Pinkenba’s Brisbane International Cruise Terminal has welcomed three million passengers and 600 cruise ships since opening in 2022, but the busy waterfront facility still has no direct public transport connection. With cruise demand now approaching capacity during peak periods, access to the terminal remains a practical concern for passengers travelling to and from Brisbane.
The Port of Brisbane confirmed the latest passenger and vessel figures on 14 October 2026, alongside details of growing pressure on available cruise berths. While the Port is examining opportunities to accommodate more ships, travellers continue to rely on private vehicles, taxis, rideshare services and arranged transfers to reach the terminal at Luggage Point.
A Busy Waterfront Without A Bus Connection
Located at 1 Cruise Terminal Drive, the terminal is approximately 12 kilometres by road from Brisbane Airport and 21 kilometres from the CBD. Despite its growing passenger numbers, the facility is not serviced by public transport, and the Port does not operate a shuttle between the terminal and central Brisbane.
Passengers travelling without their own vehicles must organise alternative transport, although some cruise lines offer arranged transfers or excursion services. For those driving, three paid car parks are available through Wilson Parking, with advance bookings required for the first two and limited drive-up spaces available in the third.
Passenger collection also operates under specific arrangements. A two-minute pick-up and set-down area is located outside the terminal, while taxis and rideshare vehicles use designated spaces approximately 120 metres from the building entrance.
The transport situation is not a newly identified issue. Earlier Nundah News reporting on the terminal’s 500th cruise ship visit in December 2025 recorded community feedback raising concerns about road congestion and limited public transport access, particularly during busy cruise periods.
More Ships, Fewer Available Berths
The terminal’s growing passenger numbers follow a delayed beginning. Although construction was completed in August 2020, pandemic restrictions prevented cruise operations until 2 June 2022, when P&O’s Pacific Explorer became the first ship to berth at the new facility.
Four years later, available berths are becoming harder to secure during peak periods. Port of Brisbane chief executive Neil Stephens said demand had reached the point where some vessels seeking to visit Brisbane could not be accommodated.
“They were asking to come in, and we could not get them in,” Mr Stephens said in the Port’s October 2026 feature, explaining that an average of six vessels a week left limited room for additional bookings.
To manage demand, the Port has resumed using its multi-user terminal for some smaller vessels and day calls when the dedicated cruise terminal is booked. Expansion options are also being considered, although no specific development proposal, funding allocation or construction timetable was identified in the October announcement.
What Cruise Growth Means For Pinkenba
The expanding cruise schedule brings renewed attention to the infrastructure supporting passenger movements through Pinkenba. However, while earlier community feedback has raised concerns about road congestion, the available information does not establish how much traffic is directly attributable to cruise operations or how passengers divide their journeys between private vehicles and commercial transfers.
There is also a distinction between the wider economic benefits of cruising and those experienced by businesses immediately surrounding the terminal. The State tourism guidance identifies cruise visits as opportunities for spending on local products, services and shore excursions, but does not provide specific figures for businesses in Pinkenba.
For local residents interested in visiting the waterfront, public access to the terminal is available only on days when cruise ships are berthed, with visitors restricted to designated public areas. The Port also recommends Nudgee Beach and Shorncliffe Pier as alternative vantage points for watching vessels enter the Brisbane River.
As the Port considers how to accommodate additional cruise ships, the question of passenger access remains separate from its plans for more berthing capacity. For now, the growing number of travellers passing through Pinkenba must continue to arrange road transport for the final journey to or from the terminal.
Published 19-October-2026
