Operating hours current as at 18 September 2026 · 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
Crossing time
~3 min
Operator
Shoalhaven City Council
Map – Comerong Island Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Return trip, any vehicle or bicycle (driver and passengers included) | $20.00 |
Unlike Transport for NSW's free Hawkesbury River cable ferries (Webbs Creek, Berowra Waters and others), the Comerong Island ferry is run by Shoalhaven City Council and charges a fixed return fee for every vehicle and bicycle. Payment is EFTPOS only on board - no cash, no ticket office and no online booking. The council does not publish a separate one-way rate, and there is no walk-on fare because foot passengers are not carried: its own page states that "this is a vehicular ferry and passengers will not be permitted to exit their vehicles". All fares in Australian dollars (AUD).
The Comerong Island ferry is a small cable ferry that Shoalhaven City Council runs across Berrys Canal, the narrow tidal channel that separates Comerong Island from the mainland at Lower Numbaa, near the mouth of the Shoalhaven River on the NSW South Coast. It is the only way onto the island - there is no bridge, and the council-run vessel pulls itself across on a submerged cable rather than running under its own steering. Comerong Island itself is mostly taken up by a nature reserve, with only a handful of permanent households, so the ferry's traffic is a mix of residents, campers heading for the ocean beach and day visitors exploring the reserve's walking tracks and birdlife.
Unlike the free cable ferries Transport for NSW runs further up the Hawkesbury River, this crossing is not free: Shoalhaven City Council charges $20 per vehicle or bicycle for the return trip, covering the driver and any passengers travelling with it. There is no ticket booth, no cash accepted and no way to book ahead - drivers pay by EFTPOS on board, and the council does not publish a walk-on rate for anyone crossing on foot without a vehicle or bike. Passengers must stay with their vehicle for the crossing, and there are no boat-launching facilities on the island itself.
The ferry runs on demand rather than to a printed timetable, operating from 6:00am to 10:00pm daily with the last crossing at 9:50pm; drive down to the ramp and the vessel comes across to collect you. It closes for a routine three-hour maintenance window on the first Tuesday of each month, and every five years it is lifted out of the water entirely for a statutory safety survey - the most recent ran from around mid-September to late November 2025, during which the island's residents relied on a small stand-in passenger boat.
Because Berrys Canal is tidal and sits close to the Shoalhaven River's flood-prone entrance, the ferry can also be pulled from service without warning when the river rises, and Shoalhaven City Council has previously limited crossings to residents only during flood emergencies. Anyone planning a trip after heavy rain should check the council's website or call ahead rather than assume the ferry is running.
- 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. Shoalhaven City Council charges $20 per vehicle or bicycle for the return crossing (including GST), paid by EFTPOS on board - there's no cash option and no separate one-way fare.
It runs on demand from 6:00am to 10:00pm every day, with the last crossing at 9:50pm. There's no printed timetable - you drive to the ramp and the ferry comes across.
Yes, but cyclists pay the same $20 return fee as a vehicle, and must stay with their bike for the crossing.
No. Shoalhaven City Council states that "this is a vehicular ferry and passengers will not be permitted to exit their vehicles", and the only published charge covers a vehicle or a bicycle. Arriving on foot is not an option, so plan the trip by car or by bike.
It closes for three hours on the first Tuesday of every month for routine servicing, and can also be suspended without notice during flooding on the Shoalhaven River, since Berrys Canal is a tidal, flood-prone crossing.
Only a few minutes - Berrys Canal is a very short, narrow channel at this point.
At the end of Comerong Island Road at Lower Numbaa, near Nowra on the NSW South Coast, crossing Berrys Canal to Comerong Island.
No. It's an EFTPOS-only, cashless service - bring a debit or credit card.