Monday to Thursday pattern from the Transport for NSW Stockton Ferry timetable valid from 12 October 2026. Friday, Saturday, Sunday and public holiday patterns replace it on those days. Sailings take 5 minutes. Every departure in the published grid is listed, with times after midnight shown as 24:00 and 24:05.
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Crossing time
~5 min
Operator
Newcastle Transport
Map – Stockton Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult, Opal or contactless, one way | $3.30 |
| Adult, off-peak, one way (off-peak times for this ferry not published on the fare pages) | $2.31 |
| Child/Youth 4-15, Opal, one way | $1.65 |
| Child/Youth 4-15, off-peak, one way | $1.15 |
| Adult daily Opal cap, Monday to Thursday | $19.30 |
| Adult daily Opal cap, Friday, weekends and public holidays | $9.65 |
The Stockton ferry has its own line in the Opal fare tables: 0-3 km, $3.30 for an adult with an off-peak figure of $2.31, and $1.65 for a child with an off-peak figure of $1.15. It is paid with an Opal card or a contactless card or linked device, tapped on and off. The Transport for NSW peak and off-peak page lists peak times for metro, train, bus and light rail only, so which Stockton sailings count as off-peak is not stated on the pages read. The Opal daily caps (adult $19.30 Monday to Thursday and $9.65 on Fridays, weekends and public holidays; $50 a week) cover ferry travel. All fares in Australian dollars (AUD).
The Stockton ferry is the short hop across Newcastle Harbour between Queens Wharf, at the foot of the city centre, and Stockton Wharf on Mitchell Street. Newcastle Transport runs it as part of the Opal network, and the timetable published by Transport for NSW, valid from 12 October 2026, shows a crossing time of 5 minutes. The distance between the two wharves is about 0.6 km in a straight line, which puts the trip in the cheapest ferry fare band.
On a Monday to Thursday the grid lists 53 sailings from Queens Wharf and 54 from Stockton, between 04:55 and 23:05. Departures run roughly every 15 minutes from about 07:00 to 09:00 and from 16:00 to 18:45, every 20 minutes between those blocks, and about every 30 minutes in the evening. Friday adds late sailings, leaving Stockton at 23:45 and 00:05 and Queens Wharf at 23:30 and 00:00. Saturday starts at 05:05 from Stockton. Sunday and public holidays use a lighter pattern starting at 08:20, with the last boat from Stockton at 22:05. In August Newcastle Transport said the new timetable added 19 trips across the week, with the ferry starting earlier each day.
A fare costs $3.30 for an adult. Transport for NSW's fare table also shows $2.31 as the off-peak adult figure, but the pages read do not define off-peak times for this ferry. Children pay $1.65. Pay by tapping on and off with an Opal card or a contactless card or phone.
Bicycles and surfboards are permitted on the ferry, and Newcastle Transport says there are special storage areas, so ask the crew where. The crew can refuse a bike if there is a safety concern or too little room. Pets must be confined in a box or basket and may not sit in enclosed cabin areas. All vessels and wharves are listed as accessible to people using essential mobility aids. For the late Friday and Saturday hours, the operator also runs bus 55N from Queens Wharf, with the last departure at 2:44 am. Check a live trip before relying on Saturday after 23:05.
- 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
5 minutes. In the Transport for NSW timetable every sailing arrives five minutes after it leaves, in both directions.
Roughly every 15 minutes in the morning and afternoon peaks, every 20 minutes between them and about every 30 minutes in the evening. On a Monday to Thursday the grid lists 53 departures from Queens Wharf and 54 from Stockton.
Monday to Thursday: 04:55 from Stockton and 05:05 from Queens Wharf, last at 23:05 and 23:00. Fridays have extra sailings after that. Saturday starts at 05:05 and 05:15, and Sunday at 08:20 and 08:30.
$3.30 for an adult and $1.65 for a child with Opal or contactless payment. Transport for NSW's table shows $2.31 and $1.15 as off-peak figures, but the off-peak times for this ferry are not defined on the fare pages.
Yes. Newcastle Transport says bicycles and surfboards are permitted and there are storage areas; ask the crew where they are. Stay with or near your bike, and the crew can refuse it if there is no safe space.
Yes. The timetable has a Sunday and public holidays pattern from 08:20 from Stockton to 22:05 from Stockton, with Queens Wharf departures from 08:30 to 22:00.
On Fridays the ferry has sailings at 23:30 and 00:00 from Queens Wharf. Newcastle Transport also runs bus route 55N from Queens Wharf late on Friday and Saturday nights, with the last departure at 2:44 am.
Pets may be allowed if confined in a box, basket or other container, with permission from staff. On ferries animals should not travel in enclosed cabin areas unless there is no outdoor area. Approved assistance animals are allowed.