B5.3.5 New Zealand: Cook Strait Ferry
Description
This article is from the New Zealand FAQ, by Phil Stuart-Jones and Lin Nah with numerous contributions by others.
B5.3.5 New Zealand: Cook Strait Ferry
(See also under B5.3.4 Train Services)
There are 2 types of boats; the Interislander which takes 3 hours and the
Lynx which takes 1hr 45mins for the crossing.
The Interislander - ferry service connecting North and South Islands
between Wellington and Picton. As at July 1997, the full adult fare was
$46 one way.The fare for a car up to 6m was $165, with an extra $21 per
half metre.
For timetables, see http://www.waikato.ac.nz/rail/interislander.html
It is possible (and cheaper?) to drop a rental car at one terminal, travel
as foot passenger and pick up another rental car on the other side. The
trip takes 3 hours 15 min, with spectacular scenery of mountains and the
sounds. The ferry usually departs Wellington and Picton five times a day
depending on weather.
Another 'high-speed' ferry service is in operation seasonally. The Lynx
(the catamaran) is back for the summer; timetable at:
http://www.waikato.ac.nz/rail/lynx.html
The Lynx costs NZ$190 for a car and NZ$60 per adult.
Michael Steven adds:
"The ferries sail roughly four times a day - around 10am, 1pm, 6pm and 10pm
(from memory) Make sure you are up on deck for the last hour of the trip
through the beautiful Marlborough Sounds. [....] The 10am ferry coincides
with the daily train from Picton to Chch which leaves about 1.50pm Full
fare passengers get very comfortable - airline-type seats with a fixed
coffee table between each set of four. Afternoon tea is served free.
Budget tickets do not get the afternoon tea and have less comfortable seats
for the trip."
Bruce Hoult offered:
"Booking is not required, but it can be a very good idea if you don't want
to end up on the 2am sailing at peak times. You should be OK in November
or the first week or two of December though. Foot passengers and
motorcyclists (that's me :-) will virtually always get on any sailing they
want, without booking in advance.
"If you will have a rental car, the best option is usually to use a company
that lets you drop your car in Picton and get a new one in Wellington and
take the ferry as a passenger."
To which Lin Nah adds:
"They have changed the booking rules recently. Both ferries have cheaper
rates for those who book early but there are possibly no cheap fares during
peak periods. I believe they are using the similar rules of allocating
"seats" as airlines, buses and trains are.
"I agree with bruce's advice regarding rental car. IMHO the cost of taking
the car across far outweighs the inconvenience of having to unload and
reload the car at each end."
-----
There is a new venture for the yacht 'Lion New Zealand', renamed 'Phantom
of the Straits' which runs between Wellington and Picton.
Any information about making reservations, etc., would be appreciated.
-----
The ferry to Stewart Island, the Foveaux Express, sails twice daily from
Bluff, phone; +64 03 212 7660
The only alternative is to fly. Southern Air have several flights daily
from Invercargill and one from Dunedin. YHA/Student standby rates are
available. Phone; +64 03 218 9129.
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