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Wellington Ferry Timetables

Days Bay harbour ferry and Cook Strait crossings. No PDFs, no fuss.

Timetables verified against East by West, Interislander & Bluebridge data. Last checked February 2026.

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Auckland Wellington

Days Bay Harbour Ferry

East by West Ferries. Queens Wharf to Days Bay, ~25 min crossing.

Queens Wharf ↔ Days Bay

~25 min East by West Ferries
Depart Queens WharfArrive Days BayDepart Days BayArrive Queens Wharf
Valid from 16 November 2025. Timetable valid until 4 April 2026. Sailings may be cancelled at short notice due to weather. No cash accepted on board. EFTPOS/credit card only. Timetable enquiries: Metlink 0800 801 700.

Mātiu/Somes Island is a predator-free wildlife sanctuary in Wellington Harbour. East by West operates scheduled sailings from Queens Wharf via Days Bay. Unlike the regular harbour ferry, this service requires advance booking.

The island features walking trails, historic buildings, native birds (including tuatara), and panoramic harbour views. Day visits and overnight stays available (overnight currently closed until April 2026).

Book on East by West →

Cook Strait Ferries

Wellington to Picton. ~3.5 hour crossing. Two operators compared.

Interislander

~3h 30m KiwiRail 8 sailings daily
Wellington → PictonShipPicton → WellingtonShip
3:30 AMKaiārahi2:30 AMKaitaki
8:45 AMKaitaki9:30 AMKaiārahi
3:30 PMKaiārahi2:15 PMKaitaki
8:30 PMKaitaki9:30 PMKaiārahi
Check-in: vehicles 60 min before departure, foot passengers 60 min before departure. Free shuttle bus from Platform 10, Wellington Railway Station, 70 min before each sailing. Call 0800 802 802 for enquiries.
Wellington → PictonShipNote
2:00 AMLiviaNot Saturdays
8:15 AMConnemara
1:30 PMLivia
8:30 PMConnemaraNot Saturdays
Picton → WellingtonShipNote
2:30 AMConnemaraNot Sundays
7:45 AMLiviaNot Saturdays
2:00 PMConnemara
7:15 PMLivia
Check-in: vehicles 75 min before departure, foot passengers 45 min. Bluebridge terminal is centrally located on Waterloo Quay, Wellington. Private cabins and dog-friendly cabins available. Call 0800 844 844 for enquiries.

Interislander vs Bluebridge at a Glance

Interislander

Operator
KiwiRail (govt-owned)
Ships
Kaitaki, Kaiārahi
Daily sailings
8 (4 each way)
Crossing time
~3h 30m
Terminal
Kaiwharawhara (Aotea Quay)
Getting there
Free shuttle from railway station
Vehicles check-in
60 min before
Foot passengers
60 min before
Pets
Yes (on deck)
Cabins
Kaitaki only
Book
interislander.co.nz

Bluebridge

Operator
StraitNZ (private)
Ships
Connemara, Livia
Daily sailings
Up to 8 (4 each way)
Crossing time
~3h 30m
Terminal
Waterloo Quay (central)
Getting there
Walk from CBD / station
Vehicles check-in
75 min before
Foot passengers
45 min before
Pets
Yes (kennels + dog cabins)
Cabins
Both ships
Book
bluebridge.co.nz

Prices

Days Bay Harbour Ferry

East by West Ferries. Valid from 1 July 2025.

Adult
$16.00
one way
Return $32.00
10-trip pass $107.00
Child (5–16)
$8.00
one way
Return $16.00
10-trip pass $53.50
Under 5s
Free
 
Still need a physical ticket from crew
SuperGold
Free
off-peak
Free 9am–3pm & after 6:30pm weekdays. All day weekends & public holidays.
Show card
Community / Accessible
$8.00
one way (50% off)
Total Mobility, Blind Low Vision NZ, or Community Services Card holders. 1 carer travels free with accessible concession.
Tertiary Student
$80.00
10-trip pass only
Must show valid tertiary ID. No single tickets at student rate.

Cook Strait Ferries

Both Interislander and Bluebridge use dynamic pricing. Fares vary by season, day, time and how far in advance you book. Foot passenger fares typically start from around $53–$90 one way, with vehicle crossings from $140–$360+. Booking early is the most effective way to get the lowest price on either operator.

