Each crossing gets its own page: the sailings the operator publishes, the fares that apply, and how to reach both wharves. The date each table was checked sits beside it.
Australia runs three kinds of ferry that have almost nothing to do with each other. Sydney Harbour has a metropolitan network with Opal fares and a service every few minutes. The Murray River has free government punts that cross on a cable and answer to the state's transport department. And scattered around the coast are island runs, from the Torres Strait to Rottnest, operated commercially and priced for visitors.
Because of that, a page here cannot treat them alike. A harbour service publishes exact departure times and a fare capped by the state ticketing system. A river punt publishes a cadence and a phone number, and stops when the river runs high. An island operator publishes a seasonal timetable and sells a return ticket that may or may not include the national park fee. Each page follows the shape of its own service.
Fares carry the same warning. A Sydney crossing is priced by the Opal system and changes when the state says so; an island return is priced by the company and moves with the season. Every fare table here shows the date it was read and links to the operator's own page, because a stale figure is worse than none.
Wharves and landings are marked individually, linked by the run between them. Choose a crossing to open its departure times, its fares and the approach to each side.
the F1, the fast ferry and one Opal fare
the twelve-minute F2
the F9 and its weekday gap
the F7 and its Darling Point detour
Port Macquarie's part-time crossing to the North Shore
the weekday river boat from Wharf 6
the last vehicle crossing left on the Clarence
a free Hawkesbury crossing that stops for two half-hour breaks a day
fifteen minutes between the Heads
the Putney punt keeps commuter hours on weekdays
the F6 to the head of Mosman Bay
the F5 loop via Kirribilli and North Sydney
the Pittwater run, not the Patonga one
the F4's roundabout way to Darling Harbour
one loop from Church Point to seven Pittwater wharves
a Murray punt the state nearly closed, still crossing
five minutes across the harbour from Queens Wharf
no timetable at all, just a free crossing that never stops
six wharves on Brisbane Water, timed to the trains
three cars a trip, and the state about to take over the crew
Darwin to Wurrumiyanga, and the permit line
the boat to an island with its own runway
the all-stops F1 from Hamilton to St Lucia
five minutes across for 50 cents
two water taxis and a car ferry
a 50-cent Translink boat next to a booked car barge
the cable crossing to Cape Tribulation, now run by Birdon
two tickets, one boat
Clump Point to the Family Islands, Wednesday to Sunday
nine sailings a week from Gladstone Marina
three boats from Cairns, three different last sailings
two operators at Rosslyn Bay, one timetable in print
the boat-only ticket from Cairns
the resort's launch from Gladstone, five days a week
booked hiker transfers from Cardwell
ten minutes to K'gari, if the tide agrees
the booked, western way onto K'gari
Moreton Island's car barge, and the three bookings a 4WD trip needs
fast boats from the Breakwater, cars from Ross Street
a $2 cable crossing that floods, tides and refits can stop
the river crossing to Point Cartwright, revived
the cable crossing to Cooloola's beaches
a 50c Translink boat and a booked SeaLink barge
the resort's own launch from Pinkenba, for guests and day cruisers only
the Cape York crossing, not the Horn Island hop
the boat that meets the plane
the Albatross 2, and the crossing Morgan leans on
SeaLink across Backstairs Passage, in transition
two boats on one crossing, and the busiest ramp on the Murray
the old river port's crossing, and the yard that refits the fleet
the lake crossing with South Australia's longest way round
free, around the clock, and at the river's mercy
the Dotterel, and the weather that stops it
the Rosella crossing, and the summer the river shut it
the last Murray crossing before Lake Alexandrina
fifteen minutes to Hobart, and no Sunday boat
Kettering to Roberts Point, cars pay and walkers ride free
Spirit of Tasmania's overnight Bass Strait crossing
Brooke Street Pier to the museum, Thursday to Monday only
two tickets, one national park, no cars
two hours and ten minutes by way of Portarlington
one timetable all year, and a January rush
a car deck across the mouth of Port Phillip
half an hour across Hobsons Bay, on the days it sails
three to five minutes across the Yarra from Spotswood
thirty minutes from a terminal under rebuild
the northern start, with the car parked for free
a one-way Swan River cruise, not a Transperth boat
ninety minutes from Barrack Street Jetty
Elizabeth Quay to Mends Street every quarter-hour
Crossing time and departures as each operator states them. They are not always comparable: a harbour route counts the sailings of a single weekday, a river punt quotes a headway, and a tidal or seasonal run quotes neither. A dash means the operator does not publish that figure.
