Daydream Island - Hamilton Island Marina
Ferry to Whitsunday Islands
Daydream Island - Hamilton Island Marina
Ferry to Whitsunday Islands
Fares for the Daydream Island to Hamilton Island Marina crossing usually range somewhere between $70* and $533*. Most travellers pay around $280* for a Daydream Island Hamilton Island Marina ferry ticket, and the cheapest fares on this route begin at $70*. Foot passengers can expect to pay roughly $280* on average.
Fares vary according to passenger count, vehicle type, the route itself and what time you sail. Figures come from fares searched in the previous 30 days, don't include service fees, and were last checked August 26.
There's a quick way to stack up ferry fares and operators from around the world side by side, so you can pick the crossing that best suits you. Getting in early tends to open up the widest choice of prices and sailing times.
Direct Ferries has discounts running throughout the year. Where a senior discount applies to your crossing, it's applied the moment you pick the matching age bracket in the passenger section of your search.
If you're a student or recent graduate, a 5% discount is up for grabs. Head to our partner Student Beans to confirm your status and you'll receive a code to enter at checkout.
A handful of Spanish and Italian ferry routes also offer a resident discount — choose the "Residents" option if it appears during your search and the lower fare is applied straight away. You'll usually need to show proof of address, like a residency card or certificate, when you check in.
Sailings on the Daydream Island Hamilton Island Marina route generally kick off from Daydream Island at around 07:45, and the last departure of the day is usually around 16:40.
You certainly can — with a short crossing and sailings running daily, Daydream Island to Hamilton Island Marina is an easy day trip. Taking a vehicle, where possible, gives you the freedom to explore a bit further once you land.
No, vehicles aren't currently accepted on sailings between Daydream Island and Hamilton Island Marina.
Bicycles aren't currently accepted on sailings between Daydream Island and Hamilton Island Marina.
Yes, Cruise Whitsundays carries foot passengers between Daydream Island and Hamilton Island Marina.
Pets aren't currently permitted on ferries between Daydream Island and Hamilton Island Marina. Our Deal Finder can help you find a nearby route that does allow them.
Guide dogs and assistance dogs are often treated differently to general pets, even on routes where pets aren't allowed. Contact our customer service team to find out what's possible on your sailing, or check our Special Assistance Help page for more information.
Whether the Daydream Island to Hamilton Island Marina route has an overnight sailing depends on a mix of factors. Search with your travel dates, and we'll show you whether an overnight option exists, plus current timetables, crossing times and daytime alternatives.
Note that overnight sailings can occasionally take a bit longer than daytime crossings.
What you'll need to travel varies by route, so it pays to check ahead of your sailing. A valid passport is typically required for the Daydream Island to Hamilton Island Marina crossing, along with any visa or national ID required for your nationality. As rules depend on both where you're from and where you're headed, our Check-in, Travel Documents & Tickets guide is worth a read to avoid any hold-ups at check-in.
Booking couldn't be simpler — select your departure port, arrival port and travel date to see everything on offer. From there, you can weigh up alternative routes and departure times to land on the best fit.
Look for early-booking deals and flexible fare types, like upgrades or flexi-tickets, which give you room to change plans later. Double-check details such as passenger numbers and vehicle specs as you go, to keep the booking process painless.
You'll get a confirmation email the moment your booking goes through. From there, how your boarding pass turns up depends on the operator.
Some operators send the boarding pass straight away, while others want you to check in at the port. Where it's on offer, online check-in through the Direct Ferries app can save you time at the terminal.
Ticket desks tend to sit right by the ferry terminal. Building in some extra time before you sail means you won't be rushed collecting tickets and getting checked in.
Have your confirmation email and valid photo ID — a passport or identity card — ready at check-in. If a pet's travelling with you, bring their vaccination and insurance papers, and hold onto proof of address if you booked with a resident discount.
A gap in sailings from Daydream Island to Hamilton Island Marina on your chosen date usually comes down to something like a timetable adjustment, limited space, or a seasonal dip in service. Try a different date, or browse other options with our Route & Port finder.
Generally speaking, booking your Daydream Island to Hamilton Island Marina ferry sooner rather than later pays off — earlier bookings usually mean lower fares and more choice of departure times and cabins.
A few weeks' lead time is usually enough to catch a good deal, though fares can still move around depending on the season and what's left available.
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| Daydream Island - Hamilton Island Marina Ferry Route Prices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Foot Passenger | $280 | |
| Daydream Island - Hamilton Island Marina Ferry Route Summary | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Whitsunday Islands |
| Destination | Whitsunday Islands |
| No. of Operators | 1 |
| Operators | Cruise Whitsundays |
| Average Price | $280 |
| Average Daily Sailings | 7 |
| Average Weekly Sailings | 48 |
| Average Sailing Duration | 40 m |
| Fastest Sailing Duration | 35 m |
| First Ferry | 07:45 |
| Last Ferry | 16:40 |
| Distance | 9 Nautical Miles |
* Prices subject to change, pricing is taken from last 30 days, last updated 1 August 2026.
Forming one of the seven landmasses of the Molle Archipelago found off the north-east coast of Australia is the paradisiac Daydream Island. With broad stretches of sandy beaches overlooking the sapphire-blue sea and thriving coral reefs teeming with exotic marine life, this tiny isle is a magnet for tourists looking to soak up the sun in tropical tranquillity. The port of Daydream Island is found in a small bay on the eastern coast. It consists of a narrow wooden pier that juts out into a slice of ocean sandwiched between the stunning Daydream Reef. It’s little more than a departure point featuring a few sheltered waiting benches, though the nearby resort hotel has plenty of amenities on offer including a restaurant selling hot food and a tourist information point. Due to the small size of the island, travelling to the port is simple. The road outside the entrance to the pier leads in a straight-line from the unique Living Reef aquarium in the north to the quiet beaches in the south. However, due to the lack of public transport and the inability for passengers to bring cars, most of the 1-kilometre long island can only be traversed on foot. One passenger service currently leaves from the port multiple times throughout the day. A Cruise Whitsundays line sails the half hour trip to the Australian mainland town of Airlie, an area of the Queensland region that sits on the rugged shores of Pioneer Bay.
Hamilton Island, the largest of the Whitsunday Islands that crown the Great Barrier Reef off the western coast of Australia, is an undulating stretch of tree-topped hills that rise and fall into the glassy depths of the surrounding sea. It’s effortless tropical allure has not escaped notice; the resort having won the Australian Traveller 'Most Desirable Island Escape' Award in 2015. Much of the island coastline is streaked with broad, golden beaches lined by coconut palms. From the comfort of the velvet sand, one can see the verdant peaks of the other isles and atolls that skirt the skyline. The east-facing Catseye Beach is the perfect place to watch the sun rise too, its warmth gradually spilling over the curve of the horizon. The port of Hamilton Island is found within a small, sheltered bay on the north-western coast between the piers of the Hamilton Island Marina. It’s little more than a wooden jetty that juts away from the promenade. Upon this promenade are a host of passenger facilities including coin-operated washers and dryers, showers, toilets, a post-office and a few cafes selling hot and cold snacks. Travelling across the island is easy. A complimentary shuttle bus service regularly tours the twisting roads that scale the island slopes, whisking passengers to the main tourist spots. The Hamilton Island Airport, the only commercial airport along the barrier reef, is just a 10-minute walk from the harbour-side too, flights heading to Sydney and Melbourne on the Australian mainland. Two ferry routes currently leave from the Hamilton Island Marina. Daily lines operated by Cruise Whitsundays sail west to the towns of Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour on the ragged coastline of Queensland, Australia found across an island-studded stretch of the Coral Sea.