Check Interislander prices → Check Bluebridge prices →

Terminals

Queens Wharf (Days Bay ferry)

Queens Wharf is on the Wellington waterfront, a short walk from the CBD, Te Papa, and Wellington Railway Station. The East by West ticket office is in the Meridian Building (roadside entrance, opposite the old Mojo cafe location).

On weekdays, buy tickets for 10am and 12pm sailings from the office 30 min before departure. All other times, buy on board via EFTPOS/credit card. No cash accepted.

Bikes and dogs welcome on board at no extra charge. Dogs must be on a lead (top deck or rear of lower deck in rain). Note: wheelchair access is not available on East by West ferries due to steep gangways.

Interislander Terminal (Kaiwharawhara)

Located at Aotea Quay, about 2km north of the CBD. The terminal is a 20–25 minute walk from central Wellington.

Free shuttle bus from Platform 10, Wellington Railway Station, departing 70 minutes before each sailing. Taxis and ride-hailing also available.

Vehicles check in 60 min before departure. Foot passengers 60 min before. Allow 3.5 hours for the crossing.

Bluebridge Terminal (Waterloo Quay)

Centrally located on Waterloo Quay, within walking distance of Wellington Railway Station and the CBD. This is more convenient than the Interislander terminal for foot passengers.

Vehicles check in 75 min before departure. Foot passengers 45 min before. On-site parking available.

In Picton, foot passengers are transported via shuttle bus from the terminal to the ship.

FAQ

How long does the Days Bay ferry take? +
The East by West ferry from Queens Wharf to Days Bay takes approximately 25 minutes. Some sailings take up to 30 minutes depending on conditions.
Can I use my SuperGold card on the Days Bay ferry? +
Yes. SuperGold card holders travel free between 9am–3pm and after 6:30pm weekdays, and all day on weekends and public holidays. You still need a physical ticket from the crew.
Do I need to book the Days Bay ferry? +
No. The Days Bay ferry operates on a first-come, first-served basis. No bookings needed unless you have a group of 10+ people (contact East by West in advance).
Can I take bikes and dogs on the harbour ferry? +
Yes to both, at no extra charge. Dogs must be on a lead and stay on the top deck (or rear of lower deck in rain). If travelling with 10+ bikes, contact East by West beforehand.
What's the difference between Interislander and Bluebridge? +
Both run Cook Strait crossings between Wellington and Picton, taking about 3.5 hours. Interislander (KiwiRail) has the larger ships (Kaitaki, Kaiārahi) and departs from Kaiwharawhara with a free shuttle from the railway station. Bluebridge (StraitNZ) operates Connemara and Livia from a more central terminal on Waterloo Quay. Both carry vehicles, foot passengers, pets and bikes. Prices are dynamic on both, so compare on the day.
Which Cook Strait ferry is better for foot passengers? +
Bluebridge is often more convenient for foot passengers: its Wellington terminal is central (Waterloo Quay, walkable from the train station), and it only requires 45 min check-in vs Interislander's 60 min. However, Interislander runs a free shuttle bus from the railway station to its terminal at Kaiwharawhara.
Can the Cook Strait crossing be rough? +
Cook Strait can be one of the rougher ferry crossings in the world, especially in winter or during southerly storms. Both operators have large vessels designed for the conditions. If prone to seasickness, the midships lower decks have the least motion. Sailings are occasionally cancelled in extreme weather. Both operators will text/email you about any changes.
Is the Days Bay ferry wheelchair accessible? +
Unfortunately, all East by West ferry services are inaccessible by wheelchair. High steps and steep gangway ramps make it unsafe for wheelchair users to board and disembark. Check the East by West accessibility page for more information.
Where can I park near the Cook Strait terminals? +
If leaving your car behind, Interislander has a parking guide with options near the Kaiwharawhara terminal. Bluebridge's central location means several CBD parking buildings are nearby. Both operators recommend arriving early to park and check in.

Looking for Auckland ferries?

Devonport, Waiheke, Birkenhead and all Auckland harbour routes.

Auckland Timetables →

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