Campervan Ferry NZ: Interislander & Bluebridge Guide

The inter-island ferry is one of the highlights of a full New Zealand campervan trip — and it's a lot simpler to organise than most people expect. Two operators run the Cook Strait crossing: Interislander (owned by KiwiRail) and Bluebridge. Both run from Wellington's ferry terminal to Picton in the Marlborough Sounds, and the crossing takes approximately 3 hours on Bluebridge and 3.5 hours on Interislander. Neither is significantly better than the other — compare prices and departure times for your specific dates and book whichever works. The Interislander tends to have slightly more onboard facilities (cinema, café, observation decks); Bluebridge is often cheaper and their ships are newer. Both routes pass through the Marlborough Sounds as you arrive in Picton, which alone is worth the crossing — narrow channels, steep forested hillsides, and the occasional seal.

Booking is straightforward: go to the operator's website, select Wellington to Picton (or reverse), choose your date, and specify 'campervan' as your vehicle type. You'll need to enter your vehicle's length, height, and width — these are listed on each camper's detail page on our website. Campervans are loaded into the vehicle deck and parked in rows; you leave your vehicle for the crossing and go up to the passenger decks. There's no access to your camper during the voyage, so take anything you need — snacks, a book, a jacket — before you board. Fares vary considerably with season and how far in advance you book. As a rough guide, budget NZ$180–250 for the vehicle (driver included) each way, though early booking can get you significantly better rates.

The single most important piece of advice: book early. December through February is the peak travel period and the ferry sells out weeks — sometimes months — in advance. We've spoken to travellers who missed their intended dates entirely because they waited too long. Shoulder season is more forgiving but still worth booking ahead. Arrive at the terminal at least 45–60 minutes before your scheduled departure — check-in closes 30 minutes before sailing. If you're travelling from Wellington, the terminal is at Aotea Quay, about 2 km from the city centre. In Picton, you're loaded onto the ferry in the town harbour, right in the centre. One final note: the Marlborough Sounds stretch on the Picton arrival is unhurried — the ship navigates slowly through the sounds for about 40 minutes before docking. It's some of the most scenic ferry travel you'll find anywhere.