Clarence River Ferries' passenger timetable as shown on its website on 21 October 2026 (the page has no printed date); Transport for NSW's listing of the same times was generated on 18 October 2026
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Crossing time
~30 min
Operator
Clarence River Ferries
Map – Yamba to Iluka Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult, one way | $11.90 |
| Pensioner, one way | $5.95 |
| Child (15 years and under), one way | $5.95 |
| Family pass (2 adults and up to 4 children), return | $80.00 |
| Child under 5 | Free |
Fares are from the operator's timetable page, which says tickets are bought on board and that EFTPOS is available. They include GST and are stated to be subject to change. Pensioner discounts do not apply to tour groups. Transport for NSW's timetable says Opal cannot be used on this service and tells passengers to contact the operator for ticket options. The scenic river cruises the same company sells are priced separately and are not included. All fares in Australian dollars (AUD).
The Yamba to Iluka ferry is a small passenger boat across the mouth of the Clarence River, run by Clarence River Ferries, a company its About page says was formed in 1986. Boats leave from the new wharf at the river end of River Street in Yamba and from the jetty at the Iluka Boatshed and Marina in Charles Street, Iluka. Transport for NSW lists the route as a private ferry service and gives each crossing 30 minutes.
The timetable is easy to read once you know one rule. Every day there are four sailings from each side: out of Iluka at 8:45 am, 10:15 am, 2:30 pm and 4:00 pm, and out of Yamba at 9:30 am, 11:00 am, 3:15 pm and 4:45 pm. On Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays a fifth pair is added in the middle of the day, 1:00 pm from Iluka and 1:45 pm from Yamba. The 4:45 pm from Yamba carries an asterisk, which the operator says means the ferry does not return to Yamba. That makes it the last boat of the day, so a day trip from Yamba should be planned around the 4:00 pm from Iluka. The operator's page says there is no service on Christmas Day or Australia Day, while Transport for NSW's timetable lists only Christmas Day.
Tickets are sold on board and EFTPOS is available. An adult pays $11.90 each way, pensioners and children aged 15 and under pay $5.95, a family pass for two adults and up to four children is $80 return, and children under 5 travel free. Dogs on leads and push bikes are allowed. Transport for NSW's timetable says Opal is not accepted on this service.
The same company runs river cruises, which are the other thing people search for under this name. Its Wednesday history cruise and Sunday live music cruise are booked river cruises of about 30 km round trip, with a different price and a minimum of 10 people, and they are not the same as hopping across on the scheduled boat.
The operator lists two boats: the MV Mirigini, launched in 1973 and described as a 60 foot double-deck timber vessel, and the Alley Kat, a catamaran built in 2000. It does not say which one runs the scheduled crossings.
- 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
Clarence River Ferries charges an adult $11.90 each way. Pensioners and children aged 15 and under pay $5.95 each way, a family pass for two adults and up to four children is $80 return, and children under 5 travel free. Prices include GST and are bought on board, where EFTPOS is available.
Transport for NSW's timetable listing gives each crossing 30 minutes, for example leaving Yamba at 9:30 am and arriving in Iluka at 10:00 am. The operator's own page does not print arrival times.
The last sailing leaves Yamba at 4:45 pm, marked by the operator as a boat that does not return to Yamba. The last departure from Iluka back to Yamba is 4:00 pm. There is no service on Christmas Day; an undated line on the operator's page also names Australia Day, which Transport for NSW's timetable does not.
Yes, the operator says it runs 7 days a week, apart from Christmas Day and Australia Day. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday have a fifth sailing each way, at 1:00 pm from Iluka and 1:45 pm from Yamba, which the other three days do not.
The operator describes a passenger service and says push bikes and dogs on leads are allowed. It mentions no vehicle carriage, so a car cannot be assumed to cross. Drivers reach Iluka by the Iluka Road from the Pacific Highway.
No to Opal: Transport for NSW's timetable says Opal cannot be used on this service. The operator says to purchase tickets on board, and its timetable page offers no online booking, so pay by card or cash when you board.
In Yamba it leaves from the wharf at the river end of River Street, which the operator says is a new wharf facility and the nearest cross streets are River and Harbour Streets. In Iluka it uses the jetty at the Iluka Boatshed and Marina, at the river end of Charles Street.
No. The company's Wednesday history cruise and Sunday live music cruise are separate booked river cruises from $35 and $45 return, with a minimum of 10 people. The regular crossing is the timetabled ferry with tickets sold on board.