Jardine River Ferry, Queensland: Cape York ferry costs & timetable
The Jardine River Ferry in the far north of Queensland’s Cape York costs $121 for a crossing of less than 100 metres. The service runs from 7am to 6pm in the dry season.
The Jardine River Ferry plays a crucial part in getting to the tip of Cape York, Queensland, mainland Australia’s northernmost point.
As the name suggest, this Cape York ferry crosses the Jardine River in far north Queensland. It links the Northern Bypass Road on either side of the river. And for the distance travelled, it is possibly the most expensive ferry journey on earth. It’s less than 100 metres from bank to bank, and the ferry pretty much fills the entire distance on its own.
How to cross the Jardine River, Cape York
There is no other safe route across the Jardine River, even in a 4WD vehicle. Anyone wishing to drive into the Northern Peninsula Area has no choice but to pay up for the ferry.
This captive audience allows the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council, which operates the Jardine River Ferry, to charge extortionate rates.
Jardine River Ferry fare costs
The good news is that Jardine River Ferry crossings are free for pedestrians. The bad news is that no pedestrians are realistically going to make the crossing as it’s a long way from anywhere vaguely walkable.
For cyclists, the Jardine River ferry fare is $27.50. Again, though, very, very few people are going to attempt this part of the world by bike.
For cars, the Jardine River Ferry crossing costs $121. Anything bigger pays more.
The ferry crossing price is something of a package deal, however, as it includes permits for camping inside the Northern Peninsula Area. You also only have to pay to enter the NPA on the ferry – there is no fee for the return ferry crossing.
Jardine River Ferry timetable
The Jardine River Ferry timetable essentially doesn’t exist. During the dry season, there are crossings between 7am and 6pm. The ferry shuttles back and forth across the river, like the Daintree Ferry does on the Daintree River near Port Douglas. It loads whichever vehicles are waiting, whips them across the river, then picks up those waiting on the other side.
During the wet season, things are more sporadic, with the ferry theoretically running from 8am to 5pm. And, if it’s particularly wet, it is taken out for servicing. There’s something of a whim-based approach to wet season services, but most travellers won’t be going there in the wet season anyway.
More Queensland travel
Why do cruise ships stop at Willis Island?
Take the Green Island ferry for a quick trip to the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns.
What does the shuttle from Proserpine to Airlie Beach cost?
View turtles from the Champagne Pools lookout on Fraser Island.
Detour to Cape Hillsborough on a Mackay to Proserpine road trip.