Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner is urging Brisbane residents to plan ahead and stay up-to-date about service and venue operating hours during the festive season.

“The holidays are a great time to get out and about in Brisbane, especially with our public transport services,” Cr Schrinner said.

“Shoppers will have easy access to key precincts with Council running extra bus services to the major centres in the lead up to Christmas.

CityCat and some other ferry services will be running every 30 minutes and will operate on a public holiday timetable on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Free travel will also be available on buses, ferries and trains from 8pm New Year’s Eve until 5.30am New Year’s Day.

For detailed information on transport timetables and services, visit the Translink website.”

Essential services will continue to operate, including weekly bin collections.

“Residents enjoying presents and prawns over the festive period will still be able to dispose of their rubbish as normal, even if their bin day falls on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day,” Cr Schrinner said.

“Council’s four resource recovery centres are open every day of the year, including the Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day public holidays.”

Council facilities like libraries, parks and pools will also be open over the break and are a cost-effective way of keeping the kids entertained.

“Our 33 libraries will continue to provide free workshops over the holidays, while families can make a splash this summer with our $2 Summer Dips program,” Cr Schrinner said.

“No matter what day it is, our more than 2180 parks across our suburbs are a great place to go with family and friends to play outside or enjoy a picnic.

After another busy year, I hope residents are able to enjoy the holiday season with loved ones and find more to see and do in Brisbane.”

To find out what free and low-cost events are happening near you, visit the ‘What’s On’ section of Council’s website for more information.

Residents can call Council’s Contact Centre 24 hours a day, every day over the holiday season on (07) 3403 8888.

Waste and Recycling

  • Bin collections will continue across the city as usual, including collection days that fall on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Boxing Day.
  • Council’s resource recovery centres are open every day of the year, including Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, accepting waste, recycling, tip shop donations and green waste as usual.

Bus Services

  • From Thursday 21 December to Friday 22 December Council is providing additional bus trips to service the CBD and four regional centres (Indooroopilly, Garden City, Carindale and Chermside) to coincide with extended shopping hours to midnight.
  • Buses will operate a Sunday timetable on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day and a Saturday timetable on Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve.
  • There will be no early morning CityGlider or NightLink services on Christmas Day or Boxing Day.
  • Additional services will be provided on New Year’s Eve to help people travel into the CBD for the fireworks display and then home again afterwards.
  • CityGlider and Maroon Glider services will also operate between midnight and 5.00am.
  • For more information, visit www.translink.com.au or phone 13 12 30.

CityCat Services

  • All ferries will operate on a Sunday/Public Holiday timetable on Christmas Eve.
  • On Christmas Day, CityCats will operate reduced services every 30 minutes and CityHoppers reduced services of 30-45 minute frequency.
  • There will be no Bulimba to Teneriffe or Kangaroo Point Cross River Ferry services on Christmas Day.
  • All ferries will operate on a Sunday/Public Holiday timetable on Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day 1 January 2024.
  • On New Year’s Eve, all ferries will operate on a Sunday timetable with revised services in the afternoon and evening.
  • For more detailed information on bus and ferry routes and timetables visit www.translink.com.au or call 13 12 30.

Pools

  • During the Christmas break, Council pools will be fully operational with the exception of Christmas day.
  • On public holidays, most Council pools are open between 9am-5pm, however visit Council’s website for pools trading hours as it varies between venues.
  • Council will continue its $2 Summer Dips incentive, with general entry fees dropping to $2 per person
  • Visit Council’s website to find a pool near you and check opening hours.

Libraries

  • All Council libraries will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Eve and New Year’s Day public holidays.
  • Council’s 24/7 library lockers at Carina, New Farm and Holland Park will remain open for book returns over this period

Community Facilities

  • Riverstage will be closed for the shutdown period (23 Dec– 7 Jan)
  • City Hall will be fully operational and closed on public holidays.
  • Community Halls will be open as normal, except for New Years Eve, when all venues are closed.
  • Planetarium will be fully operational and closed on public holidays.
  • Cemeteries will be fully operational and closed on public holidays.

Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha

  • Open to the public all year. Current summertime hours are 8am-6pm. Vehicle access in the Gardens is not permitted on weekends, public holidays and from 4pm on weekdays.
    • Mt Coot-tha Visitor Information Centre – Closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day
    • Mt Coot-tha Library – Closed on public holidays
    • Botanic Gardens Café – Botanic Gardens Café will be open until 4:00pm on Christmas Eve. Closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Open 8.30am to 4pm December 24, otherwise open Mon-Fri 8:30am-4pm and Sat- Sun 8am-4pm
  • The Volunteer Guides and Welcomers of Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha will be on leave from 24 December 2023 and will return to host guided tours on 2 January 2024.

City Botanic Gardens

  • Access to the City Botanic Gardens remains open to the public year-round. 
  • The City Botanic Gardens Information Kiosk will close on 17 December 2023, and re-open 29 January 2024.