bridge)
When are the cruise dates and times?
- Cruises generally run from October to February.
- Cruises depart late afternoon. Boarding commences 15 minutes prior to departure.
- Each cruise lasts approximately 2 hours.
Is parking available?
Three carparks can be accessed from the Cultural Centre Tunnel. Cost is $17 all day. Google ‘Cultural Centre Tunnel’ for directions.
Are Batty Boat Cruises wheelchair accessible?
No, unfortunately, these cruises are not wheelchair friendly.
Do Batty Boat Cruises have COVID-safe procedures in place?
Yes. Batty Boat Cruises adheres to a Covid Safe Plan. More information provided to ticketholders on booking.
Upcoming Batty Boat Cruises: 2023/24 season
Batty Boat Cruises will be back in early 2024. Dates to be finalised shortly. Please check back regularly for updates and new events. You can also sign up for our free Talking Wildlife eBulletin to receive the latest news & event updates.
Supporting bat conservation in Queensland
Bat Conservation and Rescue Qld Inc. (BCRQ) is a non-profit volunteer organisation that is devoted to preserving flying-fox and microbat populations in Queensland through its efforts in rescue, rehabilitation, and education.
Volunteers from BCRQ play a vital role in Wildlife Queensland’s Batty Boat Cruises by generously contributing their time and expertise. They provide valuable information to passengers about the unique flying-foxes found in Queensland, and passengers can also meet orphaned baby flying-foxes and their BCRQ caregivers onboard each cruise.
“Wildlife Queensland’s continued education and support via the Batty Boat Cruises are an essential part of helping the BCRQ volunteer team continue our work for bats,” said Melinda Brennan, President of BCRQ.
Wildlife Queensland is proud to support BCRQ in its efforts to protect and conserve Queensland’s bat populations.
How you can help bats and support bat conservation
- If you find a sick or injured bat: Don’t touch the bat. Call BCRQ on 0488 228 134 for Brisbane and surrounds, or your local wildlife rescue in other regions. They will be able to notify someone who is vaccinated and trained to handle flying-foxes.
- Support bat conservation:
o Find out more about BCRQ.
o Support Wildlife Queensland’s conservation efforts by purchasing our fabulous bat-related books and toys in the Wildlife Queensland online shop. - Encourage flying-foxes to come to your backyard by planting lillipillies, small eucalypts such as the Plunket mallee (Eucalyptus curtisii), bloodwood (Corymbia intermedia), and other nectar-rich trees and shrubs.
- Create wildlife-friendly fences: Flying-foxes often get caught on barbed-wire fences. Mother flying-foxes that are carrying babies are the most vulnerable. Read our Wildlife Blog to find out how you can make fences fauna-friendly.
- Learn more about flying-foxes.
Bat news
© Canva NFPSupporting bat conservation and rescue this Bat Appreciation Day
This International Bat Appreciation Day, we’re pleased to donate part of the proceeds from the 2022/2023 Wildlife Queensland Batty Boat Cruise season to Bat Conservation and Rescue Qld Inc. (BCRQ) as a thank you for their generous participation in our cruises this year.
© Jo TowseyPassengers go ‘Batty’ for Halloween Cruise
Passengers had a spooky fun time and got to meet Georgia, an adorable 4-week-old orphaned black flying-fox, on Wildlife Queensland’s Batty Boat Halloween Cruise on 30 October 2022.
Queensland’s Threatened Species Crisis: Landmark Report Prompts Calls for Change
Today sees the release of a landmark report highlighting the impacts of the Queensland Government’s Flying Fox Roost Management laws. Half of all flying fox species in Queensland are listed as threatened species, but the current laws allow for potentially harmful dispersals and disruptions to roosts with no environmental assessments at all.