The Gold Coast’s waterways make for some stunning views and great sight-seeing, and you don’t have to miss out just because you don’t have your own boat! You can cruise the stunning Gold Coast waterways aboard the city’s only hop-on hop-off ferry! Hopo ferries depart hourly from five iconic Gold Coast destinations, including the famous Surfers Paradise and HOTA, Home of the Arts!
You can hop on at any of the five stops, and you can stay aboard for the full loop (2 hrs) or explore the hop-off destinations at your leisure. Enjoy a drink from the onboard bar whilst the friendly captain keeps you entertained with informative commentary, music, local tips and wildlife spotting. Kids can also meet the captain and have a turn driving the boat. During the sightseeing cruise, you might also be lucky enough to spot a dolphin!
We jumped on board Hopo at the Broadwater Parklands and decided to cruise down to HOTA for lunch. It took approximately 40min to journey there, but the time went really fast and before we knew it we were at our destination. Here we went and visited the Children’s Gallery, grabbed a bite to eat at the cafe, and had a play on the playground. We were then ready to jump back on Hopo and cruise back to the Broadwater Parklands. This was a really manageable journey with two young children, and it also passed a lot of great sights including some of the waterfront mega mansions and a great view of the Surfers Paradise skyline.
There are a range of ticket options available, from day passes to long hops and short hops – depending on your budget and timeframes. While it can be costly, be sure to keep an eye on their social media and sign up for updates as they often run promotions that make it a lot more budget friendly and a great family day out. Some regular discounts to keep in mind include Free travel on your birthday – where you can get a free day pass on your birthday or on the 7 days following. Children under 5yrs always travel for free too! Finally, don’t miss out on your chance to win a FREE family pass each month by getting the kids to enter the HOPO colouring competition, with 10 passes given away each month to entrants.
No matter where you decide to stop, be sure to check out the HOPO rewards that you make use of with your daily ticket. Show your ticket at any of these retailers to grab some great discounts including meal deals, bonus sessions and free gifts.
Need to know
Website: https://hopo.com.au/
Cost: Flexible fares start from $5.00. Costs vary greatly, visit the website for pricing your journey.
Times: The ferry operates hourly, and it takes 2 hours to complete a full loop.
