Standard ferry timetable, current as at 18 September 2026
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Crossing time
~15 min
Operator
SeaLink Northern Territory
Map – Mandorah Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult, one way | $20.00 |
| Adult, return | $32.00 |
| Senior (Seniors Card), one way | $11.00 |
| Senior (Seniors Card), return | $19.00 |
| Student, one way | $13.00 |
| Student, return | $21.00 |
| Child (5-14 years), one way | $10.00 |
| Child (5-14 years), return | $17.00 |
| Family return (2 adults + 3 children) | $90.00 |
| Adult multi-trip (10 one-way trips) | $121.00 |
SeaLink Northern Territory sells its own tickets for the Mandorah run rather than using a public-transport smartcard; buy online, by phone or at the Cullen Bay terminal before boarding. Prices are set by SeaLink and reviewed periodically; the operator states fares are subject to change without notice. All fares in Australian dollars (AUD).
The Mandorah ferry is a passenger-only service that SeaLink Northern Territory runs across Darwin Harbour, connecting the Cullen Bay Ferry Terminal in Darwin's city fringe with the small settlement of Mandorah on the Cox Peninsula, opposite the Aboriginal community of Belyuen. SeaLink operates the crossing under a contract with the Northern Territory Government's Department of Logistics and Infrastructure that was extended for a further five years in November 2024, continuing a service SeaLink has run for more than a decade. The trip takes about 15 minutes each way, far quicker than the roughly 90-minute drive around the harbour on unsealed roads.
Because it is a passenger ferry, cars and other vehicles cannot travel on it - anyone driving to Mandorah has to go the long way round. Pushbikes are welcome, with space for up to ten per sailing on a first-come basis, and fishing rods and camping gear can come aboard as long as hooks are covered and bait is sealed. Dogs travel too, provided they wear a muzzle (spares are sold on board) or ride in a carrier.
A new $85 million ferry terminal opened at Cullen Bay in August 2025, built with two large rock breakwaters and a shaded pontoon, after several years in which silt build-up in the harbour basin had disrupted sailings at low tide and forced a round of urgent dredging. Darwin Harbour has one of the largest tidal ranges in Australia, regularly moving several metres between high and low water, which is why keeping the channel clear matters so much for a service that runs day and night.
Darwin's wet season, roughly November to April, doesn't change the published timetable, but monsoon storms and the occasional cyclone can force SeaLink to cancel sailings at short notice - the ferry has previously been suspended during cyclone warnings. Travellers heading across for fishing, camping or a day at Mandorah's pub and beach during those months should check SeaLink's service updates before setting out, rather than assuming the boat will run to schedule regardless of weather.
- 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
SeaLink Northern Territory, under a contract with the NT Government's Department of Logistics and Infrastructure that was extended for another five years in November 2024.
An adult one-way ticket is $20.00, or $32.00 return. Seniors, students and children pay less, and there's a $90 family return fare for two adults and three children.
About 15 minutes each way across Darwin Harbour between the Cullen Bay Ferry Terminal and Mandorah.
No. It's a passenger-only service - there is no vehicle deck. Driving to Mandorah around the harbour takes about 90 minutes each way.
Yes to both. Up to 10 bikes are carried per sailing, first-come first-served, and dogs can travel if muzzled or caged (spare muzzles are sold on board).
The timetable itself doesn't change, but Darwin's wet season (roughly November to April) can bring storms and cyclones that force short-notice cancellations. Check SeaLink NT's updates before travelling in that period.
The Cullen Bay Ferry Terminal, a purpose-built terminal that opened in August 2025 with a floating pontoon and breakwaters, on the western edge of Darwin city.
Booking is recommended, especially for the multi-trip and family fares, and can be done online, by phone or at the Cullen Bay terminal, but it isn't compulsory for a standard single fare.