Cook Strait ferry

Cook Strait ferries

The Cook Strait is the body of water separating the 2 main islands of New Zealand. The Strait is 22 kilometres (or 14 miles) at its narrowest point between the North and the South Island.

Ferry services run between Wellington, the Capital of New Zealand on the North Island and the town of Picton, near Nelson, on the South Island.

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Cook Strait Operators

  • Interislander
    • 20 Sailings Weekly 3 hr 10 min
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  • Bluebridge
    • 4 Sailings Daily 3 hr 30 min
    • Get price

How long is the Cook Strait ferry service?

Currently 2 ferry operators offer sailings across the Cook Strait on a daily basis: Bluebridge (also sometimes called Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries) and Interislander.

The crossing time lies between 3 hours and 10 minutes and 3 hours and 30 minutes and is offered up to 7 times a day between the 2 operators.

Taking your car on the Cook Strait ferry

You can take your car with you on the ferry across the Cook Strait. However, please be aware, that many rental car companies don’t allow you to take your car from one island to the other. Please inform yourself about your car rental’s conditions before you book a Cook Strait ferry with your car.

Cheap Cook Strait ferry tickets

With Direct Ferries you can compare the two ferry operators on the Cook Strait, their timetables and prices, get useful information such as ferry terminal addresses and book easy and fast online. Get the best price with our fare finder.