Sustainability

Hopo Gold Coast Ferry is certified through Ecotourism Australia’s world-leading ecotourism certification program. This means that when you travel with us, you are supporting a business that is backed by a strong, well-managed commitment to sustainable practices and provides high-quality nature-based tourism experiences.

Our certification demonstrates our commitment to:

• Looking after our natural environment
• Offering quality interpretation and educating guests
• Supporting and engaging our local community
• Reducing our carbon footprint
• Protecting our unique wildlife and endangered species
• Making real contributions to conservation
• Helping to preserve Australian Indigenous cultures
• Providing an unforgettable, high-quality guest experience

The Ecotourism Australia Certification programs are recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.

Hopo Gold Coast Ferry participates in the Containers for Change container recycling program. Since 2021, thousands of eligible containers have been diverted from landfill and given a new life as new drink containers, road base, food trays, building materials, and more.

As part of this great initiative, 10c from every eligible container is donated to a charity of choice. All funds raised are donated to Sea World Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to understanding, protecting, and conserving the marine environment for future generations through research, rescue, and conservation activities.

In 2023, Hopo Gold Coast Ferry achieved a significant milestone by completing its baseline carbon accounting, signalling a profound commitment to sustainability in the face of pressing environmental challenges. 

This achievement is especially meaningful given the increasing effects of climate change on marine ecosystems. Through proactive measures to minimise emissions, the Hopo Gold Coast Ferry not only lessens its environmental impact but also plays a part in reducing overall emissions by providing an alternative to car travel.

This commitment highlights the critical importance of collaborative action to address climate change and safeguard the invaluable biodiversity of our rivers and oceans for future generations.

Clean Up Australia is a non for profit organisation that inspires and mobilises communities to improve and conserve our environment, eliminate litter and end waste. 

Each year since 2021, Hopo Gold Coast Ferry has joined Clean Up Australia Day to bring people together to remove as much rubbish from our local environment as possible. For more information about the next event, see here.

Reduce your emissions

By taking the Hopo Ferry, you are helping reduce your carbon emissions, all whilst enjoying the refreshing scenic tour of the stunning Gold Coast waterways.

Each of the five stops along the route has been strategically chosen to ensure easy connections to other public transport options. Let’s opt for sustainable transport for a greener, more enjoyable journey.

Leave No Trace

• Don’t forget to bring your own drink bottle and keepcup. There are many local cafes close to each of the ferry stops.
• Recycle your cans and bottles onboard our vessels. Not only does this reduce landfill waste, but it also helps raise funds for non-profit charities.
• Avoid single-use plastics, including balloons, as they can end up not only in landfills but also in the ocean, where unsuspecting marine animals may ingest them, leading to serious harm and even death.
• Participate in Clean Up Australia Day – hosted by Hopo Gold Coast Ferry each year
• Don’t touch, feed, or disturb wildlife.
• Avoid purchasing any merchandise or souvenirs derived from rare and threatened species.

Educate

• Educate yourself, your friends and your family on the importance of marine conservation and the threats facing our oceans.
• Encourage others to adopt sustainable practices and make environmentally conscious choices in their daily lives.

Let’s work together to preserve our oceans and marine life for a sustainable future.