CityCats and ferries
Travel around Brisbane on a CityCat or ferry. Find information about services, terminals and travelling with your dog.
Brisbane City Council currently operates a fleet of 26 CityCats and 5 KittyCats.
A network of 22 terminals stretches from The University of Queensland (UQ) St Lucia to Northshore Hamilton.
The CityCat fleet has:
- wheelchair and pram access
- toilet facilities onboard
- open decks for clear viewing.
For timetable and ticketing information, visit Translink.
CityCat and ferry services map
The CityCat, Express CityCat and ferry terminals are ordered from west to east.
The map contains the location and current status of each terminal. Click on the ferry terminal icons to display details.
Service details
The all-stops CityCat (F1) service operates daily between The University of Queensland (UQ) St Lucia and Northshore Hamilton.
For full timetable information, visit Translink.
The Express CityCat service operates during weekday peak periods between Apollo Road and Riverside (F11), and West End and QUT Gardens Point (F12).
For Express CityCat timetable information, visit Translink.
Brisbane’s 4 Cross River ferry routes are operated by a fleet of 5 KittyCat ferries.
These routes include:
- Bulimba – Teneriffe (F21)
- Dockside – Sydney Street (F22)
- Holman Street – Riverside (F23)
- Maritime Museum – QUT Gardens Point (F24).
These services operate to a regular all-day frequency.
For full Cross River ferry timetable information, visit Translink.
Animals, bikes and e-mobility devices on ferries
You can take your approved assistance animal, dog, bike or e-mobility device for free on all CityCats and ferries.
Make sure you understand the rules before you travel.
Assistance animals
You can travel with your approved assistance animal on CityCats and ferries.
- Your dog must be accredited in accordance with the Guide Hearing and Assistance Dog Act (2009).
- Your animal must be identified with a Translink Assistance Animal Pass or an interstate assistance animal accreditation.
For information on how to apply for a Translink Assistance Animal Pass:
Pets
You can bring your dog on CityCats and ferries.
- Dogs are only allowed to travel during off-peak times (8.30am–3.30pm and 7pm–6am, Monday to Friday, and all day on weekends).
- Dogs must be on a lead and wearing a muzzle or be in an enclosed carrier.
- You must maintain control of your dog.
- Dogs must remain outside the ferry cabin.
- Owners must carry waste bags to clean up any dog mess.
- A maximum of 2 dogs per person are allowed at a time.
- Due to capacity, or other operations reasons, ferry staff may ask you to wait for another service.
For more information about travelling with pets, visit Translink.
Bikes, scooters and e-mobility devices
If there’s enough space, you can take your bike, scooter or e-mobility device on CityCats and ferries at the Master’s discretion.
Access and safety on CityCats and ferries
Planned retirement of CityCat vessels
Council launched CityCats on the Brisbane River in 1996. The vessels quickly became a popular and iconic mode of river transport.
Council has successfully delivered the NextGen CityCat fleet, which meets modern standards, including accessibility requirements. We're now planning to retire some of the older First Generation vessels that are no longer required.
For the first time, our suplus CityCat vessels will be available for sale to accredited operators. We've carefully maintained the vessels and want to explore whether they have a future life in service elsewhere.
A maritime broker appointed to represent Council will manage this process. Further details about the chosen broker will be available later this year.
Initially, we expect to make Mirbarpa and Tugulawa available to the market. Both vessels launched in November 1996. The key vessel details are included in the table below.
| Description | High speed, low wash, aluminium catamaran |
|---|---|
| Survey | Non-survey vessel |
| Length overall | 24.95m |
| Measured length | 23.95m |
| Crew complement | 3 |
| Passenger capacity | 149 |
| Engines | Cummins QSM11 |
| Maximum speed | 25 knots |
| Structure | Aluminium hull, fibreglass superstructure |
Helpful links
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can bring your pet dog on CityCats and ferries during off-peak times (8.30am–3.30pm and 7pm–6am, Monday to Friday, and all day on weekends).
For more information about responsible travel with your pet dog, including acceptable types of muzzles and carriers, visit Translink.
CityCat and ferry services are paid services.
For more information about ticketing and fares, visit Translink.
Smart ticketing is available on CityCats and ferries. This means you can tap on and tap off using a Visa, Mastercard or American Express contactless card or smart device.
CityCats and ferries still accept go cards and pre-paid paper tickets as fare payment. If you're traveling on a concession fare or using a bus as part of your journey, you will need to continue to use your go card or purchase a paper ticket as usual.
You cannot purchase pre-paid paper tickets onboard a CityCat or ferry service. Tickets can be purchased at fare machines at a busway, train station and major interchanges.
For more information about ticketing and fares, visit Translink.