Booking choice: The Daintree and Mossman Gorge day from Cairns, 11 hours from Cairns. Book this Tour details
There is no bridge over the Daintree River. Every car, tour bus and cyclist heading to Cow Bay and Cape Tribulation rolls onto the same cable ferry, which is why small changes at the crossing can add real time to your day.
2026 brought a new operator, new fares, months of roadworks on the approach and a firm plan for a bigger ferry. This post covers what is known as of 15 October 2026.
The quick answer
Birdon has run the ferry since 1 July 2026, under a 20-year contract with Douglas Shire Council. New fares started the same day. Roadworks on the approach keep traffic to one lane until the end of October 2026, so expect delays. A new four-lane ferry for 36 vehicles is due in late 2027, with the car crossing closed for about 10 to 14 days when it arrives. You still do not need to prebook.
Who runs the Daintree River ferry now?
Birdon, a boat builder, took over on 1 July 2026. Douglas Shire Council still owns the ferry and sets the fares.
Council awarded Birdon a 20-year contract in August 2025 to design, build, run and maintain a new ferry. Until that vessel arrives, Birdon operates the existing one. For you, the crossing feels the same: same ramps, same booth, same short trip across brown water.
The hours have not moved. The ferry's own FAQ says it runs from 5am to midnight every day, including Christmas Day, and a crossing takes about 15 minutes with loading. Between midnight and 5am it only crosses for emergency services. If you stay north of the river, plan your last trip back with that in mind.
Did the ferry fares change in 2026?
Yes. New fares set by Council started on 1 July 2026. The ferry still charges a fare per car, and walkers, cyclists and motorbikes pay their own rate.
Fares now follow Council's financial year. A ticket is valid until 30 June, and a return does not have to be used on the same day. If you bought a ticket under the old fare table, you pay the difference at the booth. Check the current fare on the ferry website before you drive up; older travel pages still show figures from earlier years.
On a day tour you do not deal with any of this. The day tours on this site that cross the river list the ferry in their inclusions, including the Cairns day with Mossman Gorge and also the small-group day from Port Douglas.
The ferry, the river cruise and park fees are part of the day. You just get on the bus in Cairns.
Book thisDo you need to prebook the Daintree ferry?
No. You can pay at the southern booth or on board, by cash, EFTPOS or card. An online ticket gives you a QR code.
The ferry website recommends buying online 24 hours ahead, and that is sensible in busy months. It is not a booking for a time slot. It just saves a minute at the booth. Download the QR code before you leave Mossman, because phone signal near the river is weak, and without the code you buy a ticket on the spot anyway.
Queues are the real issue. In peak season the FAQ says the line "can extend back along Cape Tribulation Rd". A priority lane exists, but it is for local card holders, tourism bus operators and emergency vehicles. Buying online does not get you into it.
How long will the ferry roadworks last?
Council expects the landside works to finish by the end of October 2026. Until then, single-lane traffic control means delays on the approach.
Since the end of the 2026 wet season, crews have rebuilt the approach: new lanes, ticket booths, gates and drainage. In late August Douglas Shire Council described the project as on track to finish by the end of October 2026. After that there is a pause until the marine works start in mid 2027.
The finished layout should help. Council says up to 189 vehicles can queue past the booths, with priority lanes on both sides of the river. If you drive up yourself in the last weeks of October, leave early and follow the traffic controllers.
| When | What happens | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| August 2025 | Council picks Birdon to build and run a new ferry | Nothing yet |
| 1 July 2026 | Birdon takes over the current ferry; new fares start | Same crossing, new fare table |
| Mid 2026 to end of October 2026 | Roadworks on the approach and booths | One lane, expect delays |
| Mid 2027 | Marine works for the new ramps start | Watch for notices |
| Late 2027 | New ferry arrives; car crossing closed about 10 to 14 days | Free foot ferry and shuttles |
When does the new Daintree ferry arrive?
Late 2027. The ferry company names December 2027 for the start of service.
Birdon is building it at its Port Macquarie shipyard, and the first block went into the paint shed in early October 2026. It will be a four-lane cable ferry, about 49 m long and 17 m wide, carrying up to 36 vehicles. That is nine more than today. Two lanes load and unload at the same time, which is where the shorter queues should come from. There is also a covered, air-conditioned shelter for foot passengers.
To swap the ramps and cables, the vehicle ferry will stop for about 10 to 14 days in late 2027. Council plans a free pedestrian ferry in daylight hours and shuttles between car parks on both banks. Exact dates are not out yet. If your trip falls in late 2027, check how your tour handles that window before you book.
From Port Douglas the ferry is about 45 minutes away, so a slow queue costs you less of the day.
Book this Tour detailsWhat do the ferry changes mean for a Daintree day tour?
Very little for most people. The crossing is in the tour price, tour buses can use the priority lane, and the guide deals with the timing.
The bigger question is where you start. From Cairns, the road already takes about five hours of an 11 to 12 hour day, and a ferry delay comes on top. From Port Douglas it is closer to three hours on the road. Our Cairns day trip guide runs through the drive.
Some trips skip the ferry altogether. The Crocodile Express cruise leaves from Daintree Village or the ferry gateway, both on the south bank. The night walk at Cape Tribulation is on the north side, so if you drive there for an evening start, remember the ferry stops at midnight.
Frequently asked questions
What time does the Daintree ferry open and close?
It runs from 5am to midnight every day, including Christmas Day. Between midnight and 5am it only crosses for emergency services.
Do you need to book the Daintree River ferry in advance?
No. Pay at the southern booth or on board by cash, EFTPOS or card. An online ticket gives you a QR code but no reserved time.
Is the Daintree ferry included on day tours?
On the day tours on this site that cross the river, yes: the listings name the ferry crossing in their inclusions. Check the listing for any tour you book elsewhere.
Will the Daintree ferry close when the new one arrives?
The car crossing will stop for about 10 to 14 days in late 2027 while the ramps are replaced. Council plans a free foot ferry and shuttles during that time.
Ready to book
Choose your tour
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Check the live listing for your date.
Daintree & Mossman Gorge Day Tour
- Hotel pickup from 35 Cairns stops
- Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony
- One-hour river cruise and the ferry
Daintree & Cape Tribulation from Port Douglas
- Port Douglas hotel pickup
- Mossman Gorge, ferry and guided walks
- One hour of croc and wildlife spotting
Crocodile Express Daintree River Cruise
One hour on the river, two routes, a pass valid 14 days
