Standard Tuesday-Friday timetable, checked live 16-18 and 29 September 2026. Times are SeaLink's own published timetable, which is what boarding follows; TransLink's journey planner showed different departure times for the same corridor when checked on 15 September 2026.
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Crossing time
~70 min
Operator
SeaLink Bay Islands
Map – Russell Island Ferry
Fare type
Price
Passenger fare, any age (TransLink flat fare)
$0.50
Vehicle ferry - car/motorhome up to 5.4m, standard (one-way)
$94.50
Vehicle ferry - car/motorhome up to 5.4m, SMBI resident (one-way)
$37.80
Walk-on adult with vehicle-ferry booking (one-way)
$10.00
Walk-on child 5-14 with vehicle-ferry booking (one-way)
$4.00
Foot passengers travel under TransLink's network-wide 50-cent flat fare (go card or cash, any age) on the scheduled Redland Bay-Russell Island sailings. Taking a vehicle is a separate SeaLink commercial booking charged by vehicle type from Redland Bay; SeaLink also lists a $10.00 adult / $4.00 child walk-on fare for passengers who board as part of a vehicle-ferry booking rather than travelling on the TransLink fare. A temporary 3% fuel surcharge applies on top of every vehicle-ferry fare (in effect as checked on 15 September 2026, no published end date) - it is not a headline fare. All fares are one-way; infants aged 0-4 travel free. Vehicle and walk-on fares are effective from 1 July 2026; SMBI residents with a registered resident profile get roughly a 50% subsidy on vehicle fares. All fares in Australian dollars (AUD).
The Russell Island ferry links Redland Bay, on the Queensland mainland south-east of Brisbane, with Russell Island, the largest and most populated of the Southern Moreton Bay Islands (SMBI). SeaLink Bay Islands operates the crossing under contract, and the scheduled passenger service is also a TransLink public transport route, meaning foot passengers pay TransLink's network-wide 50-cent flat fare rather than a commercial ferry fare. Most sailings run in a loop, calling at Karragarra, Macleay and Lamb Islands on the way, so the trip from Redland Bay to Russell Island takes about 70 minutes even though the islands sit only a few kilometres apart by water. The same route also carries vehicles: SeaLink runs a separate booking system for cars, motorbikes, trailers and trucks, with fares starting at $94.50 one-way for a standard car from Redland Bay (about half that for registered SMBI residents), plus a temporary 3% fuel surcharge on every vehicle booking. Passengers travelling as part of a vehicle booking, rather than under the TransLink fare, pay $10 (adult) or $4 (child 5-14) one-way. Sailings run seven days a week, 365 days a year - 16 return trips on Tuesday to Friday, 12 on Monday, and 13 on Saturday and Sunday. There is no cafe at the Redland Bay terminal, though nearby cafes are within walking distance, and passengers should arrive 20 minutes before departure to allow for loading. Bicycles travel free with a passenger ticket. Anyone driving on needs to book their vehicle place in advance through SeaLink, by phone or online, since walk-up vehicle space is not guaranteed; foot passengers using a go card or cash do not need to book. Because Russell Island has a resident population of several thousand plus a growing number of day-trip visitors heading for its beaches, this ferry is the only way on or off the island other than a private boat.
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
About 70 minutes from Redland Bay to Russell Island. Most sailings also stop at Karragarra, Macleay and Lamb Islands along the way, which is why the trip takes longer than the roughly 8km straight-line distance suggests.
Foot passengers pay TransLink's flat 50-cent fare, any age, with a go card or cash. Taking a vehicle is a separate SeaLink booking from $94.50 one-way for a standard car (plus a temporary 3% fuel surcharge), with about half that fare for registered SMBI residents.
Yes. SeaLink runs a vehicle ferry alongside the passenger service, but vehicle places must be booked in advance online or by phone (07 3488 5300) - they are not guaranteed for walk-up traffic.
The passenger ferry uses the terminal on the Esplanade at Redland Bay. SeaLink's vehicle ferry booking address is 1 Weinam Street, Redland Bay, a short walk from the passenger terminal.
No. The scheduled passenger service is a TransLink public transport route, so you can simply tap on with a go card or pay 50 cents in cash before boarding. Bookings are only required for vehicles.
Yes, 365 days a year. Tuesday to Friday there are 16 sailings a day each way; Saturday and Sunday run a slightly reduced 13-sailing pattern, and Monday runs 12.
Yes, bicycles travel free of charge with a passenger ticket on the vehicle ferry, and are carried on the regular passenger service as well.
Yes, but only on vehicle bookings: SeaLink applies a temporary 3% fuel surcharge on top of every vehicle-ferry fare, current as checked on 15 September 2026. It does not apply to the 50-cent passenger fare.