Some of the first tourists begin arriving on the northern side of the Jardine River after the region’s decrepit ferry recommenced operating on Sunday morning. Photo: Explore Cape York.
After an embarrassing false start on 23 May, Cape York’s 2025 tourist season is officially under way following the resumption of Jardine River ferry operations on Sunday morning.
On Friday afternoon, when the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council (NPARC) was meant to be returning the ferry to operation, it was instead removing it from the river and frantically arranging a confined spaces welder to be flown in from Cairns after the vessel began taking on water on Thursday night, less than 24 hours after it was refloated.
NPARC had announced in a social media post on Friday afternoon that “unfortunately, the ferry will not return to operation during this weekend”, however, a procession of four-wheel drives and caravans started being moved from the campground on the southern side of the river at about 11am on 25 May.
While the council is yet to provide an official update on the recommencement of operations, a source familiar with the ferry and Australian Maritime Safety Authority-ordered repair work undertaken over the past month said it had been a “fingers crossed” moment to get the vessel back in the water after Friday’s setback.
“It’s been fingers crossed for everyone over the last couple of days, you know?” they said.
“There was talk of Tuesday, Wednesday, but it’s back now and we’ll see.
“You know, there’s gotta be a better solution to getting people over the river; if that’s a new ferry or a bridge, I don’t know, but some of the plating [on the current ferry] is communion wafer thin in parts; it’s gotta be at end of life from a safety angle.”
Tourists Bruce and Lynn Ryan, from Port Macquarie, say they believed being stranded on the southern side of the Jardine River while ferry repairs continued was “part of the experience” of touring Cape York. Photo: Supplied.
More than 250 tourists stranded at the campgrounds on the southern side of the river watched the saga unfold, with many opting to leave and explore the western side of Cape York until the ferry was returned to operation.
The visitors who have stayed have, for the most part, remained philosophical about the whole experience, including Bruce and Lynn Ryan.
The Port Macquarie couple was one of the first to set up at the campgrounds last week and, despite having to clean the toilets and showers to make the amenities useable when they arrived, said they were enjoying the atmosphere and camaraderie that had developed among tourists.
“You can’t do much about it, can you?” Mr Ryan mused.
“It’s part of the experience – a lot of people probably don’t think that though.”
Bamanga-based Bam Bam’s Bakery and Takeaway has been praised for making regular deliveries of bread, fuel and other basic supplies to the campgrounds over the past few days, and Melbourne tourist Bianca Lucas, who is travelling with her husband and three children, said they were committed to staying to support local businesses.
“Of course it’s disappointing, but we are one of the lucky ones,” she said.
“We have a caravan, generator, stocked fridge and water; some people left today (23 May) after hearing the news, as they are already low on battery power; some don’t have enough food, and others are time poor.
“Will we stay – at this stage, we will stay; we want to support the businesses on the other side and we have the time to wait.”
Workers undertake emergency repairs to the Jardine River ferry on 23 May after it began taking on water less than 24 hours after being refloated. Photo: Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council.
