The CityCat is Brisbane's fast river ferry, and for 50 cents it's the best-value sightseeing trip in Australia. The big blue-and-white catamarans run the length of the river, from the University of Queensland at St Lucia to Northshore Hamilton, passing South Bank, the CBD skyline, the Story Bridge and the old wharves of New Farm and Teneriffe along the way.
Locals use it to get to work. Visitors should use it to see the city. Here's how it works, where it stops, and how to make a day of it.
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Quick facts
- Fare: 50c a trip, the same flat fare as every Translink bus, train and ferry.
- How to pay: tap on and off with a go card, a contactless bank card or your phone. Tickets aren't sold on board.
- Route: UQ St Lucia to Northshore Hamilton, 19 stops.
- How often: roughly every 15 to 30 minutes for most of the day, more often at weekday peaks.
- Hours: from around 6am until about 11pm or later.
- Accessibility: every CityCat has wheelchair and pram access and an onboard toilet.
Fares checked October 2026.
The CityCat stops, west to east
1. UQ St Lucia: the university's sandstone Great Court and lakes.
2. West End: the end of Orleigh Park, a short walk to West End's cafés.
3. Guyatt Park
4. Regatta: the 1874 Regatta Hotel, a classic riverside pub.
5. Milton: selected services only.
6. North Quay: the western edge of the CBD, walking distance to Queen Street Mall and the Wednesday farmers' markets in Reddacliff Place.
7. South Bank: the Wheel of Brisbane, Streets Beach and the parklands.
8. QUT Gardens Point: the City Botanic Gardens and Parliament House.
9. Riverside: the CBD's Eagle Street end and the riverside walk.
10. Howard Smith Wharves: restaurants and Felons brewery under the Story Bridge.
11. Sydney Street: New Farm's cafés along Merthyr Road.
12. Mowbray Park: East Brisbane's riverside park.
13. New Farm Park: the Brisbane Powerhouse arts centre and the rose gardens.
14. Hawthorne: quiet riverside suburb.
15. Bulimba: Oxford Street's restaurants and shops. The Bulimba terminal closes from 9 November to mid-December 2026 for works.
16. Teneriffe: the converted woolstores and Teneriffe's café strip.
17. Bretts Wharf: Hamilton's riverside restaurants.
18. Apollo Road: selected services only.
19. Northshore Hamilton: Eat Street Northshore night market on Friday to Sunday nights.
Eagle Street Pier is currently closed.
Routes and timetables
The F1 is the main CityCat route and stops at every terminal, every day. On weekdays at peak times two express routes help commuters: the F11 between Apollo Road and Riverside, and the F12 between West End and QUT Gardens Point.
Riding the whole route end to end takes around an hour and a half. If you only have time for part of it, the stretch from South Bank to New Farm Park is the most scenic, with the CBD towers, the Story Bridge and Howard Smith Wharves in about 25 minutes.
Check live times in the Translink app or on the Translink website before you go, as times change for events and maintenance.
The free CityHopper
The CityHopper is a free ferry that zigzags across the river through the inner city. Its stops are the Maritime Museum, South Bank, North Quay, Riverside, Holman Street (Kangaroo Point), Howard Smith Wharves, Dockside and Sydney Street. It runs about every 30 minutes from early morning until late evening.
It's slower than the CityCat but it's free and never crowded, and it's a lovely way to hop between South Bank, the city and Kangaroo Point. You don't need to tap on.
The cross-river KittyCats
Small cross-river ferries, nicknamed KittyCats, link a few spots the CityCat skips:
- F21: Bulimba to Teneriffe
- F22: Dockside to Sydney Street
- F23: Holman Street to Riverside, handy for the Kangaroo Point Cliffs
- F24: Maritime Museum to QUT Gardens Point
They cost the same 50c.
Fares, kids and concessions
- Adults: 50c a trip.
- Under-fives: free.
- Children aged 5 to 14: 50c, or free on weekends with a child go card.
- Bikes: free on board if there's space. The newest CityCats have racks for 10 bikes.
- Dogs: allowed outside peak hours.
Tap on when you board and tap off when you get off. If you forget to tap off you may be charged more.
A CityCat day out
You can build an easy, cheap day around the river:
1. Morning: catch the CityCat to UQ St Lucia and walk the Great Court and the lakes.
2. Late morning: ride back to Regatta for a drink at the Regatta Hotel, or stay on to South Bank for a swim at Streets Beach.
3. Lunch: North Quay puts you in the CBD. Follow our laneway cafés walk or explore the best Brisbane laneways.
4. Afternoon: take the CityCat east to New Farm Park and the Powerhouse.
5. Sunset: ride back to Howard Smith Wharves and watch the Story Bridge light up from Felons.
On Friday to Sunday nights you could finish instead at Northshore Hamilton for Eat Street.
CityCat or a river cruise?
The CityCat is transport, not a tour: there's no commentary, and at peak times it's full of commuters. If you want the history explained, a meal, or a sunset trip with drinks, a sightseeing cruise is the better choice. Our Brisbane river cruises guide compares every option.
Booked experience · via GetYourGuide
Midday 1.5-hour river sightseeing cruise
1.5 hours · 4.6★ from 462 reviews
Booked experience · via GetYourGuide
Sunset city lights river cruise
1.5 hours · 4.7★ from 509 reviews
Tips
- Sit outside at the back. The open deck at the stern has the best views and the best photos.
- Avoid weekday peaks (about 7 to 9am and 4 to 6pm) if you want a seat.
- Go at dusk. The city lights and the lit-up Story Bridge make an evening ride the most memorable.
- The CityCat doesn't go to Lone Pine. For the koalas, take the bus or the river cruise. See our Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary guide.