Wisemans Ferry

Long Weekend · Guru

Wisemans Ferry

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Pretty sure they have better ferries now ? Berowra has .

Long Weekend · Guru

The Internet has some information about the ferries. Two operate at Wisemans, one larger than the other. All the ferries are called 'car ferries.'

But there are no details of exactly what vehicles can use them. Obviously, B doubles would be out, but other than that can caravans use the ferries? Is there a length limit?

Murray

Greg 1 · Guru

Don't know about the ferry in question but the ones that I have used on the Murray river recently easily took my Ranger and 21 foot van. My van is not a high off road model either.

Radar · Guru

Long Weekend wrote:
Has anybody had any experience on using Wisemans Ferry with a large (21ft) van?
About ten years ago I took a camper trailer across it. I remember that the on ramp from the northern side was steep, the camper managed alright but I think that a longer van would not. I also seem to remember a sign along the road to the south that it was not recommended for semi-trailers.
I would like to spend a few days at the Wisemans Ferry caravan park before heading north along Mangrove Mountain road to retrace our earlier trip.
Murray

-- Edited by Long Weekend on Monday 11th of June 2018 08:40:34 PM

I have been across with large semi trailers not a problem but not in the last 6 years.

You can ring them, I was there last year and did share the ferry with a ski boat.

Creedo · Member

I drove an NT Pajero towing a 21'6" Paramount through Wiseman's Ferry using the ferry to cross from North to South back in 2011. No probs at all. It's a while back but hope it helps.

Cheers,

Creedo

Plain Truth · Guru

Creedo wrote:
I drove an NT Pajero towing a 21'6" Paramount through Wiseman's Ferry using the ferry to cross from North to South back in 2011. No probs at all. It's a while back but hope it helps.
Cheers,
Creedo

Sorry to go off topic,but did I see Creedo up at Jokers flat earlier this year.

Long Weekend · Guru

Thanks everyone for your replies.

It looks like taking our 21ft Sterling across will be doable.

I think I'll make a last check with the NRMA to see what they say.

For those who have never been that way there is a caravan park right by the ferry ramp and also a hotel nearby. Should be a good way to spend a few days.

Regards,

Murray

Dunmowin · Guru

I know it is a bit late for Long Weekend's query, but we took our 21' 3.5tonne caravan across Wisemans Ferry in 2017 with no issues. ---- Just in case anyone else is wondering.

PeterD · Guru

Greg 1 wrote:
Don't know about the ferry in question but the ones that I have used on the Murray river recently easily took my Ranger and 21 foot van. My van is not a high off road model either.

All the car ferries along the Murray in SA have much better ramps than the ones in NSW. The Murray is not tidal and this allows the ramps to be fitted with landings that give you a level run off from the ferry.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

PeterD wrote:
Greg 1 wrote:
Don't know about the ferry in question but the ones that I have used on the Murray river recently easily took my Ranger and 21 foot van. My van is not a high off road model either.
All the car ferries along the Murray in SA have much better ramps than the ones in NSW. The Murray is not tidal and this allows the ramps to be fitted with landings that give you a level run off from the ferry.

They also operate 24/7 and are FREE :)

Cheers,

Peter

Jon U · Newbie

30 November 2021

I have travelled the full length of Wisemans Ferry Road on both the south and north side of the ferry. Wisemans Ferry Road is split in 2 by the Wisemans Ferry river crossing.

On the south side, the road is a very good bitumen surface and easily accessible by large caravans. The only section requiring high level of caution in the decent down to the town of Wisemans Ferry. It is a steep decent and has a 15kph hairpin bend. About 500m after that hairpin is a hard left descending turn. This is why there is a sign on the northern approach to Wisemans Ferry indicating "Not suitable to Semi-Trailers south of Wisemans Ferry" because semi-trailers can't negotiate this hairpin bend on the south side of the ferry.

On the south side, at the bottom of the hill, the road splits in 2 directions (The T-Intersection). The road to the left is River Road and goes to the Webb Creek Ferry (which, after crossing, then goes to St. Albans). River Road is unsuitable for anything longer than a car and camper trailer. It's very windy, narrow and lots of blind corners. Needs low speed and extreme caution, and a good lookout for motorbikes along that road. Having said that, it is a very scenic route.

River Road goes to the NSW Ski Gardens Caravan Park (Tel: Christine 02 4566 4212 - booking essential). It is about 1km down River Road from the T intersection, on the right. Note: this is not a standard caravan park but a private park for water skiers. It has lots of relocatable homes and garages for ski boats. It also has a grassed area with power for caravans. The amenities are very very basic (pretty rough is better stated). It will be totally booked out during major ski events (e.g. The Bridge to Bridge) so its best to check the water skiing calendar for those major events.

To the right of the T Intersection is the road to the Wisemans Ferry itself. Two ferries operate 24x7. There is a large one and a smaller one. However, sometimes one is out of service for maintenance from time to time. During major flood events, both ferries are not operating. Signage on the roads approaching Wisemans Ferry will be posted if the ferry service is suspended.

The large Ferry can cater for large caravans but not low clearance vans (like Jurgens). The Ferry Master can (and often does) raise the level of the ferries metal ramp to flatten the approach for caravans so they don't bottom out when traversing the road ramp onto the ferrys ramp. The same can happen of the departure side (north side) of the ferry ramp although this ramp is steeper.

The road on the north side (which is still called Wisemans Ferry Road) is all bitumen but is narrow and quite rough in parts. There is another caravan park on the north side not far from the ferry (sorry, I don't have those details).

About 10km after the ferry, near Gunderman, the road narrows to one lane only (due to a previous landslide blocking one lane) for about 200 metres. Drivers need extra caution on this stretch of road.

About 5km north of the township of Spencer, the road is winding and narrow but still quite suitable for large vans. There are no hairpin bend on the northside but some 35-40kph bends and some narrower sections. Normal caution and low speed will see you through. Drivers should exercise caution here as semi-trailers do go down this road. It is a picturesque road and a good route to the Central Coast and approach to the M1.

Hope this help. Stay safe.

Cheers

Jon U

PeterD · Guru

I think the park that Jon U is referring to is the Del Rio Riverside Resort. It is not on the north side of the Wisemans ferry, it is on the north side of the Webb's Creek ferry. The Webb's Creek ferry has steeper approaches to it. Members of our caravan club have been to a few rallies there. They come in from Mangrove Mountain and cross both ferries. They negotiate the narrow bit near Gunderman that Jon painted as possibly being difficult, they get through there just the same as you get through one lane roadworks anywhere else (I have not been there lately, but there were traffic control lights last time I went through there.) There is very little discussion around any difficulties in negotiating the ferries with vans.

Sometimes the egress to the ferries has a deep dip as you drive from the concrete ramp to the ferry ramp. When something with poor clearances like caravans approach the ferry, the ferry master can pull the ferry ramp higher up the concrete ramp. This improves the access for caravans.

If you wish to camp down there, book yourself into Del Rio. When doing so, quiz the booking officer about crossing the ferries.

-- Edited by PeterD on Wednesday 1st of December 2021 12:46:25 AM

Bicyclecamper · Guru

Having lived at Wisemans ferry, for 2 years, as a Resort manager on the Mangrove side, a lot of vans came over the ferry including massive boats. What I can tell you, it depends on the tides. Low tide it is much harder to cross over, High tide is much better. What our customers used to do was ring us and ask what time the tide would be at it's maximum or close to it. We then had people turning up in their big rig's at all hours of the day and night. But today you can get tide charts for Wisemans on line, and also if you are staying on the town side for a while, can find out from the parks management as to what time the high tide is running.