Gold Coast ferry service: Extra stops proposed for Hopo if marine tourism projects go ahead

Eco-cabins and a “marine tourism experience” development are coming to the Southport Broadwater, sparking a push to dramatically expand the Gold Coast ferry service.

The Gold Coast’s Hopo ferry service could soon be setting sail for South Stradbroke Island under “game changing” council plans to supercharge tourism around the Broadwater.

Eco-cabins and a “marine tourism experience” development, as well as glamping at Tipplers, are among a short-list of projects council will look at in 2025 alongside the state government.

The projects, which were voted on by city leaders in December, will proceed to planning and “early market engagement” before community consultation.

But with more non-mainland tourism activates planned, Mayor Tom Tate said the time was right to look at expanding the Hopo ferries to service the northern Broadwater, including South Stradbroke Island, Wavebreak Island and beyond.

The Gold Coast council's ferry service is likely to expand further north if Mayor Tom Tate has his way Picture Glenn Hampson

The ferry service, which is marking five years of operation in December, would have further terminals installed in those locations.

Mr Tate said the ferry, which was hobbled in its early months by the Covid crisis and was forced to temporarily shut down, was a proven success which would have an even greater role in opening up the Broadwater to people without boats.

Get ready for glamping at Tipplers. Picture: Gold Coast Tourist Parks

“The next part of the Hopo should expanding further north. I would like to go all the way to Runaway Bay and Tipplers, so that people who don’t have a boat can get there,” he said.

“We are looking to have glamping there and if you’re a backpacker and if you want to sleep under the stars but still have a service of a five-star, then you can go glamping, and how do you get there? Hop on the Hopo.

“When we have an event here at the (proposed) lyric theatre, we can have Hopo transporting people from Service Paradise coming here by water.”

Hopo is operated for council by The Tour Collective which is headed by Anthony Ardern, who revealed earlier this year “some trial runs” had been done to Runaway Bay and Couran Cove to determine the timing of the routes needed.

However Mr Tate confirmed Couran Cove, which remains closed following a long-running dispute between its owner and body corporates, would not be included in any current expansion.

More stops will be coming to Hopo if more tourism projects in the Broadwater are realised Picture by Richard Gosling

Hopo marked its 300,000th passenger journey in June and just prior to Christmas hit 350,000.

It carries around 400 people per day. Its recently introduced HOTA express, which runs to the arts precinct from 7am to 10am on Sundays, carried around 200 people per hour.

State Tourism Minister Andrew Powell welcomed the plans for expanded nature-based tourism at the Broadwater.

“The improvements to the Tipplers precinct will also be welcomed by boating visitors, and the proposal for eco cabins in Broadwater help extend the range of experiences on offer,” he said.

Requests for proposals from private businesses and a grants process for the expanded tourism projects will begin in 2025.