At a glance
- Route
- Surfers Paradise, HOTA, Marina Mirage, Broadwater Parklands (Southport Pier) and Sea World
- Times
- Two ferries run every day except Christmas Day, from 9:15am to 6:05pm, leaving Surfers Paradise hourly from 9:15am to 4:15pm
- Single fares
- $10 for adults between neighbouring stops at Surfers Paradise and HOTA, and $20 for longer trips. Child fares start at $6
- How to pay
- Buy a ticket from the captain or at a customer service desk. Cash is not accepted on board, and a Translink go card cannot be used
- Accessibility
- Wheelchairs, prams and bikes are allowed on board. There is no accessible toilet on the ferry (toilets are for crew or emergency use only), but accessible toilets are at each stop
- Operator
- Hopo is privately run and receives no government fare subsidy
The Hopo ferry runs a hop-on hop-off service on the Broadwater, leaving Surfers Paradise every hour from 9:15am to 4:15pm and calling at HOTA, Marina Mirage, Broadwater Parklands in Southport and Sea World. A single fare starts at $6 for a child, and a one-way adult fare between the two nearest stops costs $10 as of October 2026.
Hopo is a tourist-style service run by a private operator, not a Translink service, so its fares and timetable are separate from the tram and bus network. Details below come from Hopo’s website, checked on Monday 19 October 2026.
What is the Hopo ferry timetable?
Hopo’s timetable page says two ferries operate seven days a week, from 9:15am to 6:05pm, and the FAQ says the service runs every day except Christmas Day. Ferries run in both directions: northbound from Surfers Paradise to Sea World, and southbound from Sea World to Surfers Paradise.
| Northbound stop | First ferry | Then every hour until |
|---|---|---|
| Surfers Paradise | 9:15am | 4:15pm |
| HOTA | 9:23am | 4:23pm |
| Marina Mirage | 9:50am | 4:50pm |
| Broadwater Parklands | 10:00am | 5:00pm |
| Sea World | 10:10am | 5:10pm |
| Southbound stop | First ferry | Then every hour until |
|---|---|---|
| Sea World | 10:10am | 5:10pm |
| Broadwater Parklands | 10:20am | 5:20pm |
| Marina Mirage | 10:30am | 5:30pm |
| HOTA | 10:57am | 5:57pm |
| Surfers Paradise | 11:05am | 6:05pm (drop-off only) |
The timetable marks the Surfers Paradise arrivals at 5:05pm and 6:05pm as no boarding, drop-off only. Hopo’s FAQ says it takes about an hour to go one way from Surfers Paradise to Sea World, and two hours to complete the whole loop. The timetable page prints some afternoon HOTA times as “2:23am” and “4:23am”, which looks like a typing error for pm, so check the hourly pattern on the page itself before you plan a tight connection.
What changed in 2026?
Hopo’s announcement bar lists two changes. The Sunday early HOTA Express no longer runs, and normal HOTA services start at 9:15am every day. A separate notice says Hopo stopped operating the HOTA Express service from 7 December 2025. The same bar says the Locals Saver passes have expired and that the best deals are available online.
How much does a single ticket cost?
Hopo’s single fare page lists one-way fares by pair of stops, with concession and child (3 to 13 years) prices. Single and return tickets are available to all five stops.
| Trip | Adult | Concession | Child (3 to 13) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surfers Paradise to HOTA | $10 | $8 | $6 |
| Surfers Paradise or HOTA to Marina Mirage, Broadwater Parklands or Sea World | $20 | $16 | $12 |
| Marina Mirage, Broadwater Parklands and Sea World to each other | $10 | $8 | $6 |
Hopo’s FAQ says fares start from as little as $6.00 for single fare tickets. The home page lists other ticket types, including a 2 hour sightseeing cruise from $39 and a hop-on hop-off day pass from $45 as of October 2026. Hopo also sells combined passes that include Sea World entry, HOTA dining or a family offer, and these are listed on the tickets page.
How do I buy a ticket, and can I use a go card?
You do not need to book. Hopo’s FAQ says you can wait for the next ferry with your ticket or buy one on board, and all tickets are sold on board or at the customer service desks. Value passes can also be bought online and from most hotels and tour desks. Cash is not accepted on board for safety and security reasons. If you want to pay with cash, you can buy a ticket at the Sea World Cruises Terminal in Main Beach.
