The Interislander sails from Wellington to Picton in three and a half hours, but give the crossing most of a day if you have a vehicle or a connection to make. This Wellington-Picton Cook Strait ferry is the main ferry crossing in NZ and the practical link between the North and South islands for foot passengers, cars, motorcycles and campervans. Book early, arrive well before check-in closes, and remember that Nelson and Blenheim are onward road trips, not ferry destinations.
Last updated: 2026-10-14
Which ferry crossing in NZ should you book?
The essential inter-island route runs between Wellington and Picton across Cook Strait. Interislander and Bluebridge both carry passengers and vehicles on this crossing.
The sailing takes around three and a half hours. However, check-in, loading and leaving the ship turn it into a larger part of your day.
| Trip detail | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Route | Wellington to Picton, or Picton to Wellington |
| Sailing time | Around three and a half hours |
| Distance | About 96 kilometres, or 52 nautical miles |
| Main operators | Interislander and Bluebridge |
| Vehicle options | Cars, campervans, motorcycles and bicycles |
| South Island arrival | Picton |
The open section of Cook Strait can be rough. Meanwhile, the approach through the Marlborough Sounds is slower and more sheltered. On a clear day, that final stretch into Picton is the part worth going outside for.
Take the ferry when you’re carrying a vehicle or driving a road trip across both islands. If you only need to get between major cities, I’d fly and keep the day.
Wellington to Picton is the South Island route
A ferry from Wellington to the South Island arrives in Picton. It doesn’t sail directly to Nelson, Blenheim, Christchurch or the West Coast.
Treat Picton as your handover point and plan the next leg around your Picton arrival, not your Wellington departure. Its harbour sits sheltered in the Marlborough Sounds, and the roads and transport connections south and west start in town.
Southbound, the ferry leaves Wellington Harbour and crosses the exposed strait before entering the Sounds. Northbound, you get the scenic section first and the open water later.
I’d choose the sailing around what happens after arrival. A cheap late departure loses its charm if it leaves you in Picton without a useful connection or a sensible place to sleep.
Interislander and Bluebridge are the two choices
Interislander is the best default when its departure time and fare fit your trip. It’s owned and operated by KiwiRail and has connected New Zealand across Cook Strait for more than 60 years.
Bluebridge is the smart alternative. Check it every time, especially if it offers a better departure or a meaningfully lower fare.
| Operator | My verdict | What should decide it |
|---|---|---|
| Interislander | Best default | Useful sailing time, suitable vehicle space and a workable fare |
| Bluebridge | Always compare | Better timing, lower total cost or more useful availability |
Both operators carry foot passengers and vehicles. You can expect indoor seating, food for sale and outside viewing areas, although the exact facilities depend on the vessel. Cabins and upgraded lounges also vary by sailing.
Brand loyalty gets you nowhere here. Compare the complete booking, including your vehicle, cabin, flexible fare and arrival time. Then take the option that causes the least trouble on the rest of the day.
Interislander prices change with the booking
Don’t trust any single Interislander ferry price you see quoted. Your total changes with the travel date, passenger age, vehicle type, cabin choice and fare conditions.
Published fare examples have put an adult ticket at $90 in the normal season and $100 in the peak season. A Premium Lounge upgrade has been listed at $75, while a standard campervan fare has started from NZ$220. Treat these as planning figures rather than live quotes.
Other fare comparisons have placed an Interislander foot passenger between NZD 55 and 100, with an average around NZD 75. That spread is the point. Your date matters more than the headline fare.
A cheaper ticket can also carry tighter change or cancellation terms. If your road trip still has loose dates, paying more for flexibility may save the booking later.
Here is what I do before paying:
- Search both operators for the same date.
- Compare nearby sailings if the day is flexible.
- Add the exact vehicle type and dimensions.
- Include cabins or lounge access before comparing totals.
- Read the change and cancellation terms.
- Check the arrival against the next drive or bus.
New Zealand costs climb quickly once you add a vehicle and peak-season travel. My guide to budgeting for a New Zealand trip will help you place the ferry inside the wider trip cost.
How long does the Interislander take?
The Interislander sailing time between Wellington and Picton is three and a half hours. Allow longer for check-in, boarding, unloading and the trip between the terminal and your accommodation.
Drivers need the most room in the schedule. You must reach the correct vehicle check-in lane, wait to load and leave the passenger deck only when instructed after arrival.
Foot passengers have fewer steps. Still, departure time is the time the ship leaves, rather than the time you should walk into the terminal.
Weather and operational problems can also delay the sailing. So I’d give the crossing most of a travel day, especially with a vehicle or an onward connection.
How fast does the Interislander go?
Don’t plan around speed. It changes with the vessel, the sea and the stretch of route, and the published sailing time is the only number that helps you.
Interislander’s former fast ferry service, The Lynx, reached 37 knots. It also had a reputation for a lively ride across choppy water. That old figure tells you little about the trip you can book now.
Today’s ships still have to cross open water, work through the Marlborough Sounds and berth, and they can slow down when the strait turns rough.
Use the scheduled arrival when planning your day. Then add a buffer instead of trying to calculate the journey from vessel speed.
Wellington terminal check-in without the stress
Use the terminal address in your booking confirmation. Wellington terminal arrangements have changed over time, and old travel pages can send you toward the wrong entrance.
Interislander’s Kaiwharawhara terminal sits between central Wellington and State Highway 1. Still, check your booking before leaving because your operator, passenger type and sailing determine where you report.
Foot passengers and vehicles follow separate check-in processes. Drivers join marked lanes and wait for loading instructions. Walk-on passengers check their bags and board through the passenger area.
