Operating status as printed in the department's table stamped 10.00 am, 14 October 2026 (read 16 October 2026); no printed timetable exists · Services shown by frequency — exact times from the operator. · Representative services only — check the operator for today's full timetable
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Operator
Little Ferry Services (contractor to the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, SA)
Map – Cadell Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Public use of the ferry (vehicles and people) | Free |
Using the ferry costs nothing. The department's status page says there is no charge for the public to use the service, and Mid Murray Council's tourism page describes the Cadell ferry as free. Neither page sets out separate rules for cyclists or pedestrians; the fare line below applies to anyone who crosses.
Cadell Valley Road crosses the River Murray at Cadell by ferry rather than by bridge, and OpenStreetMap places both landings on that road. The boat is the Albatross 2, numbered 873-022 on the South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport's technical table. That table gives it room for eight car-sized vehicle units and 67 people, a 45.5 tonne vehicle limit, and a deck 22.3 metres long and 5.9 metres wide. It also puts average traffic at 100 vehicles a day, counted since February 2017, which is the second-lowest figure among the department's twelve river crossings after Purnong's 80.
Little Ferry Services runs it. The department's September 2024 funding announcement lists Cadell among the contracts that began on 1 November 2024, alongside Narrung, Purnong, Swan Reach, Walker Flat and Wellington. The department's status page prints the operator's Cadell numbers, 8540 3203 and 0447 678 159, and a separate public enquiries line, 0462 069 652, answered 9:00 am to 4:30 pm on weekdays except public holidays.
There is no timetable to learn and nothing to buy. The department states that each ferry operates around the clock, seven days a week, unless a temporary closure is posted, and that using it costs the public nothing. What changes is the status row. In the table stamped 10.00 am on 14 October 2026, Cadell read 'Currently operational' with nothing in the closures column, while its downstream alternative, Morgan, carried a 10 am to 2 pm maintenance closure on Tuesday 20 October.
If Cadell is shut, the department lists the Waikerie ferry upstream and the Morgan ferry downstream. During the December 2022 flood the department announced that Morgan and Swan Reach would close from 7 pm on 6 December; that notice named Cadell as Morgan's upstream detour and did not list it among the closed crossings.
Boarding follows the department's rules for River Murray ferries: a 10 km/h limit on the ramp and deck, no moving until the operator waves you on, handbrake applied once you are in position, parking lights only at night so the operator is not dazzled, and pedestrians waiting at the top of the barrier until directed aboard. Mid Murray Council's tourism page counts Cadell among the free ferries in its district.
- Arrive at the terminal a few minutes before departure; vehicle boarding usually closes earlier.
- Check the operator's service alerts before travelling — weather, tides and river levels affect services.
- Confirm accepted payment methods and whether a booking is required for vehicles.
Frequently asked questions
No. The department's River Murray ferries status page states that there is no charge for the public to use the service, and Mid Murray Council's tourism page lists Cadell among its free ferries.
The department says its ferries operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at each location unless a temporary closure is in place. It prints no sailing times for Cadell, so there is nothing to book or time your arrival against.
In the department's table stamped 10.00 am on 14 October 2026, the Cadell row read 'Currently operational' and the temporary closures column was empty. The table is edited by hand and the department says it is subject to change, so check the status page before a long detour.
The department's alternatives for Cadell are the Waikerie ferry upstream and the Morgan ferry downstream. Morgan is itself closed from 10 am to 2 pm on Tuesday 20 October 2026 for maintenance, according to the same table.
The Albatross 2 is listed for eight vehicle units, where a unit is the size of an average family sedan, with a 45.5 tonne vehicle limit, a deck 22.3 metres long and 5.9 metres wide, and a 5 metre crossing-width restriction at the landings. Its person capacity of 67 includes passengers inside vehicles.
Little Ferry Services, on 8540 3203 or 0447 678 159 as printed on the department's status page. For general ferry enquiries the department lists 0462 069 652, answered 9:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday except public holidays.
The department's technical table gives an average of 100 vehicles a day, an annual figure counted from February 2017. Only Purnong, at 80, is lower among the twelve crossings it lists; Narrung is 120 and Morgan 440.
Keep to 10 km/h on the ramp and the ferry, wait until the operator directs you, apply the handbrake once in position, and use parking lights only at night. Pedestrians wait at the top of the barrier and stay in the pedestrian area while the ferry moves.