🌴 Getting Around Brisbane

Explore Queensland's sunny river city by ferry, train, bus, and bike. With 50-cent flat fares and free ferries, Brisbane is Australia's best-value transport city.

Main Transport Options

Queensland Rail City Network

Suburban rail connecting Brisbane CBD to the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, and outer suburbs

A$0.50 flat fare (all zones!)

•13 lines radiating from Central and Roma Street
•Airtrain connects to Brisbane Airport (separate fare)
•Gold Coast line runs to Varsity Lakes
•Runs from ~4:30 AM to midnight daily

Pro Tip: Queensland's 50-cent flat fare is the best deal in Australian transport!

CityCat & CityFerry

Fast catamarans cruising the Brisbane River — the most scenic way to get around

A$0.50 flat fare · CityHopper is FREE

•CityCats run from UQ to Northshore Hamilton
•CityFerry cross-river services at key points
•CityHopper: free inner-city ferry service
•Every 15 minutes during peak hours

Pro Tip: The CityHopper is completely free and runs between North Quay, South Bank, and the Maritime Museum!

Buses & Brisbane Metro

Extensive bus network plus new Brisbane Metro high-frequency electric bus rapid transit

A$0.50 flat fare

•400+ bus routes across Greater Brisbane
•Brisbane Metro: high-capacity electric vehicles on dedicated busways
•CityGlider and Spring Hill Loop are high-frequency inner-city routes
•NightLink buses on weekends until late

Pro Tip: The free Spring Hill Loop bus circles the CBD every 10 minutes!

Cycling & E-Scooters

Subtropical climate and flat riverside paths make Brisbane ideal for two-wheeled transport

A$1 unlock + A$0.38/min (e-scooters)

•Riverwalk and Bicentennial Bikeway along the river
•Beam and Neuron e-scooters across the city
•Dedicated bike lanes in CBD and South Bank
•Great for Kangaroo Point cliffs and New Farm Park

Pro Tip: The Riverwalk from New Farm to the CBD is flat, scenic, and one of the best urban cycling paths!

Passes & Tickets

Go Card

Queensland's reusable smartcard — tap on/off for trains, buses, ferries, and trams

Best for: Regular commuters and visitors

✓50-cent flat fare on all services
✓Auto top-up available
✓Refundable deposit: A$10

Contactless Payment

Tap your bank card or phone — same 50-cent fare applies automatically

Best for: Visitors who don't want a go card

✓Same 50-cent fare
✓No registration needed
✓Works on all Translink services

Airtrain Ticket

Separate ticket for the privately-operated Airtrain to Brisbane Airport

Best for: Airport transfers

✓A$21.90 adult one-way
✓Not included in 50-cent fares
✓Connects to Gold Coast line

Navigation Apps & Tools

MyTransLink

Official Translink app — journey planner, real-time arrivals, and go card balance

Google Maps

Reliable multi-modal routing with real-time transit info

Moovit

Real-time transit tracker with crowdsourced delay reports

Citymapper

Smart route planner with step-by-step navigation

Most Instagrammable Transport Spots

CityCat past Story Bridge

Dramatic steel bridge framing the CBD skyline from the river

South Bank River Ferry

City lights reflecting on the Brisbane River at twilight

Kangaroo Point Cliffs

Take the ferry across and capture the entire CBD skyline

Howard Smith Wharves

Heritage precinct under the Story Bridge — arrive by ferry

Roma Street Parkland

Subtropical gardens just steps from the main train station

Insider Tips

150-cent flat fares apply across ALL Translink services — train, bus, ferry, and tram
2The CityHopper ferry is completely free — runs between North Quay, South Bank, and Maritime Museum
3Airtrain is NOT included in 50-cent fares — budget A$21.90 each way or take bus 590 instead
4Brisbane River floods occasionally — check BOM weather warnings during summer wet season
5Wear sunscreen year-round — Brisbane averages 283 sunny days per year
6Eat Street Northshore markets are best reached by ferry — arrive by CityCat

Important Information

Emergency Contacts

• Australian Emergency: 000
• Translink Info: 13 12 30
• Police Assistance Line: 131 444
• Brisbane Visitor Info: +61 7 3006 6290

Safety Tips

• Wear sunscreen — Brisbane's UV is extreme, even in winter
• Stay hydrated — summer temps regularly exceed 35°C
• Check BOM for storm warnings — summer thunderstorms are sudden
• Avoid swimming in the Brisbane River — use the free South Bank lagoon instead