Increased ticket prices for the Daintree Ferry

New ticket prices for the Daintree River Ferry Crossing will be implemented next month after they were adopted at a Council Meeting in Mossman today.

The new prices will kick in on 1 July 2021 and will see the cost for a single vehicle move from $18 to $23 for a one-way ticket, and from $31 to $39 for a return trip.

Douglas Shire locals who renew their Daintree Ferry Concession Card before 30 June this year will pay $18 and be able to use that card for unlimited ferry travel until April 2023.

After 1 July concession cards for Douglas Shire locals will be $23. Locals can also purchase visitor ticket books for $23 per book of 55 tickets, while special concession cards for machinery are also $23. 

It comes as the Douglas Shire Council officially takes control of the Daintree Ferry on 1 July 2021 after buying the ferry and associated equipment last month.

The new prices will allow Council to cover the costs of the new contract and maintain an alternative revenue stream and will ensuring operational costs are not funded by increases to general rates.

Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr said the new fees more accurately represented the cost to Council to provide the service.

“The new price is consistent with our approach to user pay services and makes sure the costs aren’t funded through increases to general rates,” he said.

“During the public consultation, the preference for a ferry service was abundantly clear with most residents and ratepayers in favour of us using that service to provide revenue to Council.

“We also heard from a number of people in the community who were willing to see higher ticket prices if it meant maintaining a ferry service.

“Our area north of the Daintree River has spectacular natural beauty and we have no doubt tourists will be willing to pay a little bit extra to see this world-class attraction.”

To fund the recent ferry purchase, Council is using a combination of funding from the Daintree Ferry Reserve and available funding in the capital works budget.

The Daintree Ferry reserve was established to fund operational costs and ongoing capital works associated with the provision of ferry services on the Daintree River.

The purchase will not be funded through increases to general rates.

Mayor Kerr has also approached the State Member for Cook, Cynthia Lui, to discuss exploring ways the State Government could provide financial assistance to support the ferry service feeding tourists into their national park.