Hobart Water Taxis provide a major alternative public transport

Public transport

Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...

 service for commuters and tourists in the City of Clarence and City of Hobart

City of Hobart

The City of Hobart is a Local Government Area of Tasmania, Australia. It is one of three local government areas covering the metropolitan area of the state capital, Hobart.-Government:...

, located on the Derwent River, Tasmania.
Departing Bellerive

Bellerive

Bellerive may refer to:* Bellerive, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis* Bellerive, Switzerland, municipality in the district of Avenches in the canton of Vaud* Collonge-Bellerive, Switzerland, a municipality in the canton of Geneva...

 at 8.00am 8.30am  5.15pm
Departing Hobart

Hobart

Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...

 at 8.15am 5.00pm 5.30pm
Between these times they are available by calling 0407 036 268 to book a departure time

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

Hobart Bridge

The Hobart Bridge was a pontoon bridge that crossed the River Derwent, connecting the eastern and western Shores of the City of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.- History :...

, and its replacement the Tasman Bridge

Tasman Bridge

The Tasman Bridge is a five-lane bridge crossing the Derwent River, near the CBD of Hobart, Tasmania. The bridge has a total length of 1,395 metres . It provides the main traffic route from the CBD to the eastern shore - particularly Hobart International Airport and Bellerive Oval...

, ferry services were far more important, and previously called at more locations. Following the reconstruction of a public jetty

Jetty

A jetty is any of a variety of structures used in river, dock, and maritime works that are generally carried out in pairs from river banks, or in continuation of river channels at their outlets into deep water; or out into docks, and outside their entrances; or for forming basins along the...

 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 Cruises, Navigators and Hobart Water Taxis.

Ferry services operate daily by Hobart Water Taxis; Departing Bellerive Wharf at 8.00 am, 8.30 am and 5.15 pm; Departing Watermans Dock in Hobart at 8.15 am, 5.00 pm and 5.30 pm; express river crossing services for commuters in morning and evening rush hour slots from Bellerive Wharf

Bellerive, Tasmania

Bellerive is a suburb of the City of Clarence, part of the greater Hobart area, Tasmania, Australia. It stretches from Kangaroo Bay where it borders Rosny Park, around the curved shoreline of Bellerive Esplanade to Kangaroo Bluff, then down to Bellerive Beach and east to Second Bluff, where...

 to Sullivans Cove, Watermans Dock and return. The trip takes approximately 10 minutes. The trip allows commuters from Clarence to arrive just a five minute walk from the CBD

Central business district

A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...

 from Monday to Friday Excluding public Holidays.Between the express commuter there are regular departures between Hobart

Hobart

Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...

, Bellerive

Bellerive

Bellerive may refer to:* Bellerive, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis* Bellerive, Switzerland, municipality in the district of Avenches in the canton of Vaud* Collonge-Bellerive, Switzerland, a municipality in the canton of Geneva...

 and Wrest Point
The Bellerive Quay

Bellerive, Tasmania

Bellerive is a suburb of the City of Clarence, part of the greater Hobart area, Tasmania, Australia. It stretches from Kangaroo Bay where it borders Rosny Park, around the curved shoreline of Bellerive Esplanade to Kangaroo Bluff, then down to Bellerive Beach and east to Second Bluff, where...

 jetty provides an excellent transport method for visitors to Bellerive Oval for cricket

Cricket

Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...

 and Australian football matches, as Bellerive Wharf is a short 5 minute walk from the ground.

Hobart Water Taxis also transfer passengers between Wrest Point, Sullivans Cove, Salamanca Place, Battery Point and Moorilla/Mona and many other sites along the River Derwent

River Derwent

River Derwent is the name of several rivers in England:*River Derwent, Derbyshire*River Derwent, North East England on the border between County Durham and Northumberland*River Derwent, Cumbria in the Lake District*River Derwent, Yorkshire in Yorkshire...

 and D'entrecasteaux Channel

D'Entrecasteaux Channel

The D'Entrecasteaux Channel is a region of water between Bruny Island and the south-east of the mainland of Tasmania. It extends between the estuaries of the Derwent, and the Huon Rivers...

Longer ferry services take passengers to visit the D'entrecasteaux Channel

D'Entrecasteaux Channel

The D'Entrecasteaux Channel is a region of water between Bruny Island and the south-east of the mainland of Tasmania. It extends between the estuaries of the Derwent, and the Huon Rivers...

 and stop at Woodbridge

Woodbridge, Tasmania

Woodbridge is a town in southern Tasmania, Australia. The town is located south of the state capital, Hobart. At the 2006 census, Woodbridge had a population of 271.-External links:*...

 and Kettering

Kettering

Kettering is a market town in the Borough of Kettering, Northamptonshire, England. It is situated about from London. Kettering is mainly situated on the west side of the River Ise, a tributary of the River Nene which meets at Wellingborough...

.

Hobart Water Taxis provides an on call water taxi and tour service all year round.Hobart Yellow Water Cabs

Hobart Cruises operate fast catamaran

Catamaran

A catamaran is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas...

 services which show off the Derwent River and D'entrecasteaux Channel

D'Entrecasteaux Channel

The D'Entrecasteaux Channel is a region of water between Bruny Island and the south-east of the mainland of Tasmania. It extends between the estuaries of the Derwent, and the Huon Rivers...

.

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

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 0-7246-2360-4
• Sargent, John R. (2004) Derwent River connections : an historical snapshot of vehicular access across the River DerwentBellerive, Tas. John R. Sargent. ISBN 0-9751514-1-X