Fun and public transport are not generally thought of as a classic combination; they are not like strawberries and cream, or fish and chips. It is rare, even, to hear the two words in the same sentence. But when the sun shines in Brisbane, which it almost always does, there is nothing better than swiping your
GoCard and cruising the Brisbane River on the
CityCat.
The Brisbane River is the city's main artery: the Aorta, if you will. And while the murky, brown depths of the river itself do not inspire poetry, there is something kind of special about seeing the Brisbane skyline speed past you from the prow of one of these speedy catamarans. You get to see a side of Brisbane that you don’t normally see - from the graffiti under the Riverside Expressway to an unimpeded view of the architecturally-impressive
'Green Bridge'. One of the best things about a CityCat ride, however, is that the destination is unimportant; the ride itself is what you pay your $2.90 for.
It is understandable, however, if the idea of taking public transport for the transport itself is hard to digest. Luckily, almost every stop on the CityCat route, from Bulimba to St Lucia, is somewhere worth seeing. Hop off at
New Farm Park and join the hordes sunbaking and picnicking. Stop at
Southbank and explore the cafes, pubs, markets and man-made beach. Alternatively, if it's beer o'clock, make the
Regatta Hotel and adjoining Boatshed Restaurant your destination, for a cooling beer and a steak. And, if education is more your caper, take the cat to its final stop and stroll through the sandstone haven that is
The University of Queensland. Education aside, UQ is home to one of Brisbane's best
pizza venues, as well as first-class sporting facilities.
The CityCat service runs regularly from Apollo Road, Bulimba to The University of Queensland, St Lucia. For a full timetable visit the
Translink wesbite.
Whether you like the journey or need a destination, the CityCat has got you covered. A ride on a catamaran for less than three dollars – what are you waiting for?
