Hexham Bridge openings
Opening times, booking details and rules for vessels travelling under or passing through Hexham Bridge on the Hunter River in NSW.
Book a bridge opening
You can book an opening of Hexham Bridge at most times of the year.
To book an opening for your vessel call 1300 661 293.
Book in advance:
- at least 2 hours ahead for bridge openings on weekdays between 7am - 6pm
- at least 6 hours ahead for bridge openings on weekends, public holidays or between 7pm - 6am weekdays.
You need to provide your mobile number when you book - or be aware of the bridge's contact radio channels.
View the Hexham Bridge projects page for any planned work with marine traffic impacts.
View boating map 7C Lower Hunter River and Newcastle Harbour for navigation details.
Beware tides affect clearance heights.
Times to avoid
Try to avoid peak road traffic times:
- Weekdays 5:30am - 9.00am and 2:45pm - 5:30pm
- Saturdays 10:00am - 11:30am
- Sundays 3pm - 5pm
You can't book a bridge opening on these dates in 2023 and 2024:
- Sunday 6 October 2024
- Monday 7 October 2024 (Labour Day)
Sunday 13 October 2024
- Friday 20 December 2024
- Thursday 26 December 2024 (Boxing Day)
- Saturday 28 December 2024 (between 10am to 1pm)
- Sunday 29 December 2024
- Wednesday 1 January 2025 (New Years Day)
- Saturday 4 January 2025
- Sunday 5 January 2025
- Saturday 11 January 2025( between 10am to 1pm)
- Sunday 12 January 2025
- Saturday 18 January 2025 (between 10am to 1pm)
- Sunday 19 January 2025
- Saturday 25 January 2025 (between 10am to 1pm)
- Sunday 26 January 2025 (Australia Day)
- Monday 27 January 2025 (Australia Day Holiday)
- Friday 18 April 2025 (Good Friday)
- Saturday 19 April 2025 (between 10am to 1pm)
- Sunday 20 April 2025 (Easter Sunday)
- Monday 21 April 2025(Easter Monday)
- Friday 25 April 2025 (ANZAC Day)
- Saturday 26 April 2025 (between 10am to 1pm)
- Sunday 27 April 2025
- Monday 9 June 2025 (Kings Birthday)
- Sunday 5 October 2025
- Monday 6 October 2025 (Labour Day)
- Sunday 12 October 2025
- Friday 19 December 2025
- Friday 26 December 2025 (Boxing Day)
- Saturday 27 December 2025 (between 10am to 1pm)
- Sunday 28 December 2025
Any bridge lifts on these dates will only be considered if they occur outside of vehicular peak travel times, with requests to be in writing 4 weeks prior to the event. Call 1300 661 293 for details to summit request. Note that all requests will need to be confirmed by Transport for NSW prior to the bridge lift occurring.
Radio channels
- Citizen band - channel 29
- VHF marine band - channel 74
Rules
Vessel operators are to:
- observe navigation rules when approaching the bridge
- wait for a green light before proceeding. Transport for NSW will be notified of any serious breaches
- give right of passage to vessels travelling with the direction of tidal flow. Exceptions apply. Follow the bridge operator's announcements over the Public Address System (PA) at all times.
Early and late arrivals
There is no permanent bridge operator on site at Hexham Bridge.
- If you arrive early for a bridge lift you must wait until the confirmed opening time.
- There are no courtesy moorings at Hexham Bridge.
- If you expect to be late for your booking, please notify the bridge operator within 30 minutes of the booked time. Otherwise you may need to re-book the opening by notifying the bridge operator 2-6 hours in advance, as indicated above.