Brisbane River Cruise Times

The Brisbane River carries more than 5.5 million passenger journeys each year, making it one of Australia's busiest inland waterway transit systems. Two distinct ferry networks serve the river: the CityHopper, which operates a continuous inner-city loop at no charge, and the CityCat, which extends upstream to the University of Queensland and downstream to Northshore Hamilton. Service frequency varies by route and time of day. The inner-city CityHopper maintains consistent 15-minute intervals between 07:00 and 19:00 on weekdays, extending to 30-minute intervals during early morning and late evening periods. CityCat routes follow a similar pattern, with peak-hour frequencies designed to match commuter demand along the riverside suburbs. Weekend services mirror weekday patterns but with slightly reduced frequency during midday hours. Translink operates all Brisbane River ferry services through a unified fare system. The CityHopper remains free regardless of journey length or time of day, while CityCat passengers pay standard public transport fares based on zone travel. Most tourists boarding at central terminals like South Bank, North Quay, or Eagle Street Pier will travel within Zone 1, which keeps fares predictable. Real-time departure boards at each terminal display the next three services, eliminating guesswork when connecting between river and land transport. The river's tidal nature does not affect brisbane river cruise times—all services maintain their published schedules regardless of water levels. Terminals are designed with floating pontoons that rise and fall with the tide, ensuring consistent boarding access. Night services after 21:00 see reduced frequency, with some routes operating on 30-minute intervals until the final departure just before 01:00. Visitors planning evening riverside dining or South Bank cultural events should verify the last departure time for their destination terminal to avoid being stranded after hours.