If you are planning to travel through New Zealand from North to South, one of the highlights of your trip will be crossing from the North Island to the South Island through the Queen Charlotte Sound, a beautiful sound with stunning mountains and surprisingly calm water compared to the rest of the Cook Strait.
But how do you take the ferry across the Cook Strait from the North to the South Island? First and foremost, you will have to get yourself to Wellington, and from there, you can take the ferry across to Picton via Queen Charlotte Sound.
There are a few things you need to know before you make the trip from Wellington to Picton, and you will find all your questions answered here. From which ferry to pick, to how long it takes, to where to stay and things to do in Wellington and Picton, you will find all the information you need in this travel guide.
Without further ado, let's begin with the first question you are probably asking: "Which ferry should I pick to get from Wellington to Picton? Bluebridge or Interislander?"
- Bluebridge VS Interislander: Which Ferry Company to Pick?
- How Much Does It Cost to Get from Wellington to Picton?
- How to Get to the Ferry Terminals in Wellington and Picton?
- How Long Does the Ferry from Wellington to Picton Take?
- Where to Stay in Wellington?
- Where to Stay in Picton?
- Things to Do in Wellington
- Things to Do in Picton
- New Zealand Travel Video
- Further Reading for Backpacking in New Zealand
Bluebridge VS Interislander: Which Ferry Company to Pick?
There are two major ferry companies that charter people across Cook Strait from Wellington to Picton and vice versa every day that you can choose from. They are both quite different in terms of capacity and services, so in order to decide which ferry is better for you, we will have to discuss their differences.
Interislander is an older and more reputable company than Bluebridge. The Interislander ferry price is more expensive, but they do have larger ferries at around 65 NZD with more open space and public areas. These areas have indoor and outdoor seating for you to enjoy the view. The food available on the ferry is cheaper and offers more options than Bluebridge.
The Bluebridge is a cheaper option at around 56 NZD, but their ferry is smaller than the Interislander ferries, with not a whole lot of space to wander around. The Bluebridge also runs less frequently, with only 2 ferries during the day compared to the 3 ferries offered by the Interislander.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to your preferences and the time you are planning to travel. If you like to be on a ferry with more space for you to walk around and don't mind paying 10 NZD more than for Interislander, choose that option. If you would rather save that 10 NZD and don't mind the cramped space, go with Bluebridge.
Personally, I would go with the Interislander ferries as they run more frequently, providing more options for me. The spacious interior allowed me to actually enjoy the view of the Queen Charlotte Sound more, and larger ships always mean smoother trips. You can book your Interislander ticket via the link below.
How Much Does It Cost to Get from Wellington to Picton?
Depending on which ferry you pick, you can expect to spend around 56 to 65 NZD per person for the ferry ticket. As mentioned earlier, the Bluebridge is cheaper, with the cheapest ticket costing 56 NZD, whereas the Interislander will set you back around 65 NZD.
If you want to buy some food on the ferry, you can expect to pay around 19 NZD for a meal on the ferry. In total, you will be paying around 60 NZD for the ferry plus 19 NZD for food.
How to Get to the Ferry Terminals in Wellington and Picton?
Interislander Ferry Terminal in Wellington
The Interislander ferry terminal in Wellington is located just north of the city center of Wellington, and to get there, you will have to catch the free shuttle bus from Platform 9 at the Wellington Railway Station. The shuttle bus departs 50 minutes before each daytime sailing (8 AM - 6 PM), so be sure to get there on time.
Bluebridge Ferry Terminal in Wellington
The Bluebridge ferry terminal in Wellington is located closer to the city center than the Interislander ferry terminal, and it can easily be reached on foot. If not, you can catch a train to Wellington Railway Station, and the terminal will be right across the street.
Interislander Ferry Terminal in Picton
The Interislander ferry terminal in Picton is located just off 1 Auckland Street, right by the town center, and you can easily walk from there to your accommodation in Picton.
Bluebridge Ferry Terminal in Picton
The Bluebridge ferry terminal is located at 1 Lagoon Road, not too far from the center. You can also walk quite easily to and from the Bluebridge Ferry Terminal to your accommodation in Picton.
If you are on foot, there is a shuttle service that can pick you up at the Tourist Information Center (I-Site) in town. They will also offer a shuttle service to drop you off in Picton if you came from Wellington.
How Long Does the Ferry from Wellington to Picton Take?