Hopo’s FAQ says you cannot pay with a Translink go card, because Hopo is privately funded public transport and not part of the Queensland government funded go card network. For the tram fare to reach the ferry stops, see our G:link fares guide. Hopo’s FAQ also says lost tickets cannot be replaced, so keep yours in a safe place.
Where do the ferry stops connect with other transport?
Hopo’s where to find us page gives each stop’s address and what is nearby.
| Stop | Address | Nearby, according to Hopo |
|---|---|---|
| Surfers Paradise | Appel Park, 10 Ferny Avenue | Cavill Avenue tram stop 200 metres away, bus stops on the Gold Coast Highway, Surfers Paradise Pavilion, accessible toilets. Parking: Bruce Bishop Car Park or Circle on Cavill |
| HOTA | 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise | HOTA Central 210 metres away, HOTA Gallery 300 metres, Evandale Lake 20 metres, accessible toilets, paid and free parking |
| Marina Mirage | 74 Seaworld Drive, Main Beach | Sunset Bar & Grill, La Luna Restaurant, accessible toilets, free parking on site |
| Broadwater Parklands | Southport Pier, Marine Parade, Southport | Broadwater rockpools 30 metres, The Fish Shak 40 metres, Southport tram stop 600 metres, paid parking |
| Sea World | Sea World Cruises Terminal, 130 Seaworld Drive, Main Beach | Sea World Marine Park, dinner cruises and jet boat rides, free parking on site |
If you plan to drive to a stop, our guides to Bruce Bishop car park, HOTA parking and Sea World parking have the details.
What is worth getting off for?
- HOTA: Hopo says the HOTA Gallery is free to visit year round, and that HOTA Farmers and Artisan Markets run on Sundays.
- Marina Mirage: Hopo says the centre is undergoing extensive renovations and many retail outlets are closed. It remains the best stop for La Luna, the Imperial Hotel and the Sheraton Mirage. The trip from Surfers Paradise to Marina Mirage is around 30 minutes.
- Broadwater Parklands: Hopo describes about three kilometres of parkland with walks, three playgrounds, rock pools, a cafe and picnic spots, close to the Southport CBD.
- Sea World: the ferry stops at the Sea World Cruises Terminal, where Hopo’s home page lists whale watching cruises from June to November (its accessibility page says May to November), dinner cruises and jet boat rides.
Can I take a bike, pram or wheelchair on the ferry?
Yes. Hopo’s FAQ says you can bring a bike, surfboard, skateboard or scooter on board, and the single fare page describes a fully accessible vessel with room for prams, bikes and wheelchairs. Hopo’s accessibility page says the service complies with the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002, and the pontoons have ramps, handrails and tactile ground indicators.
Hopo’s accessibility page says there are no accessible toilets on the ferry and that its toilets are for crew or emergency use only, and the FAQ says onboard toilets are for emergency use only. Accessible toilets are at each stop, and the FAQ warns that the full loop takes two hours. Hopo says free companion travel is available, with discounts for concession cardholders.
Hopo’s pages disagree on food. The accessibility page says food cannot be consumed on the ferries, while the FAQ says eating is allowed on board and asks passengers to be respectful and take their rubbish with them. Non-alcoholic drinks are welcome, and a small range of drinks is sold on the ferry. Hopo’s accessibility page also says small pet dogs and cats under 7kg are allowed with any ticket, and the single fare page says children under 5 travel free.
How do I check for disruptions?
Hopo says delays and disruptions of ten minutes or longer are published on its live service updates page. The most recent notices we saw were from March 2026, when the Broadwater Parklands stop did not operate on the weekend of the T100 Triathlon (Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 March 2026) and one of the two ferries had a service disruption. If you are heading to an event near the Broadwater, check the page before you go.
More guides: Gold Coast public transport guide
Sources
- Hopo — Timetable (checked 19 October 2026)
- Hopo — Single and return fare tickets
- Hopo — FAQs
- Hopo — Where to find us
- Hopo — Accessibility
- Hopo — Live service updates
Featured image: Southport Pier, where the Broadwater Parklands ferry stop is (photo: Shiftchange / CC0; text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Hopo, The Tour Collective or Translink. Check Hopo’s website before you travel, as timetables and fares can change.