Wellington Ferry Guide: Cook Strait and the Harbour Ferry

Our Wellington ferry page lists the Cook Strait ferries to Picton and the harbour ferry to Days Bay. Interislander says its sailing time is 3.5 hours and that it has eight sailings a day, four from each side. Bluebridge says its journey takes approximately 3.5 hours and that weather conditions may occasionally slow its ships. Either way, a crossing and back is most of a day, so this is a planning article rather than a quick hop.

1. From the ship to a ferry terminal

CentrePort, the port company, says that for the 2026/2027 season the cruise shuttle from its berth stops on Wakefield Street, opposite the Amora Hotel. It says taxis are not permitted to pick up or drop off passengers at the wharf, and that there is no public access to the berth, suggesting meeting places such as Lambton Quay, the Railway Station on Bunny Street or the shuttle stop. We found no page that links the cruise berth to either ferry terminal, so ask your ship how to reach them.

The two ferry companies use different terminals. Interislander says its Kaiwharawhara terminal is between the central city and State Highway 1, just five minutes from the heart of the city, and that foot passengers can take a free shuttle that leaves from Platform 10 of Wellington Railway Station 70 minutes before sailing and takes about five minutes. Bluebridge gives its Wellington terminal as 50 Waterloo Quay, across the road from Wellington Railway Station. Your ticket names the operator, so you know which one.

2. The Cook Strait timetables

The table gives each operator's Wellington departures as its own page lists them, read on 30 October 2026. Bluebridge's page shows two tabs: one valid from 1 May to 31 October 2026 and one valid from 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027, with the same times in both and different notes. Interislander's page shows no validity dates.

Read the fine print. Interislander says the 3:30 am sailing from Wellington and the 2:30 am sailing from Picton are for commercial vehicles only, with no foot passengers. Bluebridge's winter notes say its 2:00 am Wellington sailing does not run on weekends, the 1:30 pm sailing does not run on Saturdays and some Sundays, and the 8:30 pm sailing has limited availability for passengers with vehicles; its Picton 7:45 am sailing does not run on weekends. Its summer notes say some sailings do not run on Saturdays or Sundays. Bluebridge lists its Picton departures in a separate table headed "Picton to Wellington". Check the day of your own sailing.

3. Check-in and luggage

Interislander says foot passengers should check in at the terminal at least 60 minutes before departure, with a booking confirmation on paper or on a phone, and that passengers over 18 will be asked for photo ID. Bluebridge says check-in closes one hour before sailing and that the passenger terminal building in Picton is closed for the 2:30 am sailing, when check-in is at the vehicle booth.

The luggage rules differ. Interislander says foot passengers may carry on one small bag plus one handbag or laptop bag, backpacks and wheeled cabin bags must be checked in, and the allowance is two bags of no more than 23 kg each. Bluebridge says walk-on passengers can check in up to two bags of up to 30 kg each, with hand luggage no heavier than 7 kg plus a handbag. Both say extra bags cost more; we quote no price. Interislander also says customers must not load or unload their own luggage from its trucks.

4. Assistance and accessibility

Interislander says to request help when booking, by calling 0800 802 802, or at check-in. On its accessibility page it says the lift on the ship takes wheelchairs, walkers and prams, passengers can stay in a wheelchair during the sailing, and ramps, handrails and accessible toilets are on board. It says there is no hearing loop on board, and that in Picton boarding involves a walk of about 400 m including steps. It adds that it may be unable to carry someone who cannot be safely assisted to the lifeboats. It gives no Wellington-specific access details.

Bluebridge says to tick the accessibility assistance box when booking and tell the team at check-in, and that accessibility assistance is not available on the 2:30 am sailing. Its page sets no minimum notice period. Ask in writing before you book, and see our luggage, cabins and toilets checklist.

5. The harbour ferry to Days Bay and Mātiu/Somes Island

East by West Ferries' timetable page says its timetables are valid from 11 October to 31 December 2026, with weekday departures from Queens Wharf (sixteen, from 6:10 AM to 7:10 PM) and weekend and public holiday departures (seven, from 9:00 AM to 4:10 PM). It does not state a crossing time; the timetable shows about 25 minutes between Queens Wharf and Days Bay, for example 6:10 AM to 6:35 AM. It says Eastbourne Village is a 15-minute walk from Days Bay and that sailings may be cancelled at short notice due to weather.

The company's accessibility page says all its ferry services are inaccessible by wheelchair because of high steps and steep gangway ramps, that ramps are especially steep at high tide, and that its crew are not able to physically assist passengers in the normal course of sailings. It lists Metlink's route 83 bus as an alternative to Eastbourne. Read that page before you plan around this boat.

For Mātiu/Somes Island the company says bookings are required for day trips, that a visit lasts 2 to 2.5 hours depending on the time you travel, that there is no food or drink on the island, that the return time on your booking is fixed, and that day visitors go through a biosecurity check on arrival. It says that if the company cancels a ferry because of weather you receive a full refund. The page does not give a full island timetable, and the Days Bay page does not say which Queens Wharf sailings call at the island.

6. Keeping a margin

Interislander advises booking early for busy holiday periods because daytime sailings fill quickly. With a 3.5-hour crossing in each direction, a Picton day from a ship needs the same check as any separate ticket. We have not checked any ship's schedule, so we cannot say that any Cook Strait sailing fits a port call. Work backwards from the all-aboard time with the all-aboard worksheet and read why separate tickets need a buffer.

If a sailing is cancelled, our plan B guide goes through the options. Then return to the Wellington ferry page.