Bluebridge requires passengers to be checked in at least one hour before departure. Interislander vehicle check-in at Picton closes 60 minutes before departure. For every sailing, the deadline on your ticket wins.
Keep these items with you after parking:
- Medication
- Phone and charger
- Warm layer
- Water
- Seasickness treatment
- Anything needed during the crossing
You may be unable to return to the vehicle deck while the ferry is moving. That small detail catches people who leave a coat or medicine in the glove box.
Don’t aim to arrive at the closing time. Wellington traffic, rental vehicle returns and one wrong terminal turn can eat the spare time quickly.
Cars, campervans, motorcycles, bicycles and pets
Book the vehicle you’ll actually bring. A campervan entered as a car can create a price difference or loading problem at check-in.
Measure the full vehicle, including roof boxes, bike racks, tow bars and trailers. Height matters as much as length because deck clearance and loading lanes vary.
You must also declare dangerous goods when asked. Fuel containers, gas bottles and other restricted items may carry special conditions. Guessing at the form is a poor way to start a ferry day.
Motorcycles and bicycles need the correct booking type. Staff will direct riders during loading, but you should follow the operator’s instructions about securing gear and reaching the deck.
Pets can come, but ask your operator before you book, because the rules differ by operator and vessel. Confirm where the animal stays, what container or restraint is required, and whether you can visit during the sailing. Never assume a pet can sit beside you in the passenger lounge.
Rental vehicles bring another catch. Some rental agreements don’t allow the same vehicle to cross between islands. Read the agreement before booking a vehicle space.
If you’d rather avoid that whole problem, read my guide to travelling New Zealand without a car.
Nelson, Blenheim and Wellington need separate planning
There is no regular ferry between Wellington and Nelson, and none between Wellington and Blenheim.
For Nelson and Blenheim alike, the workable route is through Picton. You sail between Wellington and Picton, then continue by road, bus, rail connection or rental car.
Blenheim is the simpler onward leg because it lies closer to Picton. Nelson needs a longer road journey, so a tight same-day connection carries more risk.
A combined Nelson-Picton-Wellington trip pairs a bus leg of roughly two and a half to three hours with the three-and-a-half-hour ferry. One published connection includes a three-hour layover in Picton, which is enough time to grab lunch and walk around town.
That wait may look inefficient on paper. In practice, it protects the connection and gives you room if one part runs late.
From Picton to Nelson and Blenheim
Blenheim is the easier next stop from Picton. However, you still need to match your ferry arrival with a bus, rail connection, transfer or rental car pickup.
Nelson takes more planning because the road journey is longer. If you arrive late, public transport choices may be thin and rental desks may be closed.
I’d book the onward leg only after choosing the ferry. Then I’d leave enough space for unloading and a delayed arrival.
If no sensible connection exists, sleep in Picton. It’s better than turning a pleasant crossing into a race through the terminal.
Travellers relying on buses and hostels can keep costs down by choosing fewer stops. This guide to slow and affordable New Zealand travel explains why longer stays often cost less than constant movement.
Cook Strait weather can change the day
Cook Strait has exposed water and changeable conditions. A calm forecast can give you an easy crossing, while wind and swell can make the same route uncomfortable.
If you’re prone to seasickness, take your usual treatment before the boat reaches open water. Sit near the centre of the ship, look toward the horizon and avoid a heavy meal just before departure.
Outside decks can be cold and windy even when Wellington feels mild. Keep a warm layer with you rather than leaving it in the vehicle.
Check the MetService marine forecast before travelling. Then check your operator’s sailing alert again before leaving for the terminal.
If a sailing is cancelled, don’t start driving toward the port and hope it sorts itself out. Follow the rebooking instructions first, then change accommodation and onward transport. Also check the New Zealand Transport Agency journey planner if the disruption affects your road route.
A booking checklist that prevents expensive mistakes
Your first move: compare both operators for your actual date, then pick the sailing that gets you into Picton with a workable connection. After that the booking is simple. Most trouble starts with the wrong vehicle details, an impossible connection or an arrival planned around departure time.
Before paying, check:
- Wellington-Picton is the route you need.
- The sailing date matches your accommodation dates.
- Every passenger name and age is correct.
- Your vehicle type, length and height are accurate.
- Racks, trailers and roof gear are included.
- Pet travel has been added and confirmed.
- The fare conditions suit your level of flexibility.
- The arrival time leaves room for the onward journey.
- You know the correct terminal and check-in deadline.
- Sailing alerts are going to a phone or email you’ll use.
Then save the booking confirmation offline. Mobile reception and tired travellers don’t always cooperate at the terminal.
FAQ
Can you stay inside for the whole Cook Strait crossing?
Yes. Passenger lounges provide indoor seating, so you don’t need to use the outside decks.
Still, step out during the Marlborough Sounds section if the weather is calm. You can go back inside as soon as the wind stops being fun.
Is flying better than taking the ferry?
Flying is usually the cleaner choice when you have no vehicle and need to move quickly between distant cities. The ferry earns its place when you’re carrying a car, campervan, bicycle, pet or extra luggage.
The crossing also keeps a road trip connected. However, it takes a larger part of the day once check-in and onward travel are included.
Should you book a cabin for a night sailing?
A cabin is worth checking if you want privacy or expect to sleep. Availability and cabin types depend on the vessel and departure.
Don’t count on getting one at the terminal. Add it while booking if rest matters to the following day.
Can a rental car travel on the ferry?
Only if the rental agreement allows it. Some companies permit an inter-island crossing, while others require you to return one car and collect another after the ferry.
Check before buying the vehicle ticket. Otherwise, you may pay for ferry space your rental car cannot use.
