The Daintree River Ferry is a cable ferry that crosses the famous Daintree River. It provides sealed-road access to the northern section of the Daintree National Park, Cape Tribulation and allows people to travel onwards to Cape York via the Bloomfield Track. It is the only cable ferry operating within tropical Australia and is situated some 50 kilometres north of Port Douglas.

The ferry is is operated by a commercial contractor on behalf of the Douglas Shire Council.

The Daintree Ferry operates continuously between 5am and midnight, daily.

Fees for travel on the Daintree ferry are outlined in Daintree Ferry Fees 2021-22

*Daintree Ferry Travel Tip*

During July to September,  there are often delays crossing the Daintree River. Particularly between 10am and noon travelling north and between 3pm to 5pm travelling south.

If you want to avoid the queues, plan to travel before 10am and spend the whole day exploring the rainforest and beaches, have dinner at one of the many restaurants and travel back in the evening. The ferry operates right up until midnight.

Douglas Card – Free Daintree ferry travel for FNQ locals

Douglas Shire Council offers residents from Cardwell to Cooktown, including the Atherton Tablelands, free travel on the Daintree Ferry from November 1 until  the end of February annually with a free “Douglas Card”.

This includes the following Council areas:

• Douglas Shire Council , Mareeba Shire Council, Cairns Regional Council, Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council, Tablelands Regional Council,  Cook Shire Council, Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council, Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council and Cassowary Coast Regional Council

The card also provides discounts to local attractions including two free adult tickets (per season) for the Mossman Gorge shuttle bus.

Use of the Douglas Card is restricted to fare categories Motor Car and Utilities (private use), Pedestrians and Bicycles and Motor Bikes.

To obtain a free Douglas Card, applicants need to provide photographic identification and additional proof of residency with their application to confirm local status at any one of the above local government areas. You can apply online below or download an application form here.

Daintree Ferry Contract Renewal – July 2021

In April 2020, Douglas Shire Council resolved to temporarily suspend the Daintree River Ferry contract negotiations and explore the option of a bridge crossing at various locations along the river, as well as identify the possible economic benefits to the region.

The public consultation sought feedback on a bridge option alongside details of costs of the proposed two-ferry solution. The results indicated 70 per cent of residents preferred a two ferry option over a bridge. To access the full report, and keep apprised of the latest announcements, visit the Daintree Ferry Contract Renewal Community Engagement Page

Daintree Ferry Concessional Travel

Council provides concessional travel on the Daintree River Ferry to all persons who fulfil the eligibility criteria, subject to the terms and conditions of the Daintree River Ferry Concessional Travel Policy being adhered to.

Concessional travel cards cost $23 for residents and ratepayers of the Douglas Shire or $41 for residents of Wujal Wujal and residents and ratepayers of the Cook Shire bounded by the Bloomfield River and the Black Mountain turn-off.

Application forms for a concessional travel card are available from Council’s Mossman Administration Building, the Mossman Library, the Port Douglas library kiosk or you can download a form, here. A Visitor Ticket book of 55 is also available to concessional travel card holders who live in the Douglas Shire, north of the Daintree River for $23.

Concessional travel cards are valid until April 30, 2023, and are available from Council’s Mossman Administration Building, 64-66 Front St, Mossman.

Statistics 

Council has been collecting data on the usage of the Daintree Ferry since 2004. Below you’ll find graphs depicting total annual ticket sales of one-way and return traffic for the two most popular vehicle types using the ferry.

Council also records data for a variety of other vehicle types, concessional travel and multi-day tickets.

Additional Information

All aspects of operating the ferry are the responsibility of the contractor, including the ferry driver, traffic controllers to load and unload vehicles, and staffing of the ticket booths.

Ferry fees and charges are set by Douglas Shire Council each year and the revenue collected goes to Council.

Douglas Shire Council is responsible for maintaining the channel across the river to accommodate the ferry.

Dredging of the channel is done under a permit from Department of Environment and Science.