The basics
The Cook Strait ferry connects Wellington (North Island) to Picton (South Island). It's one of New Zealand's most iconic journeys and for most people the only practical way to get a vehicle between the islands. Even if you're not taking a car, it's a much better experience than flying.
Two companies operate the crossing: Interislander (government-owned, run by KiwiRail) and Bluebridge (privately owned, run by StraitNZ). Between them, there are up to 8 sailings per day each way. The crossing takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes on both operators.
If you want a detailed side-by-side breakdown of both operators, we've got a separate Interislander vs Bluebridge comparison. This guide focuses on the crossing experience itself, regardless of which operator you choose.
Booking your crossing
Both operators use dynamic pricing. The price changes based on demand, time of day, and how far in advance you book. The general principles are the same for both:
Book early for the best price. Saver fares go on sale weeks or months ahead and they're significantly cheaper than last-minute bookings. If you know your dates, book as soon as you can. The difference between a saver fare and a flexible fare can be $50+ per person.
Midweek is cheaper than weekends. Tuesday to Thursday sailings outside school holidays are usually the cheapest. Friday afternoon and Sunday evening sailings are the most expensive because that's when everyone wants to travel.
Overnight sailings are the cheapest. The 2:00-3:30 AM departures are almost always the lowest fare. The trade-off is obvious: you're waking up at 1 AM. But if budget matters more than sleep, they're worth considering. Book a cabin and you can at least rest during the crossing.
Check both operators. Prices between Interislander and Bluebridge can differ by $20-50 for the same day. It takes two minutes to search both sites. Bluebridge tends to be slightly cheaper for vehicle crossings; foot passenger fares are usually similar.
Saver fares are cheap but usually non-refundable or charge a change fee. If your travel dates might shift, it can be worth paying a bit more for a flexible fare. Read the conditions before you book, especially during periods when weather cancellations are more likely (winter and early spring).
What to do before you go
Download your boarding pass. Both operators email a confirmation and boarding pass. Save it to your phone. You'll need to show it at check-in.
Check for service disruptions. Both operators post sailing updates on their websites and social media. If the weather forecast looks rough, check the night before and again in the morning. Sign up for text or email alerts when you book.
Pack a bag for the crossing. Once you board, you can't go back to your vehicle until arrival. Take everything you'll need for 3-4 hours: medication, snacks, entertainment, a jacket for the outdoor deck. If you have kids, pack enough to keep them occupied.
Eat something beforehand. If you're prone to seasickness (or unsure), a light meal before boarding is better than an empty stomach. More on seasickness below.
The day of your crossing
Here's roughly what to expect from the moment you leave home to the moment you drive off the ship.
Arrive at the terminal
Vehicles: 60 min before (Interislander) or 75 min before (Bluebridge). Foot passengers: 60 min (Interislander) or 45 min (Bluebridge). Check-in closes strictly at these times. Don't be the person sprinting through the terminal.
Check in
If you have a vehicle, you'll drive into the marshalling area and join a lane. Staff will check your booking and direct you. Foot passengers check in at the terminal building and wait in the lounge.
Wait
There's usually 20-40 minutes of waiting once you've checked in. The terminal has seating, toilets, and a cafe. This is the boring bit. Bring a book.
Board
Vehicles are directed onto the car deck. Lock your vehicle, grab your bag, and head upstairs to the passenger decks. Foot passengers board via the passenger walkway. Find a seat, claim some space, settle in.
Depart
Head to the outdoor deck as you leave Wellington Harbour. The views of the city, the Hutt Valley, and the South Coast are worth seeing, especially if it's your first time. Then you're out into Cook Strait.
Crossing (~2 hours of open water)
The middle section is open ocean. On a calm day, you'll barely notice. On a rough day, you'll definitely notice. This is when people retreat to their seats or cabins.
Marlborough Sounds (~1 hour)
The final stretch through the Sounds is sheltered and scenic. This is the highlight of the crossing. Green bush, clear water, small bays. Get outside if you can. On a good day it's stunning.
