Sailing the Cook Strait: Our Bluebridge Ferry Experience

Sailing with Bluebridge: What to Expect on the Cook Strait Ferry

25 NOVEMBER 2022
Updated 20 April 2025

Pre-Departure & Check-In

After six months of exploring a few areas of the North Island, we finally booked the ferry from Wellington to Picton with Bluebridge. While we’d been to the South Island before, we’d flown there and back, so this time we were excited to take our van and experience the Cook Strait via the ferry.

We booked our ferry online, not wanting to risk turning up at the port with no spots available - we highly recommend booking as far in advance as you can. Booking was really simple and straight forward and we chose the Saver Sail, which is the cheapest option, as we were set on the date that we wanted to sail across to the South. With the Sail Saver option changing the sailing date or time can end up being quite costly, depending on how many people are on the booking and there are no refunds for cancellations, so this option may not be the best for travellers who don't quite know when they're making the great escape to the South.

We did book 1 night in Wellington the night before, just to give us plenty of time to get to Wellington from Taranaki and we're glad we did because we were almost taken out by a power pole when the lady driving in front of us fell asleep at the wheel and hit the pole - luckily we slammed on the brakes in time and reversed up quickly! This meant that we had a long wait until the emergency services arrived and then we had to take a huge detour to get down to Wellington. New Zealand has a few main highways and if these are closed, detours can be massive! I talk about this more in detail in the Guide to Driving in NZ blog.

We checked in at the Bluebridge terminal in Wellington about an hour and a half before our sailing and unfortunately the time was delayed due to rough weather earlier that day. There are clear signs as you arrive, separating vehicles and foot passengers. We followed the vehicle check-in lane and were one of the first people waiting in line. The staff were friendly, and we were given a lane number to wait in before boarding. We were told that we could leave our car in line and head off to get food or whatever else and we had to be back by a certain time. We ended up just chilling in our car as we had plenty of snacks and didn't need the loo (but they are at the terminal in case you need to go), even though we ended up waiting for hours.

Below are the 3 different options for booking with Bluebridge. Be sure to visit their website to get the most up to date prices and options.

Boarding Times & What to Expect

If you're driving a rental car from the North to the South, it's really important that you check whether your rental company actually allows you to take the car on the ferry as some companies don't. There are plenty of rentals available near the ports at each island, so if your rental company doesn't allow it, just know that you'll have plenty of options whichever way you're going. Click here for more info.

Bluebridge offers two types of boarding: one for foot passengers and one for vehicles. The process is pretty organised, but there are a few key differences to be aware of depending on how you’re travelling.

Foot Passenger Boarding

Check-in opens: 2 hours before sailing
Closes: 45 minutes before departure

If you’re walking on, you’ll board early and can head straight upstairs to grab a good spot. It’s a smooth option for solo travellers or backpackers, but keep in mind you’ll need to carry everything with you for the duration of the trip. Once you’re onboard, there’s no luggage collection until you reach the other side.

Vehicle Passenger Boarding

Check-in opens: 2 hours before departure
Closes: 1 hour before departure

This is what we did. Once boarding started, the process was super easy. We drove on when our lane was called and were directed where to park on the vehicle deck and it felt like we were just heading into an underground carpark building. You can’t return to your vehicle once you’ve parked, so it’s important to bring everything you’ll need for the crossing—snacks, water, entertainment, chargers, warm layers etc.

Both have pros and cons, so it really depends on how you're travelling:

Foot passengers: great for solo travellers or those travelling light. You board early and can choose a good seat but need to carry everything with you.
Vehicle passengers: ideal for families or long-term travellers. You can bring more gear, and it's easier with kids, but check-in closes earlier and you can't access the car during the sailing.

We recommend arriving earlier than the minimum—especially during holidays or if you want to beat the queues for seats or food.

Onboard Experience

Once upstairs, there are a few different seating areas to choose from. There are couches and recliner-style seats with tables and charging points, ideal for working, relaxing, or letting the kids colour or play.

Bluebridge also has private cabins available to book, which include a bed and ensuite bathroom—handy if you're on an overnight sailing or want a quiet space. We decided to book a cabin for the trip in case we wanted to relax and have our own space, plus there's nothing better than having your own toilet - comfortable travel is our style!

