Weekday timetable valid from 28 April 2026, current as at 18 September 2026
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Crossing time
~15 min
Operator
Brooklyn Ferry Service Pty Ltd
Map – Dangar Island Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult, single tap (0-9km Opal ferry fare) | $7.35 |
| Child/Youth, single tap (0-9km Opal ferry fare) | $3.67 |
| Gold Senior/Pensioner Opal daily travel cap | $2.50 |
| Adult Opal weekly travel cap (all Opal network trips) | $50.00 |
Since 21 August 2025, Brooklyn Ferry Service has been fully absorbed into Sydney's Opal network. It no longer sells its own tickets or accepts cash: every passenger taps an Opal card or a contactless debit/credit card or device on the Opal reader at Brooklyn Public Wharf, and tapping off at Dangar Island or Little Wobby is not required. Fares are the standard distance-based Opal ferry fares for a trip under 9km, the same band that applies across the wider Sydney ferry network, and Opal daily/weekly travel caps and transfer discounts apply. All fares in Australian dollars (AUD).
Dangar Island sits in the Hawkesbury River near Brooklyn, on the northern edge of Sydney, and has no roads or cars of its own - the only way on or off is by boat. Brooklyn Ferry Service Pty Ltd, a small private operator, runs the passenger ferry under a contract with Transport for NSW, using two historic timber vessels, MV Sun and the backup MV Banksia, on a loop that links Brooklyn Public Wharf with Dangar Island and, on request, the tiny riverside settlement of Little Wobby a short distance further upstream.
The timetable runs Monday to Friday and a separate, slightly lighter pattern on weekends and public holidays, timed where possible to meet trains at the adjacent Hawkesbury River railway station. Little Wobby isn't a scheduled stop: because so few people live there, the ferry only calls in if someone has phoned ahead at least 30 minutes before pick-up, or asks the crew to be dropped off on the way through.
Since August 2025, the service has been folded fully into Sydney's Opal network. There's no separate ferry ticket to buy and no cash accepted at all - passengers tap an Opal card, or a contactless debit or credit card, on the reader at Brooklyn Public Wharf, and there's no need to tap off at either Dangar Island or Little Wobby. A single adult fare falls into the standard short-trip Opal ferry band, and normal Opal daily and weekly travel caps apply, so a Dangar Island day trip can combine with the train from Sydney under one fare system.
Dangar Island itself is home to around 250 permanent residents within Hornsby Shire, spread across a bushy, hilly little community with a general store, a public school and walking tracks around the shoreline. Locals rely on this ferry for everything from the school run to grocery deliveries, while day-trippers use it to reach the island's beaches and the Hawkesbury River Museum precinct across in Brooklyn. Pets are allowed if caged or carried, and bicycles normally travel too, though both are temporarily restricted whenever the smaller backup vessel has to cover for scheduled maintenance on the main ferry.
- 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
Tap an Opal card or a contactless debit/credit card or device on the reader at Brooklyn Public Wharf. Cash hasn't been accepted since August 2025, and there's no need to tap off at Dangar Island or Little Wobby.
It's charged as a standard Opal ferry fare for a trip under 9km - $7.35 for an adult, $3.67 for Child/Youth, with lower fares and daily caps for Gold Senior/Pensioner Opal holders.
No. Dangar Island has no roads, so the ferry is passenger-only - there is no vehicle service.
Little Wobby isn't a scheduled stop. Call the ferry on 0448 101 016 at least 30 minutes before you need pick-up, or tell the crew when boarding that you want to be dropped there.
Monday to Friday there are 14 sailings from Brooklyn between 6:40am and 7:15pm, plus a first same-direction run from Dangar Island at 6:10am. Weekends and public holidays run a lighter pattern from 7:30am to 6:00pm.
Brooklyn Ferry Service Pty Ltd, a private company operating under contract to Transport for NSW, using the vessels MV Sun and backup ferry MV Banksia.
Normally yes, but not when the smaller backup vessel MV Banksia is covering for the main ferry's annual maintenance - during that period bicycles and full-size prams aren't carried.
About 15 minutes from Brooklyn Public Wharf, longer if the sailing detours to Little Wobby on request.