Two companies sail between Wellington and Waitohi Picton, and what separates them is not the crossing but its edges: where you board, when you leave and what comes with you. Interislander, run by KiwiRail, leaves from Kaiwharawhara, between the city centre and State Highway 1; Bluebridge leaves from Waterloo Quay, across the road from the railway station. Both take about three and a half hours over Te Moana o Raukawa.
Interislander timetable from late September 2026, with KiwiRail's dated sailing tables to 31 December 2026; Bluebridge winter timetable to 31 October 2026 and summer timetable from 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027 — checked 9 October 2026 Interislander – Ferry timetable · 2026-10-09
The two timetables split the day differently. Interislander's three passenger boats leave Wellington at 08:30, 15:30 and 20:30 and come back from Picton at 09:30, 14:00 and 21:30. Bluebridge runs its daytime boats a little earlier, 08:15 and 13:30 southbound and 07:45 and 14:00 northbound, and keeps a night crossing open to the public in each direction, something Interislander reserves for trucks.
Rail travellers have a reason to pick either one. Bluebridge's Wellington terminal faces the station where the Northern Explorer ends. Interislander's free shuttle leaves from Platform 10, and on the southbound crossing its Wellington check-in will send your bags straight to the Coastal Pacific train in Picton, though you still check in for the train at the Great Journeys New Zealand desk there.
Fares do not settle it in advance, because both price each sailing separately. The ships count more: only Kaitaki, the larger Interislander ship, has cabins, while Bluebridge has them on both Connemara and Livia, with dog-friendly ones on selected sailings.
Neither company prints a set price for a seat or a car: each sailing is priced in the booking engine, in NZD, and both raised fares in 2026 because of fuel, Bluebridge from 9 April and Interislander in its May review. Compare the fare ladders instead. Interislander sells Saver (change fee, no refund), Flexible (free changes to an equal or cheaper sailing) and Refundable. Bluebridge sells Saver Sail (change fee, no refund), Super Sail (no change fee) and Flexi Sail (refundable). Changes close one hour before departure on both.
Vehicles are priced by type and length. Interislander books a car, SUV or ute as 5.5 metres and checks longer vehicles with a camera at the booth; Bluebridge charges a trailer under 2 metres as 2 metres. Bluebridge's cabin prices differ between pages of its own site, so they are not listed.
| Pōhutukawa Lounge (16+), booked in advance, per person | $ 80 |
| Pōhutukawa Lounge, booked on board, per person | $ 85 |
| Vehicle-deck kennel for a pet | $ 15 |
| Additional checked bag, up to 23 kg, per item | $ 20 |
Add-on prices shown by Interislander and Bluebridge, read 9 October 2026; crossing fares are quoted per sailing when you book Bluebridge – Fare types and payment · 2026-10-09
Both companies take the same line: out through Wellington Harbour, across the open water of Te Moana o Raukawa, then into the Marlborough Sounds for the run to Picton. Interislander warns that the strait can turn from calm to rough within hours and posts a daily swell indication, while noting that the harbour and the Sounds are calmer. Bluebridge shows its ships' latest positions on a live map. The pins here mark Interislander's terminals; Bluebridge uses Waterloo Quay and 1 Lagoon Road.
Interislander's terminal lies between the central city and State Highway 1: take the Aotea Quay exit, follow the Motorway North / Interislander signs and then the pink markings to vehicle check-in, after which you stay with the car. There is no public parking, and port works have moved the drop-off zone about 100 metres past the building, so allow an extra 15 minutes. On foot, use the free shuttle from Platform 10 of the railway station, 70 minutes before each sailing.
Bluebridge's terminal at 50 Waterloo Quay faces the station, with the Station Car Park opposite. Boarding means a walk of about 200 metres and several flights of stairs; ask for the passenger van when booking if that is hard.
Interislander drivers turn into Kent Street, which becomes Lagoon Road, and find check-in just past the NPD fuel stop. Foot passengers check in on Auckland Street, near the town centre, then walk about 400 metres, with steps, to the ship.
Bluebridge is at 1 Lagoon Road, under a kilometre from the centre, with a playground and a dog area. Its free shuttle picks up walk-on passengers at the i-SITE on the foreshore and on Wellington Street, and runs arrivals back into town.
Interislander carries a pet in your vehicle free if it is safe and ventilated; on foot, a dog needs a booked kennel. Bluebridge offers the car, a $15 vehicle-deck kennel or a pre-booked dog-friendly cabin, and locks its car decks until arrival.
Interislander: two checked items up to 23 kg each, backpacks included, extra bags $20; alcohol goes in checked bags or the car. Bluebridge: 7 kg hand luggage and two checked bags up to 30 kg each, with alcohol and instruments checked in.
Interislander's cabins are on Kaitaki only, four bunks and an ensuite. Bluebridge has one- to five-bed cabins on both ships; on its 02:30 from Picton the passenger terminal is shut and check-in is at the vehicle booth.
Both Interislander ships have a lift from the car decks; tell check-in and you will be parked beside it. On Bluebridge only Livia has a lift, and Connemara an escalator.
Both companies text and email booked passengers about weather changes, and Bluebridge runs standby lists after cancellations. Horse floats cross with Bluebridge only in swells under 2.5 m; Interislander carries no livestock above 3 m.
Why so few Interislander boats? KiwiRail retired the rail ferry Aratere in August 2025 so the wharves at Kaiwharawhara and Waitohi Picton could be rebuilt for two larger rail-enabled ferries due in 2029. Ferry Holdings, Port Marlborough, CentrePort and NZTA share that work. Until then Kaitaki, for up to 1,000 passengers, and Kaiārahi, up to 550, cover every sailing, and when one is docked the other sails alone: that happened from 22 June to 26 September 2026, and KiwiRail forecasts a Kaiārahi dry dock from 19 July to 28 September 2027. At Christmas and on long weekends, Interislander warns, late car bookings are unlikely; foot places are easier.
Bluebridge's Livia arrived in July 2025 and replaced Strait Feronia that September, alongside Connemara. In Picton, walkers bound for Ship Cove can ride Bluebridge's shuttle to the i-SITE on the foreshore, close to London Quay where the Queen Charlotte Track boats check in. In Wellington, the East by West harbour ferry to Days Bay leaves from Queens Wharf, along the waterfront from Waterloo Quay.
No. Both quote about three and a half hours; pick by departure time, terminal and what you are bringing.
Only southbound with Bluebridge, on the 02:00 from Wellington. Its 02:30 from Picton takes no walk-ons, and Interislander's 03:30 and 02:30 carry commercial vehicles only.
Bluebridge's, across the road. For Interislander, catch its free shuttle from Platform 10, 70 minutes before your sailing; it meets arriving boats too, except the 21:30 from Picton.
Yes, with both. Interislander asks for windows open about 7 cm and crew may take you down to check if the sea allows; Bluebridge keeps its car decks locked, so a kennel or dog-friendly cabin may suit better.
No. Interislander has no 20:30 from Wellington on Saturdays and usually no 09:30 from Picton on Mondays, and a few Sundays run on one ship. Bluebridge drops some sailings on Saturdays or Sundays.
Check-in closes 60 minutes before departure with both companies, driving or on foot. Interislander asks foot passengers over 18 for photo ID.
Yes. Interislander takes one per person into limited racks, so book it. Bluebridge wheels bikes on in Wellington and loads them by van in Picton.