Brisbane 2032 has taken a visible place along West End’s river corridor, where passengers may now spot the Boxing Kangaroo-themed KangaCat on regular CityCat services.
A New Sight Along The West End Riverfront
The KangaCat has joined Brisbane’s ferry fleet as the city marks six years until the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The green-and-gold vessel is the existing CityCat Mahreel, decorated with a design inspired by the Australian Olympic Team’s Boxing Kangaroo mascot, known as BK.
West End is one of the terminals on the regular CityCat corridor between UQ St Lucia and Northshore Hamilton. The service also connects passengers with South Bank, Riverside in the CBD, New Farm Park and other destinations along the Brisbane River.
The KangaCat does not operate as a dedicated West End ferry or follow its own permanent route. It may call at the suburb when Mahreel is assigned to a regular service travelling through the CityCat corridor.
Passengers can follow its location using the AnyTrip app, where the vessel remains listed under the name Mahreel.
KangaCat Marks Brisbane 2032 Countdown
The ferry began operating on Sunday, 19 July, with its first reported journey departing Hawthorne for St Lucia.
Its Boxing Kangaroo design recognises Australian Olympic athletes and those pursuing the opportunity to represent the country at Brisbane 2032.
Olympians Cate Campbell, Cedric Dubler, Ria Thompson and Georgia Courage-Gardiner attended the launch. Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission Anna Meares and the Boxing Kangaroo mascot were also aboard.
The vessel is among the first public-facing activations introduced during the six-year lead-up to the Games, with further activities expected across Brisbane in the years ahead.
West End Passengers Can Track Mahreel
The KangaCat provides West End passengers with another themed vessel to look out for alongside the Bluey and Bingo CityDogs already operating within the fleet.
The standard 50-cent fare applies when travelling aboard Mahreel, and passengers do not need a special ticket or booking to use the service.
West End’s ferry terminal connects the suburb’s riverside parks and cafe areas with destinations across the inner-city ferry network.
Brisbane ferries carried a reported 6.8 million passengers during the previous financial year, linking residents and visitors with dining areas, attractions and riverfront precincts.
Because Mahreel’s assigned service can change, AnyTrip tracking provides the most practical way for West End passengers to check whether the KangaCat is approaching their terminal or travelling elsewhere on the river.
Published 20-July-2026
