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Do Children Travel Free on Brisbane Public Transport?
Under 5s free, and free every weekend with a child go card.
9 July 2026 · 5 min read
Taking the kids on the train, bus or CityCat in Brisbane is about as cheap as travel gets. Children aged four and under ride free, older children pay the flat 50 cents on weekdays, and with a child go card they travel free every weekend.
Here's exactly how children's fares work on the TransLink network, and the best family days out you can reach on a 50c fare.
Under 5: always free
Children aged four years and under travel free on every TransLink train, bus, ferry and tram, and they don't need a ticket at all. Just walk on with them. That covers the CityCat down the river, the train to the Gold Coast, the lot.
Ages 5 to 14: 50c on weekdays, free on weekends
Children aged five to fourteen pay the same flat 50 cent fare as everyone else on a weekday. The trick is the orange child go card: children who tap on with one travel free all weekend, every weekend, across the whole network.
So a Saturday adventure to the museum or the beach costs the grown-ups 50c each and the kids nothing. You can order a child go card online or by calling TransLink, and top it up like any other go card.
- Under 5: free, no ticket needed.
- 5 to 14 on a weekday: flat 50c, same as an adult.
- 5 to 14 on a weekend with a child go card: free.
- 15 and over: the standard 50c adult fare.
How to pay for the kids
For the under-5s there's nothing to do. For older children, a registered child go card is worth it for the free weekend travel alone, and it means you're not fishing for a paper ticket with a pram in tow. Everyone taps on and off as normal, and our live departures board tells you when the next family-friendly service is due so you're not waiting on a platform with restless kids.
Fares and concession rules do change, so check TransLink for the current arrangements before a big day out.
Where to take them on a 50c fare
Brisbane is full of family days out you can reach without a car, and at these fares the trip is part of the fun.
- Bluey's World at Northshore Hamilton — you can ride a themed CityDog CityCat right to the door. See getting to Bluey's World.
- Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary — the 430 bus drops you at the gate for 50c. See getting to Lone Pine.
- South Bank — Streets Beach, the museums and GOMA, a short train or ferry ride from anywhere.
- A CityCat river loop — one of the best-value 50c experiences in the city, and a hit with little kids.
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Plan your trip →Common questions
Do children travel free on public transport in Brisbane?
Children aged four and under always travel free and need no ticket. Children aged five to fourteen pay the flat 50 cent fare on weekdays, but travel free on weekends when they tap on with a child go card.
What age do kids pay for public transport in Brisbane?
From age five. Under-fives are free. From five to fourteen it's 50 cents on weekdays and free on weekends with a child go card, and from fifteen the standard 50 cent adult fare applies.
How do children travel free on weekends?
A child aged five to fourteen travels free all weekend when they tap on and off with an orange child go card. You can order one online or by phone from TransLink and top it up like any go card.
Do I need a ticket for my toddler?
No. Children aged four and under travel free on all TransLink services and don't need a ticket or a go card.