Hobart Ferry Services

Hobart Ferry Services provide a major alternative public transport service for commuters and tourists in the city's of Hobart and Clarence, located on the Derwent River in Tasmania.

History

Since the earliest times of settlement in Hobart, river transport has been used to allow people to move around the city. Prior to the construction of the Hobart Bridge, and its replacement the Tasman Bridge, ferry services were far more important, and previously called at more locations. Following the reconstruction of a public jetty at Opossum Bay in December 2006, calls were being made for a more organised and regular commuter ferry service similar to the one which operates in Sydney.

Current Services

There are currently three operators that run ferries upon the Derwent River. They are Hobart Cruise Navigator,Hobart Yellow Water Cab.

Ferry services operate daily by Hobart Yellow Water Cab; Departing Bellerive Wharf at 8.10 am, 8.30 am and 5.20 pm; Departing Watermans Dock in Hobart at 8.20 am, 5.10 pm and 5.30 pm; express river crossing services for commuters in morning and evening rush hour slots from Bellerive Wharf to Sullivans Cove,Watermans Dock and return. The trip takes approximately 7 minutes. The trip allows commuters from Clarence to arrive just a five minute walk from the CBD. from Monday to Friday.
Hobart Yellow Water Cab have a water taxi on call 7 days a week Mon to Thur 8.10 am to 5.30 pm, Fri Sat 9.00 am to 11.00 pmSun 10.00 am to 5.30 pm. The Bellerive Quay jetty provides an excellent transport method for visitors to Bellerive Oval for cricket and Australian football matches, as Bellerive Wharf is a short 5 minute walk from the ground.

Hobart Yellow Water Cab also transfer passengers between Wrest Point Hotel Casino, Sullivans Cove, Salamanca Place the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, Battery Point and Moorilla Winery.

Longer ferry services take passengers to visit the D'entrecasteaux Channel and stop at Woodbridge and Kettering.

Hobart Yellow Water Cab provides an on call water taxi and tour service all year round. [ [http://www.hobartwatertaxis.com.au/ Welcome to Hobart Yellow Water Cabs ] ]

Hobart Cruises operate fast catamaran services which show off the Derwent River and D'entrecasteaux Channel.

Navigators operate all around the river estuary, Bruny Island, Storm Bay, and also visit the Moorilla Estate.

References

Further reading

* O’May, D. G. (1988) "Ferries of the Derwent : a history of the ferry services on the Derwent River" Hobart: Govt. Printer. ISBN 0724623604
* Sargent, John R. (2004) "Derwent River connections : an historical snapshot of vehicular access across the River Derwent"Bellerive, Tas. John R. Sargent. ISBN 097515141X