Arrive in Picton (or Wellington)
Once docked, foot passengers disembark first. Vehicle passengers return to the car deck and drive off in order. The whole unloading process takes about 15-20 minutes.
What it's like on board
Both operators offer cafe/bar service, seating areas, outdoor decks, and toilets. The specifics vary by ship. Interislander's Kaitaki is the largest vessel and has the most facilities (cinema, multiple lounges, cabins). Bluebridge's ships are smaller but both have cabins and a comfortable lounge/bar area.
Food: Cafe-style offerings. Hot pies, sandwiches, chips, coffee. Decent but nothing gourmet. Both have a licensed bar. If you're picky, bring your own food. Nobody will judge you for eating a packed lunch at your seat.
Wi-Fi: Free on both operators. Fine for messaging and emails. Don't plan on streaming anything or joining a video call.
Power: Some seats have power outlets. Not guaranteed, especially on older ships. Charge your phone before boarding.
Seats: Standard open seating. No assigned seats. If you want a good spot (window, quiet area, near a power outlet), board promptly and claim it. On a full sailing, the good seats go fast.
The crossing itself
Cook Strait is roughly 22km at its narrowest point, but the ferry route is about 92km because it winds through the Marlborough Sounds at the Picton end. The journey breaks down into three distinct sections.
Wellington Harbour to the open strait takes about 20-30 minutes. The water is usually calm here. You'll pass the South Coast, Pencarrow Head, and the harbour entrance. Keep an eye out for seals on the rocks near the entrance.
The open strait is the middle section, roughly 2 hours. This is where the weather matters. Cook Strait sits in the "Roaring Forties" and funnels wind between the two islands. On a calm day, it's pleasant. On a rough day, the ship rolls and pitches and things get uncomfortable. More on this in the rough weather section.
The Marlborough Sounds is the final hour (on the Picton approach) or the first hour (leaving Picton). This is the beautiful part. The ship winds through sheltered waterways surrounded by native bush, small bays, and the occasional holiday house perched on the hillside. If the weather's been rough in the strait, the relief of entering the Sounds is palpable. The water calms, the scenery appears, and everyone comes back outside.
If you're heading to Picton, the last 45-60 minutes through the Sounds is the best part. Heading to Wellington, it's the first 30-45 minutes before you hit the open water. Have your phone charged and ready. The Sounds are genuinely one of the most scenic stretches of water in New Zealand.
Rough weather and cancellations
Let's be upfront about this: Cook Strait has a reputation, and it's earned. It's one of the rougher ferry crossings in the world. That doesn't mean every crossing is rough. Plenty of crossings are flat calm and unremarkable. But the strait can also turn nasty, particularly in winter (June-August) and spring (September-November).
When the weather gets bad enough, sailings get cancelled. Both operators make cancellation decisions based on the same forecast data, so if one cancels, the other usually does too. There's no advantage in booking one over the other for reliability.
If your sailing is cancelled: The operator will rebook you on the next available sailing at no extra charge (for weather cancellations). If you had a saver fare, this usually still applies. You might end up on the other operator's service if your original operator is fully booked. Both companies work together during major disruptions.
If you choose to cancel: Weather cancellations initiated by the operator don't count against you. If you voluntarily cancel because you're nervous about the forecast, the normal fare conditions apply. Saver fares may not be refundable.
If you're connecting with a flight, rental car return, or event on the other side, leave a buffer. A full day of cancellations isn't common, but it happens. Having your flight booked for 2 hours after your ferry arrives is asking for trouble, especially in the stormier months.
Dealing with seasickness
This deserves its own section because it affects a lot of people and nobody talks about it enough before their first crossing.
If you've never been seasick, you might be fine. But Cook Strait can surprise people who've been on boats before without issues. The combination of open ocean swell and the wind funnelling between the islands creates a particular motion that some people find challenging even if they're normally comfortable on water.
Take medication before you board. This is the single most important piece of advice. Sea Legs, Kwells, or pharmacy-grade travel sickness tablets need to be taken 30-60 minutes before departure to be effective. Taking them once you're already feeling ill is usually too late. Both operators sell tablets on board, but by then you're already behind.
