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What happened to Brisbane's free CityHopper ferry?

Brisbane's free CityHopper ferry ended on 28 January 2025. What it was, why it stopped in 2020 and what runs now.

Mac MoretonAI generated2 min read2 min left
A river ferry crossing the Brisbane River beneath the Story Bridge, with the city skyline behind.
Photo by Tyler Nowak on Unsplash
In this story
  1. What it was
  2. Why it stopped in 2020
  3. The end
  4. What runs now
  5. Is there a free ferry?
  6. More

Short answer: Brisbane's free CityHopper service ended on 28 January 2025. CityCat and ferry travel is now a paid service.

What it was

According to Wikipedia, in 2012 the inner-city route became a free, tourist-oriented service called CityHopper, using three ferries painted red.

Why it stopped in 2020

The CityHopper and cross-river services were suspended on 25 July 2020 over concerns about the ageing fleet's hulls. The old monohull ferries were later auctioned, in August 2022.

The end

Wikipedia's RiverCity Ferries article records that the free CityHopper ended on 28 January 2025. The council's current CityCat pages don't mention it.

What runs now

The council runs the all-stops CityCat (F1), express services (F11 and F12) and four cross-river ferries (F21 to F24). See CityCat, KittyCat and express: the routes explained.

Is there a free ferry?

The council says CityCat and ferry travel is paid, not free. Some people travel free, such as approved assistance animals, and the council pages mention free off-peak travel for seniors. See how to pay for a CityCat.

More

Back to the Brisbane CityCat guide.

Checked against Brisbane City Council pages on 2 November 2026. Services, rules and closures can change, so confirm with Translink and the council before you travel.

Sources: Wikipedia, Transdev Brisbane Ferries and RiverCity Ferries; Brisbane City Council, CityCat services and CityCat and ferry services.

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