| Crossing | State | Service | Crossing time | Departures | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Circular Quay to Manly ferry | New South Wales | Passenger ferry | – | – | Sydney Ferries (F1) and Manly Fast Ferry |
| Circular Quay to Taronga Zoo ferry | New South Wales | Passenger ferry | – | – | Sydney Ferries |
| Circular Quay to Watsons Bay ferry | New South Wales | Passenger ferry | – | – | Sydney Ferries |
| Double Bay ferry timetable | New South Wales | Passenger ferry | – | – | Sydney Ferries |
| Hibbard ferry | New South Wales | Vehicle ferry | – | – | Port Macquarie-Hastings Council |
| Lane Cove ferry | New South Wales | Passenger ferry | – | – | Captain Cook Cruises |
| Lawrence ferry | New South Wales | Cable ferry | – | – | Transport for NSW |
| Lower Portland ferry | New South Wales | Cable ferry | – | – | Transport for NSW |
| Manly to Watsons Bay ferry | New South Wales | Sightseeing service | – | – | Captain Cook Cruises |
| Mortlake ferry | New South Wales | Cable ferry | – | – | Transport for NSW |
| Mosman ferry timetable | New South Wales | Passenger ferry | – | – | Sydney Ferries |
| Neutral Bay ferry timetable | New South Wales | Passenger ferry | – | – | Sydney Ferries |
| Palm Beach to The Basin and Coasters Retreat ferry | New South Wales | Passenger ferry | – | – | Palm Beach Ferries |
| Pyrmont Bay ferry | New South Wales | Passenger ferry | – | – | Sydney Ferries |
| Scotland Island ferry | New South Wales | Island service | – | – | Church Point Ferry Service |
| Speewa ferry | New South Wales | Cable ferry | – | – | Transport for NSW |
| Stockton ferry timetable | New South Wales | Passenger ferry | – | – | Newcastle Transport |
| Wisemans Ferry timetable | New South Wales | Cable ferry | – | – | Transport for NSW |
| Woy Woy ferry | New South Wales | Passenger ferry | – | – | Central Coast Ferries |
| Wymah ferry | New South Wales | Cable ferry | – | – | Transport for NSW |
| Tiwi Islands ferry | Northern Territory | Island service | – | – | SeaLink Northern Territory |
| Airlie Beach to Hamilton Island ferry | Queensland | Island service | – | – | Cruise Whitsundays |
| Brisbane CityCat ferry | Queensland | Passenger ferry | – | – | Brisbane City Council |
| Bulimba to Teneriffe ferry | Queensland | Passenger ferry | – | – | Brisbane City Council |
| Cleveland to Stradbroke ferry | Queensland | Island service | – | – | SeaLink and Stradbroke Flyer |
| Coochiemudlo Island ferry | Queensland | Island service | – | – | Amity Trader |
| Daintree ferry | Queensland | Cable ferry | – | – | Birdon for Douglas Shire Council |
| Daydream Island ferry from Airlie Beach | Queensland | Island service | – | – | Cruise Whitsundays |
| Dunk Island ferry | Queensland | Island service | – | – | Dunk Island Ferry |
| Facing Island ferry | Queensland | Vehicle ferry | – | – | Curtis Ferry Services |
| Fitzroy Island ferry | Queensland | Island service | – | – | Fitzroy Flyer, Fitzroy Island Adventures and Sunlover |
| Great Keppel Island ferry | Queensland | Island service | – | – | Keppel Konnections and Keppel Ferry Co |
| Green Island ferry | Queensland | Island service | – | – | Great Adventures and Big Cat |
| Heron Island ferry | Queensland | Island service | – | – | Heron Island Resort |
| Hinchinbrook Island ferry | Queensland | Passenger ferry | – | – | Hinchinbrook Island Cruises / Absolute North Charters |
| Inskip Point barge | Queensland | Vehicle ferry | – | – | Manta Ray Barges |
| Kingfisher Bay ferry | Queensland | Island service | – | – | SeaLink K'gari |
| MICAT ferry | Queensland | Vehicle ferry | – | – | Moreton Island Adventures |
| Magnetic Island ferry | Queensland | Island service | – | – | SeaLink North Queensland |
| Moggill ferry | Queensland | Cable ferry | – | – | SeaLink South East Queensland |
| Mooloolaba ferry | Queensland | Passenger ferry | – | – | Mooloolaba Ferry |
| Noosa North Shore ferry | Queensland | Cable ferry | – | – | Noosa North Shore Ferries (Entrada Travel Group) for Noosa Shire Council |
