How Much Is The Daintree Ferry?
It costs $45 return for a standard car to ride the Daintree Ferry across the Daintree River and enter the world’s oldest tropical rainforest. At 180 million years old, the Daintree Rainforest is one of the most captivating places to visit in Australia. Many travelers visit the Daintree on a day trip from Cairns or Port Douglas. You can also visit on a multi-day tour, or on a self-driving tour heading north along the Captain Cook Highway.
The only way to access the abundant forests and pristine beaches of the Daintree is by crossing the Daintree River. This wildlife-filled, ancient river separates the Lower Daintree Area from the more remote and dense parts of the northern rainforest, including Cape Tribulation. Unless you feel like swimming across croc-infested waters, riding the Daintree Ferry is the only way to cross into the Daintree Rainforest.
How Much Is The Daintree Ferry?
The Daintree Ferry costs $45 for a return trip for a standard car, but prices vary depending on your method of transport. If you book a day tour from Cairns to the Daintree, your ferry ride is included! Here is a complete list of prices for those wondering, “How much is the Daintree Ferry?”.
- Pedestrian or bicycle (One Way): $3
- Pedestrian or bicycle (Return): $4
- Standard Car / Utility (One Way): $26
- Standard Car / Utility (Return): $45
- Motorbike (One Way): $10
- Motorbike (Return): $17
- Trailer or Caravan (One Way): $10
- Trailer or Caravan (Return): $16
You can purchase tickets at the tollbooth next to the ferry on the southern side, or you can buy them on board the ferry. Cash, Eftpos, and credit card are all accepted.
If you want to purchase Daintree ferry tickets in advance, you can do so online. Visit the Daintree Ferry website, purchase your ticket, and you will get a unique QR code sent to your phone which the officials will scan and validate when you arrive at the ferry. You don’t have to print your QR code, just make sure you have it saved to your phone as the internet in the Daintree isn’t the best!
What Times Does The Daintree Ferry Run?
The Daintree Ferry runs from 5am until midnight every day. There is no specific schedule for departure times because the ferry shuttles back and forth between the two sides of the Daintree River continuously all day. You can just show up at any time and wait in line for the next ferry. The Daintree Ferry even runs on Christmas day! Public toilets are available next to the ferry on both sides of the river. So it's very easy to cross the Daintree River on your journey from Cairns to the Daintree.
How Long Is The Daintree Ferry?
Crossing the majestic Daintree River aboard the Daintree Ferry usually takes about 15 minutes. The ride itself is around 10 minutes, plus an extra few minutes for boarding and disembarking. The ferry is 43 meters long and can fit 27 standard vehicles. During peak season, which is July to November, there is a priority lane for locals. Keep in mind, you may experience longer wait times for the Daintree Ferry if you travel during peak season.
Regardless of the season, you may want to avoid peak times of the day at the Daintree Ferry as well. Many travelers visit the Daintree as a day trip from Cairns. Guided tours to the Daintree usually leave Cairns around 7am and return in the late afternoon. So the ferry traffic may increase around 10am going north, or around 4pm going south as day trippers make their way across the river. But the ferry ride is so short and easy that you should get across swiftly no matter when you visit!
What To Do In The Daintree Rainforest?
Once you arrive in the midst of the planet’s oldest rainforest, there are so many incredible attractions awaiting you! Take on some bushwalks and hikes like the Dubuji Boardwalk or Mount Sorrow. Visit the Daintree Ice Cream Company to taste homemade ice cream infused with real tropical fruits. Or go zip-lining through the forest, horseback-riding on the beach, or crocodile-spotting on a river cruise!
If the thought of planning your visit to the Daintree Rainforest is overwhelming, you can also book a guided tour from Cairns. Uncle Brian's, Active Tropics, and Billy Tea Safaris all offer excellent day tours from Cairns to Cape Tribulation and the Daintree. Calypso offers a Daintree day tour from Port Douglas if you're traveling from there.
If you have time for a 2-day tour, you’ll get the chance to spend the night in the Daintree and enjoy more time exploring the magic of the area. Active Tropics has a top-rated 2-day Daintree tour, or you can book Uncle Brian’s Best of Both Worlds and spend a day in the Atherton Tablelands as well.
Check out our top Daintree Rainforest tours here!