The ferry across the Cook Strait takes around 3.5 hours, so you do not have to sleep overnight on the ferry. That said, there are also overnight ferries offered by both Interislander and Bluebridge if you wish, but you will have to pay 40+ NZD extra for a private cabin, and you will only be sleeping for a few hours.
I personally don't think it's worth spending overnight on the ferry. I'd rather take the ferry during the day so I can enjoy the view of the Cook Strait and the Queen Charlotte Sound.
Where to Stay in Wellington?
Where to Stay in Picton?
Things to Do in Wellington
If you are looking to stay a few days in Wellington, here are a few things you might be interested in doing:
- Hike up to the Mount Victoria Lookout.
- Learn more about the history of New Zealand at the free Te Papa Museum.
- Stroll around Wellington Botanical Garden.
- Ride the Wellington Cable Car for a nice view above the city.
- Eat your way through Hannah's Laneway.
- Go for a morning stroll at the Wellington Waterfront.
- Visit the Harborside Market.
Things to Do in Picton
If you are planning to stay a little longer in Picton before you go out and explore the beautiful nature of the South Island, here are a few things you can do:
- Hike the Snout Track to see Queen Charlotte Sound.
- See the world's oldest merchant ship at the Edwin Fox Ship Museum.
- Stroll around the Picton Marina.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Backpacking in New Zealand
I've spent 5 weeks backpacking in New Zealand, and I have written a ton more about my journey traveling throughout New Zealand, from the North Island to the South Island, that might help you in your trip planning.
Here's a selection of articles about New Zealand:
- Looking for a complete backpacking itinerary for New Zealand? Check out One Month Itinerary for New Zealand.
- Don't have one month in New Zealand? How about spending 2 weeks visiting all the highlights of New Zealand on the South Island? Check out our 2-Week Itinerary for the South Island, New Zealand.
- Want to visit New Zealand but not sure what to pack? Here's a packing guide to help you: What to Pack for New Zealand
- Planning a trip to New Zealand? Here are the 12 Best Places to Visit in New Zealand.
- New Zealand has a special place in my heart. It is one of the most memorable trips I have ever done, and here are 10 things I love about New Zealand.
- If you are planning to travel from North to South in New Zealand, Rotorua is a great place to start your journey from Auckland. Here are the 7 Best Things to Do in Rotorua.
- Did you know that you can climb Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings in real life? Check out: The Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Tongariro Crossing.
- Crossing from the North Island of New Zealand to the South is an experience in and of itself. See how to cross from the North Island to the South Island in New Zealand here.
- Nelson is one of the most laid-back and sunny cities in New Zealand, making it a great place to relax and enjoy the abundant sunshine. Here are the 7 Best Things to Do in Nelson.
- Did you know that you can do parts of New Zealand's Great Walks in one day? The Abel Tasman Track offers a wide range of hiking trails to choose from. Here’s The Ultimate One Day Hiking Guide to the Abel Tasman Track.
- Want to do a road trip along the Great Coast Road in New Zealand? Better start in Westport. Here are the 5 Best Things to Do in Westport, New Zealand.
- Want to go hiking on a glacier in the Glacier Country of New Zealand? Here is the Ultimate Backpacking Guide to Franz Josef.
- Wanaka is a must-visit lakeside town full of incredible nature and wonderful mountains waiting for you to explore. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Wanaka.
- Queenstown is the adventure capital of the world, and whatever extreme activities human bodies can endure, they probably have them in Queenstown. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Queenstown.
- Queenstown is also one of the best places in the world to go skydiving. Here's my experience skydiving with NZONE in Queenstown.
- The Milford Sound is one of the most popular attractions in New Zealand, and it would be a shame to miss it when you are in New Zealand. If you want to visit the Milford Sound, check out: A Day Trip from Te Anau to the Milford Sound.
- One of the best Great Walks in New Zealand is the Routeburn Track, and if you have to pick one Great Walk to do, make it this one. Here’s The Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Routeburn Track.
- Lake Tekapo and Mount Cook are some of the most photogenic places to visit in New Zealand, and it is best done together. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Lake Tekapo and Mt Cook.
- Dunedin has so much to offer for nature lovers. From the sight of the world's largest birds to the beautiful cliffs of Tunnel Beach, here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Dunedin.
- Not convinced by my words about New Zealand? Come follow me, and I’ll show you New Zealand in 70 photos.
- You can see all of my New Zealand travel guides and related articles on my New Zealand Travel Guide page.
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