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New story: CityCat accessibility: wheelchairs, mobility scooters and hearing loops New story: Dogs on CityCats: Brisbane's rules, times and muzzle requirements New story: How to pay for a CityCat: tap on, go card and paper tickets New story: KittyCat cross-river ferries in Brisbane: routes F21 to F24 New story: Double-decker CityCats explained: capacity, features and how many there are New story: CityCat, KittyCat and express: Brisbane's river ferries explained New story: What happened to Brisbane's free CityHopper ferry? New story: Express CityCat F11 and F12: where they go and when they run New story: CityCats and floods: what happens to Brisbane's ferries when the river rises New story: Bikes on CityCats: can you take a bicycle or scooter on a Brisbane ferry? New story: How the double-decker CityCat upgrade reached 10 vessels New story: Free flood checks for more than 2,000 Brisbane businesses New story: Flood maps updated for 17,246 Brisbane properties

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Brisbane CityCat guide: routes, tickets, rules and the fleet

Everything to know before you ride a Brisbane CityCat, from tickets to dogs to which boat goes where.

11 storiesabout 21 min totalOpen the map

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What you'll read

Each story builds on the one before it.

  1. Story 01 · Step 1 of 3You are hereRead ✓Brisbane CityCat guide: routes, tickets, rules and the fleetA practical guide to Brisbane's CityCat ferries: how to pay, where they go, what you can bring on board, and the boats themselves.2 min read
  2. Story 02 · Step 2 of 3You are hereRead ✓How to pay for a CityCat: tap on, go card and paper ticketsHow to pay for a Brisbane CityCat: contactless cards, go cards and paper tickets, plus what you can bring free.2 min read
  3. Story 03 · Step 3 of 3You are hereRead ✓Dogs on CityCats: Brisbane's rules, times and muzzle requirementsCan you take a dog on a Brisbane CityCat? Yes, off-peak, muzzled or in a carrier, outside the cabin. The rules and times.2 min read

Side trips you can take later

Optional reading when you want to wander off the main path.

Side trip2 minBikes on CityCats: can you take a bicycle or scooter on a Brisbane ferry?Can you take a bike on a Brisbane CityCat? Yes, free, if there's space and the Master agrees. What else you can bring.You are hereRead ✓Side trip2 minCityCat accessibility: wheelchairs, mobility scooters and hearing loopsAccessibility on Brisbane CityCats: up to six wheelchair and scooter areas, hearing loops, ramps and what to watch for at low tide.You are hereRead ✓Side trip2 minCityCat, KittyCat and express: Brisbane's river ferries explainedBrisbane's river ferries explained: the all-stops CityCat F1, express F11 and F12, and the cross-river KittyCat routes F21 to F24.You are hereRead ✓Side trip2 minCityCats and floods: what happens to Brisbane's ferries when the river risesHow Brisbane's CityCats coped with the 2011 and 2022 floods: suspensions, damaged wharves and how long recovery took.You are hereRead ✓Side trip2 minDouble-decker CityCats explained: capacity, features and how many there areBrisbane's double-decker CityCats: when they arrived, who built them, how many there are and what passengers get.You are hereRead ✓Side trip1 minExpress CityCat F11 and F12: where they go and when they runBrisbane's express CityCats: F11 Apollo Road to Riverside and F12 West End to QUT Gardens Point, weekday peaks only.You are hereRead ✓Side trip2 minKittyCat cross-river ferries in Brisbane: routes F21 to F24Brisbane's KittyCat cross-river ferries: the four routes, the five boats, and how they came about after 2020.You are hereRead ✓Side trip2 minWhat 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.You are hereRead ✓

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Brisbane CityCat guide: routes, tickets, rules and the fleet

A practical guide to Brisbane's CityCat ferries: how to pay, where they go, what you can bring on board, and the boats themselves.

Mac MoretonAI generated2 min read2 min left
A red and white CityCat ferry crossing the Brisbane River in front of the city skyline.
Photo by Brisbane Local Marketing on Unsplash
In this story
  1. CityCat quick facts
  2. How do I pay for a CityCat?
  3. Can I bring a dog, a bike or a wheelchair?
  4. Which service do I catch?
  5. The boats
  6. Before you go

Brisbane's CityCats run along the river from the University of Queensland at St Lucia to Northshore Hamilton. This guide answers the questions riders ask most and links to a page on each one.

CityCat quick facts

  • Brisbane City Council runs 24 CityCats and 5 KittyCats.
  • The network has 22 terminals, from UQ St Lucia in the west to Northshore Hamilton in the east.
  • The all-stops CityCat (F1) runs daily. Express CityCats (F11 and F12) run in weekday peak periods only.
  • Four cross-river ferries (F21 to F24) run at a regular all-day frequency.
  • CityCats are a paid service, not a free one.
  • Bulimba terminal is closed from 9 November to mid-December 2026 for works.

How do I pay for a CityCat?

Tap on and off with a contactless Visa or Mastercard or a smart device, or use a go card or paper ticket. How to pay for a CityCat covers when you still need a go card, and what travels free.

Can I bring a dog, a bike or a wheelchair?

Yes, with conditions. Dogs are allowed off-peak and must be muzzled or in a carrier. Bikes and e-mobility devices go free if there is space. CityCats have designated wheelchair and mobility scooter areas. See dogs on CityCats, bikes on CityCats and CityCat accessibility.

Which service do I catch?

The F1, the express runs and the cross-river KittyCats do different jobs. CityCat, KittyCat and express: the routes explained shows which to use, and there are pages on the KittyCat cross-river ferries, the express CityCats and what happened to the CityHopper.

The boats

The newest CityCats are double-deckers. Double-decker CityCats explained covers what is different about them, and CityCats and floods covers how the network has coped with disaster. For the history of the first boats, read The first CityCat.

Before you go

Check Translink for timetables and disruptions, and the council's CityCat pages for closures. For this month's Bulimba works, see Bulimba ferry terminal closes next week for gangway repairs.

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: Brisbane City Council, CityCat services and CityCat and ferry services.

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You arrived here from The first CityCat: how Brisbane's river ferries took off in 1996.

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