| Russell Island ferry | Queensland | Island service | – | – | Translink (passenger ferry, run by SeaLink) and SeaLink Bay Islands (vehicle ferry) |
| Tangalooma ferry | Queensland | Island service | – | – | Tangalooma Island Resort |
| Thursday Island ferry from Seisia | Queensland | Passenger ferry | – | – | Peddells Thursday Island Tours |
| Thursday Island – Horn Island ferry | Queensland | Passenger ferry | – | – | Rebel Marine |
| Cadell ferry | South Australia | Cable ferry | – | – | Little Ferry Services |
| Kangaroo Island ferry | South Australia | Vehicle ferry | – | – | SeaLink |
| Mannum ferry | South Australia | Cable ferry | – | – | Murrundi Ferry Services |
| Morgan ferry | South Australia | Cable ferry | – | – | Kingfisher Ferry Services |
| Narrung ferry | South Australia | Cable ferry | – | – | Little Ferry Services |
| Purnong ferry | South Australia | Cable ferry | – | – | Little Ferry Services |
| Tailem Bend ferry | South Australia | Cable ferry | – | – | Murrundi Ferry Services |
| Walker Flat ferry | South Australia | Cable ferry | – | – | Little Ferry Services |
| Wellington ferry, South Australia | South Australia | Cable ferry | – | – | Little Ferry Services |
| Bellerive ferry timetable | Tasmania | Passenger ferry | – | – | Derwent Ferries |
| Bruny Island ferry | Tasmania | Vehicle ferry | – | – | Island Connections Bruny Island |
| Geelong to Devonport ferry | Tasmania | Vehicle ferry | – | – | Spirit of Tasmania |
| MONA ferry | Tasmania | Sightseeing service | – | – | Mona (Museum of Old and New Art) |
| Maria Island ferry | Tasmania | Island service | – | – | Encounter Maria Island |
| Geelong to Melbourne ferry | Victoria | Passenger ferry | – | – | Port Phillip Ferries |
| Portarlington ferry | Victoria | Passenger ferry | – | – | Port Phillip Ferries |
| Sorrento to Queenscliff ferry | Victoria | Vehicle ferry | – | – | Searoad Ferries |
| St Kilda ferry | Victoria | Passenger ferry | – | – | St Kilda Ferry |
| Westgate Punt | Victoria | Passenger ferry | – | – | Westgate Punt |
| Fremantle to Rottnest ferry | Western Australia | Island service | – | – | SeaLink Rottnest Island and Rottnest Express |
| Hillarys to Rottnest ferry | Western Australia | Island service | – | – | Rottnest Fast Ferries |
| Perth to Fremantle ferry | Western Australia | Sightseeing service | – | – | Captain Cook Cruises (WA) |
| Perth to Rottnest ferry | Western Australia | Island service | – | – | SeaLink Rottnest Island and Rottnest Express |
| South Perth ferry | Western Australia | Passenger ferry | – | – | Transperth |
Because South Australia treats them as part of the road, not as a transport service. The punts sit where a bridge would be too expensive for the traffic, they run on a cable across the stream, and the state pays for them out of the roads budget. There is no ticket and no booking; you drive on when the gate opens.
On the Transport for NSW network, yes, and the daily and weekly caps apply as they do on trains. But several harbour and Hawkesbury crossings are run by private operators outside that network, where Opal is not accepted and you pay the operator directly. The page for each crossing states which of the two applies.
Often not. Island destinations frequently add an admission or park fee on top of the boat — a national park entry, an island admission fee, a bike or locker hire — and the operator may bundle them into a package that looks like a fare. Each page here separates the crossing itself from whatever is sold alongside it.
Different things in different places. River punts stop when the Murray floods or during maintenance. Coastal and island runs stop for swell and wind, and in the north for the cyclone season. Harbour services keep going through most weather but divert when the swell reaches the heads.
The day each table was read appears alongside it, together with the link to whatever the operator or the agency actually published, and every crossing has a review date it gets revisited before. Same-day changes are a different matter — a punt shut by river level, a sailing dropped for swell — and those live only in the operator's own service updates.