Summer-ready Queenscliff returns to the harbour

After an early retirement in October 2021, the Queenscliff has made a spectacular return to the Circular Quay to Manly run following months of careful restoration work.

Returning the Queenscliff to the F1 Manly to Circular Quay route was a key part of the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to return as many Freshwater Ferries to service as possible, to restore capacity on the route during the busy summer months.

The work is being delivered as part of $114 million investment into Sydney’s ferry fleet in the NSW Budget. $71.1 million has been allocated to the extensive refurbishments of the Freshwater fleet.

The extensive refurbishment has involved expert navel engineers, electrical engineers, shipbuilders, painters, plumbers and more all working here in NSW.

The refurbishment included:

• More than 650 square metres of new ceiling panels • More than 7kms of new cabling

• More than 4,000 litres of paint

• More than 750 square meters of new flooring

• Every interior seat was re-covered, and new seats were installed

• New bathroom facilities

The works included an engine refit. The main engine is 32 times more powerful than an average car and sits in an engine room bigger than a basketball court.

Two new 2.5 metre-wide propellors were installed on the Queenscliff during it’s time in the Garden Island drydock. The dry-dock’s crane hoisted the 4.5 tonne propellers into place with six expert engineers guiding it into place.

Extra services from Saturday 16 December 2023 to Sunday 28 January 2024 to accommodate summer rush:

• F1 Manly: Queenscliff will serve alongside Freshwater, providing a service every 60 minutes throughout the Summer season. The vessels’ capacity of 1,100 passengers will mean passengers can spend less time queuing and more time enjoying the harbour.
• F2 Taronga Zoo: There will be an additional 10 services each weekday, running to a 15-minute frequency throughout summer, getting people from the Quay to the Zoo.
• F3 Parramatta River: There will be an additional 14 services each weekday and 26 extra services each weekend, increasing the number of ferries between Sydney Olympic Park and Circular Quay by an additional 96 weekly services a week.