All aboard! The Gold Coast waterways only multi-stop ferry service is here to stay, until at least 2027.
Hopo started as a two-year trial in December 2019 and was given a 6 months extension in August 2022, before now securing a full 5-year contract from council.
In the past 2.5 years, the service has carried more than 145,000 passengers and now averages above 5,000 passengers per month.
Managing Director Anthony Ardern says they’re excited for the future of Hopo.
“The City of Gold Coast and the local community have been very supportive of the ferry service,” Mr Ardern says.
“With the 5-year contract now secured, we see a long and prosperous future of ferries operating on our beautiful waterways.”
The hop-on hop off service defied odds and managed to battle through the struggles of COVID-19, after beginning their journey just months before the pandemic hit.
Hopo is locally owned and operated with no funding for the vessels or subsidising fares – making it one of only a handful of water transport operators to do so worldwide.
Despite this, Mr Ardern believes they’ve managed to make Hopo a fun service all local families can enjoy.
“In the absence of government funding, we believe we have come up with a fare model that is fair for everyone,”
“Kids under five years of age travel for free. Locals receive a free day of travel during their birthday week. We also added a 10-trip saver pass with trips from $4, comparable to train and tram fares.”
The timetabled service will continue to run 7 days a week, with stops in Surfers Paradise, HOTA – Home of the Arts, Marina Mirage, Broadwater Parklands and Sea World.
The busiest stop en-route is Marina Mirage for their waterside dining and shopping, followed by Sea World and HOTA.
The next chapter for the service has been set with the installation of a jetty and pontoon commencing soon at the northern end of Marine Stadium as part of The Spit Master Plan, enabling a potential expansion.