We opted for the twin cabin which cost us $45 (in 20220 which had two single beds, a shower and a toilet. We didn't feel the need for the family room with 4 beds when we were booking as we just wanted to use the room to chill but for an extra small fee, we realised afterwards it probably would have been ideal, so we had our own bed each to chill on as Lath and I both ended up trying to nap on a bed each with one of the kids at our feet. The chairs in the lounges are quite comfortable and the sailing is only 3.5 hours, so booking a cabin isn't vital.

It was nice to have a window in the room and even though it was dirty from the salt water, we still enjoyed looking out at the views and it was private so no one would be walking by and peeking in. Each bed had a duvet and pillow on it and there was a small table in between the beds - it was basic but really nice to have a quiet place for us to unwind.

The Sailing Itself

As I mentioned, the journey across the Cook Strait takes around 3.5 hours, though it can vary depending on weather and sea conditions. Once we were underway, the scenery was beautiful! We had a great view across Wellington and passed by a wind farm on the way out of the harbour. There’s plenty of outdoor deck space for fresh air and photography, though it can get very windy, so take a jacket!

The time seemed to pass really quickly and we felt like there was enough to do on board for the length of the sailing - cafe, viewing platforms, napping in the cabin and we even found a small kids area for the kids to watch a movie while the adults chilled in the comfy chairs.

We were very lucky to have such a smooth sailing and the sun was shining the whole time - there have been some pretty out there stories of sailings on the ferries across the Cook Strait from the engines failing and the ferries drifting, to everyone on board throwing up due to the rough waves. There have even been times when the ferries have been cancelled for days. Don't let this put you off - just be prepared and make the right decision and booking for your travels and have a backup plan like flying across to the other island if the ferry isn't going to get there when you need to be.

Onboard Cafe

The cafe is open as soon as you board the ship which is AWESOME. No waiting around till you're sailing, trying to keep hungry tummies at bay. The cafe sells hot food, drinks and snacks. Prices were what you’d expect on a ferry—not super cheap but not outrageous either. The menu has a lot of different options which was really nice to see. We ordered waffle fries, nachos and fish and chips - they were ok, very basic but they filled our tummies for the few hours we were on board. However, the coffee was DELICOUS! We ordered a mocha and it really was one of the best coffees we've ever had, so that was a bonus

Arriving In Picton

We did miss out on about an hour of views as we were sleeping but woke up as we were into the sailing into the Marlborough Sounds and WOW! It was stunning, with forested hills and emerald water welcoming us into the South Island. The Sounds are so different to any landscape we had seen in the North Island so we were in awe! The closest scenery we had seen is Smugglers Bay in Northland.

We approached Picton and grabbed our stuff from the cabin. Getting off the ferry was just as easy as getting on and because we were one of the first vehicles on the ferry, it meant we were one of the first to get off.

We’ve spent a lot of time in Picton, and it never fails to impress—it’s genuinely one of the most beautiful spots in the country. Some of our favourite ways to enjoy it are hanging out at the foreshore to take photo photos and playing a round of mini golf, hiking the scenic Tirohanga Track and grabbing a scoop (or two!) of ice cream from Scoop.
If you're arriving by ferry, car rental companies are located nearby, making it easy to hit the road. You’ll also find plenty of cafes and restaurants close to the terminal. For a wider range of food options or bigger supermarkets, Blenheim is just a 25-minute drive south.

Know Before You Go

Check with Bluebridge what time you can check in from as they won't allow you to check in and park up too early
There is a cafe on board
There are plenty of seats to lounge about in on board and a couple of big TV screens to watch whatever movie is playing
There is a small area with beanbags for kids and a TV playing kids movies
It's worth getting a cabin if you want your own space or feel like having a nap! You may be able to get one last minute, just ask when you're checking in if there are any available
Remember to keep your car locked when you head onto the ferry and that you can't access the car once the ferry gets going
To see fares and a timetable, click here
While you're waiting to board the ferry with your car, you're able to park your car in line then wander off for a while before heading back at a designated time (make sure you check what time!)
Te Papa Museum isn't too far away if you arrive early and want to kill some time

Getting There

The Bluebridge Ferry Terminal is located at 50 Waterloo Quay in Wellington City. The building itself isn't signposted that well, so keep an eye out for it, but as always, your trusty maps should help you find your way!

Gallery of the Bluebridge Ferry Crossing

Check out the rest of the awesomeness that didn't make it to the main blog but deserves to be shown.

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