Operating pattern checked live 22 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
~7 min
Operator
Ferrymen NSW
Map – Settlement Point Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Car, single trip | $9.00 |
| Motorcycle, single trip | $3.00 |
| Caravan or trailer, single trip (in addition to the towing car's fare) | $9.00 |
| Truck over 4 tonne GVM, single trip | $18.00 |
| Semi-trailer / articulated truck, single trip | $33.00 |
| Car weekly pass | $49.00 |
| Car monthly pass | $122.00 |
| Pedestrians and cyclists | Free |
| Resident concession sticker - car weekly pass | $16.00 |
| Resident concession sticker - car monthly pass | $38.00 |
| Resident concession sticker - car annual pass | $415.00 |
| Resident concession sticker - book of 25 single-trip tickets | $26.00 |
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council owns the ferry and the landings; Ferrymen operates the vessel under contract. These are the council's 2026/27 financial-year fares, current since 1 July 2026 and due to be reviewed again from 1 July 2027. Pedestrians and cyclists cross for free - only vehicles pay. Tickets and passes can be bought with cash or electronic payment on board; the council does not publish an online booking or ticketing system for this on-demand ferry. Port Macquarie-Hastings Council residents holding a Resident Concession Sticker get discounted weekly, monthly, annual and 25-trip ticket-book rates. All fares in Australian dollars (AUD).
The Settlement Point Ferry is a council-run vehicular ferry across the mouth of the Hastings River in Port Macquarie, linking Settlement Point Road on the town side with North Shore Drive on the ocean-beach side. Port Macquarie-Hastings Council owns the ferry and its two landings, and contracts the operator Ferrymen to run the vessel day to day. Unlike the free Transport for NSW cable ferries published elsewhere on this site, this is a paid council service, charged by vehicle type, with weekly, monthly and annual passes on top of the single-trip fare.
What makes Settlement Point different from a typical river punt is its role and its size. North Shore has no bridge or alternative road link to Port Macquarie: residents, tradespeople and the four-wheel-drivers heading up the beach toward Point Plomer and Lighthouse Beach all rely on this one crossing. To carry that traffic, the ferry takes up to 21 cars a trip and, uniquely among the council's two Hastings River ferries, also carries heavy vehicles - trucks and semi-trailers up to a 102-tonne weight limit ride here, not on the council's other ferry. Pedestrians and cyclists cross for free; only vehicles pay a fare.
The ferry runs continuously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with no printed timetable - vehicles simply queue at whichever ramp they reach and the ferry works the crossing on demand, taking roughly five to ten minutes each way. Its only scheduled break is a monthly servicing window on the 4th Wednesday, from 9:30am to 3pm. Like most working ferries, it has occasionally been sidelined for longer by mechanical faults - hydraulic problems have grounded it before - so North Shore residents can sign up for the council's free SMS alert service to get outage notices directly.
Don't confuse this with the council's other vehicle ferry, the Hibbard Ferry, a smaller, 15-car vessel further upstream that only runs on a limited Monday-to-Friday timetable and closes monthly on the 4th Thursday. The two ferries have separate landings, separate hours and separate fares, even though both are run for Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.
- 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
A car pays $9.00 for a single trip (2026/27 fares). A motorcycle pays $3.00, trucks over 4 tonnes are $18.00, and semi-trailers are $33.00. Pedestrians and cyclists cross for free.
It runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except for a monthly servicing closure on the 4th Wednesday of each month from 9:30am to 3pm.
Around five to ten minutes, according to Port Macquarie-Hastings Council. Allow about 15 minutes in total once you account for the wait, since it runs on demand rather than a fixed timetable.
No. It's an on-demand service with no printed timetable and no booking system - drive to the ramp and the ferry crosses when it's ready.
Yes. It's the only one of the council's two Hastings River vehicle ferries that carries trucks and trailers, up to a 102-tonne weight limit, for $18 to $33 a trip depending on the vehicle.
Yes. Port Macquarie-Hastings Council residents with a Resident Concession Sticker get reduced weekly ($16), monthly ($38) and annual ($415) passes, plus a discounted 25-trip ticket book ($26), well below the standard fares.
No. Both are Port Macquarie-Hastings Council vehicle ferries on the Hastings River, but they're different crossings: Settlement Point runs 24/7 and carries up to 21 cars and heavy trucks, while the smaller Hibbard Ferry carries 15 cars on a limited Monday-to-Friday timetable further upstream.
Yes. Port Macquarie-Hastings Council accepts both cash and electronic payment for tickets and passes.