How long is the ferry from Wellington to South Island?

New Zealand's most famous and beautiful ferry route is between Wellington in the North Island and Picton in the South Island. The journey between the two islands is commonly referred to as 'crossing the Cook Strait'. The sailing time is around 3.5 hours (weather dependent).



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Cook Strait can also be one of the world's roughest stretches of water. It's part of the westerly wind belt known as the Roaring Forties. As the only gap between the mountainous main islands of the country, the strait acts like a huge wind tunnel.

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Taking the ferry without a vehicle is the cheapest - and also the most convenient - way of crossing the strait - and if you book with us you will leave your existing rental vehicle at one end, and pick up a new one at the other.

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A thru-tramp takes somewhere between 50-80 days per island. The time depends on fitness, tenacity, weather, and how quickly you want to progress. 50 days is quick and would need a high degree of fitness and some luck with the weather. 80 days is leisurely.

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Generally speaking, if you want to engage with city culture or explore Maori history, the North Island is for you. If you want to deep-dive into nature, the South Island has plenty of lakes, mountains, fjords, and glaciers to discover.

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While on the ferry, especially during a long trip, you would most probably like to move around freely without having to drag your baggage with you everywhere. Most ferries have designated luggage areas, where you can store your belongings.

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You can rent a car in New Zealand if you are over 21 years old and have a full, unrestricted international driver licence or domestic licence.

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With 92 kilometers of breathtaking views, the 3.5-hour journey between Wellington and Picton is one of New Zealand's most iconic tourist activities. There are 3 different ships in operation every day, so you'll always have a wide choice of travel times. Once on board, enjoy a range of activities.

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