Passenger boats only, as TransLink's journey planner listed them for 16 to 26 October 2026 (rechecked on 21 October through 20 November). Via Karragarra a boat needs roughly 18 to 21 minutes; the longer loop past Russell and Lamb can take about 45.
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Crossing time
~18 min
Operator
TransLink (Southern Moreton Bay Island passenger ferry); SeaLink Bay Islands (vehicle barge)
Map – Macleay Island Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Passenger ferry, any ticket type (TransLink flat fare) | $0.50 |
| Vehicle barge: car or motorhome up to 5.4m, standard rate | $94.50 |
| Vehicle barge: car or motorhome up to 5.4m, SMBI resident rate | $37.80 |
| Vehicle barge: adult walking on as a foot passenger | $10.00 |
| Vehicle barge: child (5-14) walking on as a foot passenger | $4.00 |
| Vehicle barge: motorbike, standard rate | $35.25 |
Foot passengers to Macleay pay TransLink's 50-cent fare; no end date has been announced. Cash is not taken on board: TransLink describes the network as cashless and lets passengers use a go card, a bank card tapped on, or a paper ticket, with cash accepted only for go card top-ups. The car barge is SeaLink's own service and is booked separately. The vehicle prices listed here come from its 1 July 2026 fare schedule and exclude the temporary 3% fuel surcharge it currently adds. All fares in Australian dollars (AUD).
Macleay Island sits in the Southern Moreton Bay Islands group off Redland Bay Marina, and two unrelated services make the crossing. Foot passengers use TransLink's boats, which need no booking and cost 50 cents. Anyone bringing a car, trailer, motorbike or freight books SeaLink's barge instead, and the two timetables do not match.
What the board shows is the TransLink service. Weekday boats in the journey planner leave Redland Bay from 03:55 until 23:45, and Saturday and Sunday carry fewer. Boats going via Karragarra get to Macleay in around 18 to 21 minutes, while the ones that first loop past Russell and Lamb can take about 45. Tuesday to Saturday also start with sailings just after midnight, 00:25 out of Redland Bay and 00:43 and 01:08 out of Macleay.
There is no cash fare: tap a go card or bank card, or buy a paper ticket, since cash only reloads a go card. SeaLink's barge spends about 45 minutes on the way over, and how many sailings it runs varies from one date to the next. From 1 July 2026 a car of up to 5.4 metres is $94.50 each way, or $37.80 at the SMBI resident rate, before the 3% fuel surcharge. SeaLink has also warned that very low tides could hold up or move barge sailings until January 2027.
- 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
The TransLink passenger ferry takes about 18 to 21 minutes from Redland Bay Marina via Karragarra, and longer, up to about 45 minutes, on sailings that loop via Russell and Lamb. SeaLink's vehicle barge takes about 45 minutes.
Walking on, it is 50 cents a trip on TransLink. Bring a go card, a bank card to tap or a paper ticket, because cash is not accepted on board. With a car it is SeaLink's barge: $94.50 each way for a standard vehicle up to 5.4 metres, $37.80 for registered SMBI residents, plus a temporary 3% fuel surcharge.
Not the everyday passenger ferry - that's walk-on only. Cars, trailers, motorbikes and freight travel on SeaLink's separate vehicle barge from the same Redland Bay terminal, which needs to be booked online or by phone in advance.
On the mainland side it is Redland Bay Marina; SeaLink gives 1 Weinam Street, Redland Bay, as its address. On Macleay Island both services use the island's ferry terminal.
No booking is needed for the passenger boats: tap a go card or bank card, or use a paper ticket. Only the SeaLink barge has to be booked.
On weekdays the first passenger sailing leaves Redland Bay at 3:55 am (reaching Macleay at 4:13 am) and the last at 11:45 pm; from Tuesday to Saturday there is also a 12:25 am sailing. The vehicle barge ran from 4:15 am to 7:40 pm from Redland Bay on every date checked.
Yes for the passenger ferry: TransLink's planner shows fewer sailings on Saturday and Sunday, with the first Redland Bay departure at 4:55 am on Saturday and 5:50 am on Sunday (after the overnight sailings). The vehicle barge starts at 4:15 am on weekends too, with 13 sailings on the dates checked.
It does not. Sailings per day on SeaLink's timetable, counted from Redland Bay: Friday 16 October 16; the weekend of 17 and 18 October 13 each; Monday 19 to Wednesday 21 October 12 each; Thursday 22 and Friday 23 October 16; Monday 26 October 13. Every date checked started at 04:15 and ended at 19:40. Check the specific date on SeaLink's site before planning around it.