Daintree Ferry with a hire car
The Daintree Ferry runs continuously from 5am to midnight every day, takes about 15 minutes to cross, and a car or ute costs $35 one way or $57 return under the fares in force from 1 July 2026. The road from the ferry to Cape Tribulation is sealed. The catch is what lies beyond Cape Tribulation: the Bloomfield Track, which Hertz and Europcar both prohibit. Check your own rental agreement before you cross.
Updated
Key facts
- Operating hours
- Continuously between 5am and midnight daily, including Christmas Day
- Crossing time
- About 15 minutes, including boarding and disembarking
- Car or ute fare
- $35 one way, $57 return, or $143 for a multi day pass covering 5 return trips
- Caravan or trailer fare
- $15 one way, $21 return
- Ticket validity
- Return tickets stay valid until 30 June each year, so you do not have to return the same day
- Location
- About 50 km north of Port Douglas; from Mossman Daintree Road turn onto Cape Tribulation Road and drive 3.8 km to the tollbooth
- Road beyond the ferry
- The main road from the ferry to Cape Tribulation is sealed; the Bloomfield Track beyond it requires a 4WD
- Capacity
- A 43 metre cable ferry carrying approximately 27 standard vehicles
Daintree Ferry times: when does it run and when is the last ferry?
The ferry shuttles back and forth continuously between 5am and midnight every day of the year, including Christmas Day. The last crossing is therefore around midnight, but that is a poor plan for a day trip. Cairns to Cape Tribulation takes about 2.5 hours, and the road north of the ferry adds 15 to 20 minutes to Cow Bay and Diwan and another 25 to 30 minutes on to Cape Tribulation.
There is no timetable of fixed departures. River and tidal conditions can affect operations, so check the ferry status updates page before you leave, particularly after heavy rain. About 230,000 vehicle movements cross each year.
How much is the Daintree Ferry for a car?
Fares are set by Douglas Shire Council and updated each year on 1 July. The current pre-purchase prices are $35 for a car or ute one way and $57 return. A pass for five return car trips is $143, which suits a stay north of the river with several crossings. Campervans are charged at the car rate, caravans at the trailer rate on top of a vehicle ticket, and commercial vehicles at the machinery rate.
The multi-day pass and return tickets are valid until 30 June, so they do not lapse at the end of the day. Lost, damaged or unused tickets are not refunded. Douglas Card holders travel free from 1 November to the end of February in private cars, but that concession is for card holders only.
How to pay and how long the queue is
You do not need a pre-purchased ticket. You can buy at the tollbooth on the southern side of the river or on board, using cash, EFTPOS or credit card, and heading south you buy your ticket on board. Online tickets give you a QR code that staff scan from your phone, and the operator recommends buying 24 hours ahead. A pre-purchase does not give priority.
Between 9am and 4:30pm in peak season a priority lane operates for local residents with a Douglas Card or concessional card, tourism bus operators and emergency vehicles. During school holidays long queues are expected, and they can extend back along Cape Tribulation Road.
Can you take a rental car on the Daintree Ferry?
The answer depends on your agreement. Hertz's Australian terms say it permits vehicles on certain ferries but you must have prior permission from Hertz before taking a vehicle on one.
The limits sit further north. Hertz and Europcar list the Bloomfield Track as a place the vehicle must not be driven. Ask the rental desk in writing, so you have their answer if a claim comes up.
Is the road north of the ferry safe for a hire car?
The main road from the ferry to Cape Tribulation is sealed, so a standard car is adequate for it. Travelling beyond Cape Tribulation to Wujal Wujal and Cooktown by the Bloomfield Track requires a 4WD.
Two rental clauses are worth reading before you cross. Hertz prohibits driving on unsealed roads, except access roads to recognised camping or accommodation grounds. Hertz also lists driving through a flooded road or body of water as a prohibited use, which matters in the wet season when creeks run over the road.
Where to hire for a Daintree day trip
Hire at Cairns and drive north via Port Douglas and Mossman. Cairns to Port Douglas is about 60 minutes, and Port Douglas to Mossman a further 15 minutes.
If you need a motorhome or caravan, contact the ferry operator before arrival for oversize vehicles, heavy equipment or anything carrying gas or fuel.
Compare cars at Cairns Airport
Prices are shown in Australian dollars. Check the pickup point and what the agreement allows on the roads in this guide before you book.
Preparing live car hire search
Where to pick up for this trip
Questions people ask
How much does the Daintree Ferry cost?
A car or ute is $35 one way or $57 return, and a multi day pass for five return trips is $143. Fares change each 1 July and are set by Douglas Shire Council.
What time does the Daintree Ferry operate?
Continuously from 5am to midnight every day, including Christmas Day.
Can you take a rental car on the Daintree Ferry?
It depends on your agreement. Hertz says it allows some ferries but you need its prior permission first. Ask your rental company before you cross.
Do you need to book the Daintree Ferry?
No. You can buy at the tollbooth or on board with cash, EFTPOS or credit card. Booking online gives you a QR code but no priority.
How long is the wait for the Daintree Ferry?
The operator does not publish wait times. It says long queues can be expected in peak seasons such as school holidays, and the crossing itself takes about 15 minutes.
Is the Daintree Ferry open today?
Check the ferry status updates page on the operator's website. River and tidal conditions can affect the service.