Hopo timetable, every day, checked on 28 September 2026 and against Translink's journey planner for 29 September
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Crossing time
~55 min
Operator
Hopo (The Tour Collective)
Map – Hopo Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult single, Surfers Paradise to Sea World (or any $20 stop pair) | $20.00 |
| Adult single, Surfers Paradise to HOTA, or between Marina Mirage, Broadwater Parklands and Sea World | $10.00 |
| Concession single, Surfers Paradise to Sea World (or any $16 stop pair) | $16.00 |
| Concession single, Surfers Paradise to HOTA, or between the three northern stops | $8.00 |
| Child single (3-13 years), Surfers Paradise to Sea World (or any $12 stop pair) | $12.00 |
| Child single (3-13 years), Surfers Paradise to HOTA, or between the three northern stops | $6.00 |
| Two-hour sightseeing pass, adult (a cruise product, not a single fare) | $39.00 |
| Hop-on hop-off day pass, adult | $45.00 |
Hopo sets single fares by the pair of stops, not per stop passed. Adult singles between Surfers Paradise or HOTA and any of the other three stops cost $20 (Surfers Paradise to HOTA is $10), and hops between Marina Mirage, Broadwater Parklands and Sea World cost $10. Concession fares are $16 and $8, and child fares (aged 3 to 13) are $12 and $6. Hopo does not accept the Translink go card: the Queensland Government lists Hopo as a non-Translink service on which Translink tickets and go card cannot be used. Tickets are bought from the captain or at the kiosks; cash is not accepted on board, only at the Sea World Cruises terminal. Return fares are not itemised on the website. The ticket page says children under 5 travel free while the fare table prices ages 3 to 13, so confirm for a three or four year old. All fares in Australian dollars (AUD).
Hopo is a privately owned Gold Coast waterway ferry run by The Tour Collective, and it receives no government fare subsidy. Two ferries share an hourly loop between Surfers Paradise and Sea World, calling at five wharves: Appel Park in Surfers Paradise, HOTA (Home of the Arts) on Bundall Road, Marina Mirage in Main Beach, Southport Pier for Broadwater Parklands, and the Sea World Cruises terminal. The whole run from Surfers Paradise to Sea World takes 55 minutes, so a full loop and back is around two hours.
The timetable is the same every day. Northbound ferries leave Surfers Paradise at 9:15 am and then every hour on the quarter past until 4:15 pm, reaching HOTA eight minutes later. Southbound ferries leave Sea World from 10:10 am to 5:10 pm. The last two arrivals at Surfers Paradise, at 5:05 pm and 6:05 pm, drop passengers only. The service runs seven days a week except Christmas Day. HOTA Express, a separate early-morning HOTA service, ended on 7 December 2025.
Fares are set by the pair of stops. An adult single between Surfers Paradise and Sea World is $20, Surfers Paradise to HOTA is $10, and the shorter hops between Marina Mirage, Broadwater Parklands and Sea World are $10. Concession and child fares are lower, and Hopo accepts all Australian concession and companion cards. You buy on board from the captain or at the kiosks at Surfers Paradise and Sea World; cash is refused on the boats for safety, and no booking is needed for a ticket.
The most common question is about go card. Hopo is not part of the Translink network. Translink lists it as a non-Translink service where Translink tickets and go card do not work, and Hopo's FAQ says the same. The ferries are fully accessible, carry bikes, surfboards, scooters, prams and small dogs, and have no onboard toilet apart from emergencies; accessible toilets are at each stop. Marina Mirage is under renovation and many retail outlets are closed, Hopo says.
- Arrive at the terminal a few minutes before departure; vehicle boarding usually closes earlier.
- Check the operator's service alerts before travelling — weather, tides and river levels affect services.
- Confirm accepted payment methods and whether a booking is required for vehicles.
Frequently asked questions
No. Hopo's FAQ says you cannot pay with a go card because Hopo is privately funded and not part of the Queensland Government go card network. Translink's non-Translink services page also lists hopo and says Translink tickets and go card cannot be used on those services.
An adult single is $20 between Surfers Paradise and Sea World, Marina Mirage, or Broadwater Parklands, and $10 between Surfers Paradise and HOTA. Hops among Marina Mirage, Broadwater Parklands and Sea World are $10. Concession fares are $16 or $8 and child fares (3 to 13) are $12 or $6.
The first ferry leaves Surfers Paradise at 9:15 am and the last leaves at 4:15 pm. From Sea World the first is 10:10 am and the last is 5:10 pm. The two final arrivals at Surfers Paradise, 5:05 pm and 6:05 pm, are drop-off only.
55 minutes on the published timetable: 9:15 am departure, HOTA at 9:23 am, Marina Mirage at 9:50 am, Broadwater Parklands at 10:00 am, and Sea World at 10:10 am. Hopo's FAQ says the one-way trip takes 1 hour and a full loop about two hours.
There are five: Surfers Paradise at Appel Park, 10 Ferny Avenue; HOTA at 135 Bundall Road; Marina Mirage at 74 Seaworld Drive; Southport Pier on Marine Parade for Broadwater Parklands; and the Sea World Cruises terminal at 130 Seaworld Drive, Main Beach.
No. Hopo says you do not need to book a seat; wait for the next arriving ferry with a ticket or buy from the captain. Cash is not accepted on board, but you can pay cash at the Sea World Cruises terminal. Booking is only needed for its two-hour sightseeing cruise.
Yes, every day of the year except Christmas Day, with two ferries from 9:15 am to 6:05 pm. Translink's journey planner shows the same hourly times. Hopo posts any disruption of ten minutes or more on its live service updates page.
Yes. Hopo's FAQ says bikes, surfboards, skateboards, scooters, prams, mobility devices and small dogs are welcome. The ferries and wharves have ramps and wheelchair areas. There is no toilet on board except for emergencies; accessible toilets are at each stop.