Stay on deck if you can. Fresh air and a view of the horizon help enormously. The worst thing you can do is sit in an enclosed space looking at your phone. If you start feeling off, get outside, focus on the horizon, and breathe.
Eat lightly beforehand. An empty stomach is actually worse than a settled one. A light meal an hour or two before sailing is a good idea. Avoid greasy or heavy food. Ginger (tea, lollies, raw) has some evidence for helping with nausea.
Choose your seat wisely. The middle of the ship and lower decks have less motion. Front and back (bow and stern) have the most movement. If you're concerned, sit as central and as low as you can.
Cabins help. If you've booked a cabin, lying down with your eyes closed can help. Being horizontal reduces the conflicting signals your brain gets from your eyes and inner ear, which is what causes nausea in the first place.
Arriving in Picton
Picton is small, charming, and the gateway to the Marlborough Sounds and the top of the South Island. As you pull into port, you'll see the town right there at the head of the bay.
Getting off the ship: Foot passengers disembark first via the walkway. Drivers return to the car deck and drive off in the order staff direct. The whole process usually takes 15-20 minutes. Follow the signs and the person in the hi-vis vest.
If you're picking up a rental car: Most rental car companies (Avis, Hertz, Budget, Apex) have offices in Picton, usually on or near Dublin Street, a 5-minute walk from the ferry terminal. Some will meet you at the terminal by arrangement. Book ahead and confirm the pickup location.
If you're driving onwards: SH1 south towards Blenheim and Christchurch starts right from Picton. The road along Queen Charlotte Drive to Havelock is scenic but winding. Don't plan to drive to Christchurch the same day if you're arriving on an afternoon sailing. It's a 4.5-hour drive and you'll be tired.
Staying in Picton: If you're arriving on a late sailing or just want to break the journey, Picton has good accommodation options. The waterfront area has cafes and restaurants. Picton is also the jumping-off point for Queen Charlotte Track, kayaking in the Sounds, and wine touring in Marlborough (Blenheim is 25 minutes south).
Arriving in Wellington
If you're crossing from Picton to Wellington, the process is the same in reverse.
Interislander arrives at Kaiwharawhara (Aotea Quay), about 2km north of the city centre. If you're driving, follow SH1 signs to the CBD or beyond. The motorway is right there. Foot passengers can catch the free shuttle back to Wellington Railway Station or take a taxi.
Bluebridge arrives at Waterloo Quay, right in central Wellington. You can walk to the Railway Station, the CBD, or your hotel from the terminal. For drivers, the urban motorway is a couple of minutes away.
Campervans, pets, bikes and accessibility
Campervans and motorhomes
Both operators carry campervans and motorhomes. You'll be charged based on the overall length of your vehicle. Measure it accurately before booking. The clearance in the car deck can vary, so declare the correct height too. Oversize vehicles may need to be pre-approved.
Once on board, you can't stay in your campervan during the crossing. Everyone goes up to the passenger decks. Lock your vehicle and take your valuables.
Pets
Dogs and cats can travel on both operators. Interislander has a pet area on the vehicle deck. Bluebridge has a pet area plus dog-friendly private cabins where your dog stays with you. Pets must be booked when you make your reservation. See our Interislander vs Bluebridge comparison for the detailed breakdown.
Bicycles
Both operators carry bikes. They're typically stored on the vehicle deck. Check the operator's website for current bike policies and whether a separate booking is needed for the bike itself.
Accessibility
Both operators accommodate passengers with mobility needs, but the experience varies by ship. Contact the operator directly before booking to discuss your specific requirements. The terminals and ships have different levels of accessibility, and the crew can arrange assistance if they know in advance.
If it's your first time crossing Cook Strait, try to enjoy it. Yes, it can be rough. Yes, the early check-in times are annoying. But the Marlborough Sounds section of the journey is genuinely beautiful and it's a crossing that people from around the world travel specifically to experience. Grab a coffee, head to the deck, and take it in.
This guide is maintained by ferrytimetable.co.nz. We're not affiliated with Interislander or Bluebridge. Information was verified in May 2026 but policies, prices, and schedules can change. Always check with the operator before your trip.
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