Getting Around Brisbane
One flat 50-cent fare takes you anywhere on Brisbane's buses, trains, ferries and Metro — no matter how far. Here's how to use the river city's network like a local, from the airport to the last ferry home.
The Best Transport Deal in the Country
One flat fare, any distance — the quirk of Queensland policy that makes Brisbane so easy to get around.
Brisbane sits inside TransLink's South East Queensland network, where a single journey on any bus, train, ferry or the Brisbane Metro is a flat 50 cents — no matter how far you travel. What began as a six-month trial in August 2024 was made permanent across every TransLink network from February 2025, so the price you see is here to stay.
It's frankly one of the best public-transport deals in the country. A cross-town trip that once cost $5 or more in peak now costs the same 50¢ as a single stop, and a full week of getting about tops out at around $5. Children under five travel free, and 5–14 year-olds ride free on weekends with a child go card. The one exception is the Airtrain to the airport, which sets its own price.
You can tap on with a go card, a contactless bank card or your phone — just keep using the same card all trip so it links correctly. One note on trams: Brisbane retired its network in 1969, so the busways and Metro fill that role; the only light rail in Queensland is the Gold Coast's G:link, about an hour south.
From Brisbane Airport to the City
Every option, cheapest to most convenient. The airport sits about 13 km north-east of the CBD, with a free transfer between the Domestic and International terminals.
Airtrain (about $22 one way, ~20 minutes) is the fastest public option, running from both terminals to Central and Roma Street and on to the Gold Coast line. Note it is not part of the 50¢ fare — it sets its own price.
Public bus is the cheapest at 50¢, but slower and less direct once you're juggling luggage. Taxis and rideshare (Uber, DiDi) pick up from signed ranks and zones at both terminals — quick and easy, with a small airport surcharge on taxis.
The easy option: a door-to-door Cooee airport transfer — meet-and-greet, a fixed price with no surge, and a driver waiting when you land. Worth it when you're tired, travelling as a group, or simply want the guesswork gone.
Ways to Get Around Brisbane
From the 50-cent network to two wheels and point-to-point — how each option works, and when to use it.
Buses & Brisbane Metro
turn-up-and-goThe backbone of city travel, run on world-class dedicated busways (South East, Northern, Eastern) that bypass traffic — so a bus across town often beats driving. The new Brisbane Metro adds two rapid-transit lines of battery-electric, bi-articulated vehicles.
Trains
suburbs & beyondQueensland Rail links the CBD to the suburbs and out to the Gold Coast (Varsity Lakes line), toward the Sunshine Coast (Gympie North), Ipswich, Cleveland and more. Main interchanges are Roma Street, Central and Bowen Hills.
CityCat & Ferries
the river routeFew cities commute by river like Brisbane. The CityCat catamarans run the length of the Brisbane River (the all-stops F1 from UQ St Lucia to Northshore Hamilton), and at 50¢ they double as the best-value cruise in town. The free CityHopper loops the inner-city terminals.
Walking
small, flat CBDA riverside city with the walks to match — the Riverwalk and City Reach Boardwalk trace the water, and car-free green bridges (Goodwill, Neville Bonner, Kangaroo Point) stitch both banks together. Most sights are a stroll or short ferry hop apart.
Bikes & E-Scooters
last-mile hopsDockless shared e-bikes and e-scooters (operators rotate — Beam, Neuron, Lime) unlock with an app and drop at your destination. Long separated paths like the Bicentennial Bikeway and V1 Veloway make the riding good. Helmets are required by law.
Taxis
ranks & on-demandEasy to find at ranks across the CBD, airport and venues, or booked by app. The big operators are 13CABS and Black & White Cabs, both with wheelchair-accessible vehicles and maxi-taxis (up to 11) on request. Metered, with higher night and public-holiday tariffs.
Rideshare
Uber & DiDiBrisbane is well served by rideshare, usually a few dollars under a taxi outside surge periods. Both apps pick up from signed rideshare zones at the airport terminals. (Ola left Australia in 2024, so it's Uber and DiDi.)
Driving & Parking
for day tripsYou don't need a car in the city, but one helps for the hinterland, bay or coast. Note the motorways are cashless-tolled (Clem7, Legacy Way, AirportlinkM7, Go Between Bridge, Gateway) — hire cars usually bundle tolls, or set up a temporary Linkt account. CBD parking is plentiful but pricey; locals use park 'n' ride.
A Car-Free Day for About $2
A full day exploring Brisbane on the 50¢ network — river, city and back.
Morning. Start with a CityCat from South Bank up to New Farm (50¢), wander Howard Smith Wharves under the Story Bridge, then jump the free CityHopper back across the river.
Midday. Catch a bus or the Metro into the CBD for Queen Street Mall and the Botanic Gardens (50¢), then ride a train out to West End or Paddington for lunch (50¢).
Afternoon. Take the CityCat upriver to the University of Queensland and back just for the views (50¢), then walk the Goodwill Bridge to South Bank for a swim at Streets Beach.
The tally. Four paid journeys, one free ferry, a whole day of the city — about $2 all up. There isn't a cheaper way to see Brisbane.
Using the Network Like a Local
A handful of small habits make Brisbane transport effortless.
Looking ahead to Brisbane 2032. The network is being built out fast ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Cross River Rail will add a second river crossing and four new underground CBD stations, the Brisbane Metro is exploring extensions north, east, south and out to the airport, and station and busway upgrades are rolling out across the city. For visitors, the getting-around picture only improves from here — more turn-up-and-go services and better connections, still on that flat 50¢ fare.