The Original Tea Gardens Ferry

The Original Tea Gardens Ferry Port Stephens Examiner Business of the Year Award Winner 2024. Why drive it - when you can cruise it? ⛴️
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Delivering an exceptional passenger experience aboard our historic vessels, including the MV Tea Gardens — our accessible, wheel-on, wheel-off ferry.

⚠️ ONE RUN ONLY TODAY ⚠️With some very strong winds expected this afternoon, we’ll be keeping everyone safe and comforta...
08/09/2026

⚠️ ONE RUN ONLY TODAY ⚠️
With some very strong winds expected this afternoon, we’ll be keeping everyone safe and comfortable by operating just one return service today:

💚 Departing Nelson Bay at 11.30am
💚 Returning from Tea Gardens at 2.30pm

All later services will take a little rest today. Thanks so much for your understanding, and take care in the wind!

⚓ SKIPPERS WANTED—TAKE THE HELM OF HISTORY! ⚓The Original Tea Gardens Ferry is entering an exciting new chapter—and we’r...
06/09/2026

⚓ SKIPPERS WANTED—TAKE THE HELM OF HISTORY! ⚓

The Original Tea Gardens Ferry is entering an exciting new chapter—and we’re looking for experienced skippers to help us write it.

With the historic Tamboi Queen now back home on the Bay, the future is looking incredibly exciting: more private charters, more dedicated cruises and those wonderfully lazy Sunday afternoons spent cruising the magnificent waters of Port Stephens.

This is more than simply taking the helm. It’s an opportunity to work aboard our much-loved historic vessels, welcome passengers from near and far, share the stories of our waterways and help create experiences they’ll remember long after they step ashore.

We’re looking for professional skippers who:

⚓ Hold Master 24 and MED 3 qualifications
⚓ Have at least five years’ experience
⚓ Provide excellent customer service
⚓ Are confident delivering engaging commentary
⚓ Have strong teamwork skills
⚓ Are reliable, professional and reasonably available over the coming months

If you’re ready to become part of our crew—and part of the next chapter in Port Stephens’ maritime history—we’d love to hear from you.

📧 Email your CV, contact details and availability to Kerrie Jeffreys at:
[email protected]

Come aboard. Be part of the history. Help us create what comes next. ⚓

04/09/2026

Local stars: Original old girls cruising the Myall River and Port Stephens, with awards in tow.

🚨 SOLD OUT AGAIN! MISSED OUT? WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED! 🚨Tomorrow’s Local Legends & Lost Stories Cruise with John “Stinker”...
03/09/2026

🚨 SOLD OUT AGAIN! MISSED OUT? WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED! 🚨

Tomorrow’s Local Legends & Lost Stories Cruise with John “Stinker” Clarke is fully booked — as these incredibly popular cruises always are!

But don’t stress — Stinker is back on board:

📅 Thursday 8 October
⏰ Departing Nelson Bay at 10am
🚢 2.5-hour Eastern Harbour cruise
💰 $69 per person, including our famous brunch

Sit back and enjoy the endlessly entertaining Stinker bringing the Eastern Harbour’s colourful characters, local legends and lost stories to life — with magnificent scenery, plenty of laughs and our famous brunch along the way!

These cruises sell out every time, so don’t miss out again.

🎟️ Book online: theoriginalteagardensferry.com.au
📞 Or call Kerrie on 0412 682 117

🌸🚢 YOU’VE HEARD THE NEWS—NOW HERE’S OUR SPRING TIMETABLE!We’re back cruising 7 days a week between Nelson Bay and Tea Ga...
01/09/2026

🌸🚢 YOU’VE HEARD THE NEWS—NOW HERE’S OUR SPRING TIMETABLE!

We’re back cruising 7 days a week between Nelson Bay and Tea Gardens—and here are all the departure times you need.

Save the timetable, choose your day and come aboard! 💚

🎟️ Book online: theoriginalteagardensferry.com.au
Weather permitting.

🌸🚢 SPRING IS HERE… AND MONDAYS ARE BACK!Spring officially begins this Tuesday—and with it comes the return of our seven-...
30/08/2026

🌸🚢 SPRING IS HERE… AND MONDAYS ARE BACK!

Spring officially begins this Tuesday—and with it comes the return of our seven-day-a-week ferry service! ☀️🌊

Throughout winter, Mondays were reserved for maintenance, giving our beautiful ferries some extra care and attention behind the scenes.

Now we’re ready for a brand-new season of cruising!

Seven days a week. Two beautiful destinations. And one unforgettable way to cross the bay.

Spring is calling… come aboard and experience Port Stephens from the water! 💚

29/08/2026

🐬 Oh, don’t mind us… we’re just hanging out with our favourite ferry!

We don’t need tickets—we just swim alongside. 😉🚢💙

🌿🚢 YOU ASKED… AND LOST LANDSCAPES IS BACK!Our first cruise sold out, so due to overwhelming demand, we’ve launched a sec...
27/08/2026

🌿🚢 YOU ASKED… AND LOST LANDSCAPES IS BACK!

Our first cruise sold out, so due to overwhelming demand, we’ve launched a second Lost Landscapes Myall River Discovery Cruise!

Step aboard our much-loved Wally and be enchanted as ferry owner Kerrie Jeffreys brings the Myall River’s fascinating past to life—sharing stories of the people, places and industries that once thrived along its banks.

With only 25 guests aboard, this intimate four-hour journey combines captivating local history, beautiful river scenery and a delicious themed lunch inspired by days gone by.

📅 Thursday 29 October
⏰ Departing Tea Gardens at 11am
🚢 Four-hour discovery cruise
🍽️ Themed lunch included
🎟️ $79 per person
⚓ Strictly limited to 25 guests

Our first cruise filled quickly—don’t miss your chance this time!

☎️ Call Kerrie today on 0412 682 117 to secure your place.

⚓ Now that’s a sight you don’t see every day!MV Tea Gardens is currently high and dry on the slipway in Tea Gardens for ...
25/08/2026

⚓ Now that’s a sight you don’t see every day!

MV Tea Gardens is currently high and dry on the slipway in Tea Gardens for her scheduled 10-year survey.

It’s all about compliance—thorough inspections to ensure our beautiful heritage ferry continues to meet maritime safety standards and remains ready to carry passengers for many years to come. 🚢💚

🌅 “CAN’T BEAT A WINTER SUNSET…”Especially when you’re watching it from the ferry. 🚢✨Join us for Arvos on the Bay and spe...
22/08/2026

🌅 “CAN’T BEAT A WINTER SUNSET…”

Especially when you’re watching it from the ferry. 🚢✨

Join us for Arvos on the Bay and spend a beautiful winter afternoon cruising the waters of Port Stephens as the afternoon light turns golden and the sun begins to set.

No traffic. No rushing. Just fresh sea air, stunning scenery and two relaxing hours on the water with your favourite people.

🥂 Bring your own drinks and nibbles
🚢 Departs Nelson Bay at 3.30pm
🌅 Two hours on the bay
🎟️ Just $38 per person

Come aboard, pour yourself a drink and cruise into golden hour with us.

📞 Call Kerrie on 0412 682 117 to book.

Because you really can’t beat a winter sunset from the ferry. ❤️

Photos; thank you deckie Kayla 🙏😊

Address

40 Victoria Parade
Nelson Bay, NSW
2315

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 6:30pm
Tuesday 7am - 6:30pm
Wednesday 7am - 7pm
Thursday 7am - 6:30pm
Friday 7am - 6:30pm
Saturday 7am - 6:30pm
Sunday 7am - 6:30pm

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