Daintree River Ferry closure and how passengers and services will be affected

The iconic Daintree River Ferry will stop operating for five days while important upgrades are made. Find out what’s been put in place to manage crossings and services.

THE Daintree River Ferry will come to a halt from Friday November 18 to Tuesday November 22 as Douglas Shire Council replaces the northern loading ramp.

Mayor Michael Kerr said the ramp on both sides of the river would be new.

“It will bring the ferry itself up to a very good standard – eventually we are going to have four loading lanes instead of three,” he said.

The Daintree Ferry will not operate from November 18 to November 22.

“It will speed things up. That is probably the most time-consuming aspect, the loading and unloading,” Cr Kerr said.

He said the northern ramp was at the end of its life span.

“It’s all part of ensuring long-term consistent running of the ferry, there was concern if anything happened to the ramps, we could be four weeks without the ferry,” Cr Kerr said.

But arrangements have been made for people to cross the river while the ferry is out of action.

“There will be a passenger vessel from 6am to 6pm, between the public pontoon at the croc cruise to the northern terminal,” Cr Kerr said.

Tickets to the Daintree Ferry have gone online. Photo: Entrada.

“A bus on the northern side will ferry people to the carpark, which will be supervised with a security guard.”

Residents on the northern side of the river are asked to put their bins out on November 22 for an alternative pickup.

New ferry operators Entrada Group has launched an online ticketing service.

Single, return and multi-trip tickets can be bought directly from the official Daintree Ferry website, allowing passengers to pre-plan travel and tickets before arriving at the departure point.

Ticket booth facilities at the ferry will be moved south past the current carpark.

Originally published as Daintree River Ferry closure and how passengers and services will be affected