Continuous cable ferry, 5:00am to midnight daily (including Christmas Day) — no fixed departure times · 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
~15 min
Operator
Birdon
Map – Daintree Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Car or ute – one way | $35.00 |
| Car or ute – return | $57.00 |
| Bus, 6-10 seats – one way | $35.00 |
| Bus, 6-10 seats – return | $57.00 |
| Bus, 11-20 seats – one way | $50.00 |
| Bus, 11-20 seats – return | $92.00 |
| Bus, 21+ seats – one way | $87.00 |
| Bus, 21+ seats – return | $160.00 |
| School bus – one way | $19.00 |
| School bus – return | $31.00 |
| Bicycle or pedestrian – one way | $7.00 |
| Bicycle or pedestrian – return | $8.00 |
| Motorbike – one way | $15.00 |
| Motorbike – return | $22.00 |
| Trailer or caravan – one way | $15.00 |
| Trailer or caravan – return | $21.00 |
| Machinery – one way | $21.00 |
| Machinery – return | $36.00 |
| Multi-day pass, 5 return car/ute trips (per book) | $143.00 |
Fares are Douglas Shire Council's 2026/27 schedule, effective 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, and are reviewed annually every 1 July. Douglas Shire residents and other eligible Far North Queensland residents can travel free under the Douglas Card from 1 November to the end of February, or buy a concessional card for year-round discounted travel — see the operator's Residents & Frequent Users page. All fares in Australian dollars (AUD).
The Daintree Ferry is the only vehicle crossing over the Daintree River in Far North Queensland, linking the Mossman-Daintree Road on the southern bank with Cape Tribulation Road on the northern side. Without it, there is no drivable route into the Daintree Rainforest, Cow Bay or Cape Tribulation — the river has no bridge and no practical detour. From 1 July 2026, the cable ferry has been run by Birdon on behalf of Douglas Shire Council, which owns the vessel, sets the fares and publishes the operating rules; Birdon took over under a new contract that also covers a four-lane replacement ferry due in late 2027.
The ferry shuttles continuously between about 5:00am and midnight, seven days a week, including Christmas Day, with no fixed timetable — vehicles simply queue at the southern ticket booth (Forest Creek, on the Daintree Village side) and board as space allows. A single crossing, including loading and unloading, takes roughly 15 minutes, and the vessel carries around 27 standard vehicles at a time. During school holidays and the middle of the day a priority lane operates for local traffic, and queues can build quickly in peak season.
Fares are reviewed by Douglas Shire Council every 1 July. The schedule effective from 1 July 2026 charges $35 one way ($57 return) for a car or ute, with separate rates for buses, motorbikes, trailers, caravans, bicycles and pedestrians. Douglas Shire residents and other eligible Far North Queensland residents can travel free under the Douglas Card between 1 November and the end of February, or buy a concessional card for year-round discounted trips.
Because the crossing sits on a tidal, flood-prone stretch of river, the ferry does not run during extreme weather or flooding — in March 2026 major flooding broke the vessel loose from its moorings and closed the crossing for weeks. Anyone travelling in the Wet Season, roughly November to April, should check the operator's live status page before setting out.
- 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
Under Douglas Shire Council's fees effective 1 July 2026, a car or ute is $35 one way or $57 return, a motorbike is $15/$22, and a bicycle or pedestrian is $7/$8. Buses, trailers, caravans and machinery have their own rates, and a 5-return-trip car pass costs $143.
About 15 minutes from boarding to disembarking, according to the operator's own FAQ page.
The cable ferry runs continuously from 5:00am to midnight every day, including Christmas Day, shuttling between the Daintree Village side and the Cape Tribulation Road side with no fixed timetable.
No. You can pre-purchase a ticket online, or simply pay at the ticket booth or on board using cash, EFTPOS or credit card.
No — the operator and Douglas Shire Council both confirm the ferry does not operate during extreme weather or flooding. In March 2026, flooding broke the vessel loose from its moorings and closed the crossing for weeks, so check the live status page before travelling between November and April.
Birdon has operated the ferry on behalf of Douglas Shire Council since 1 July 2026, after winning a new contract that also covers a four-lane replacement ferry due in late 2027.
It crosses the Daintree River between the Daintree Village side (Forest Creek, off Mossman-Daintree Road) and the Cape Tribulation Road side at Lower Daintree, around 16.26°S 145.40°E.
Yes. Residents of Douglas Shire and eight other named council areas travel free under the Douglas Card from 1 November to the end of February, and Douglas Shire residents can also buy a $29 concessional card for year-round discounted travel.