Getting around
Crossing Cook Strait: taking a vehicle between the islands
Which vehicles can sail, when you must swap cars at the port, and how a foot-passenger crossing works end to end.
5 min read · updated 2026-09
The ferry between Wellington and Picton is one of the great scenic journeys here — around three and a half hours, with the run through the Marlborough Sounds at the southern end. Two operators sail it, and both take vehicles as well as foot passengers.
The rental car catch
Some hire companies let their vehicles sail; several do not. Take an unapproved car aboard and you risk a penalty and, more seriously, an invalid insurance policy. Check your rental terms before you book the sailing, not after.
If your vehicle is not permitted, the standard arrangement is to drop it at the port, cross as a foot passenger and collect a second vehicle on the other side. Companies that work this way normally arrange the swap for you.
Sailing with the vehicle versus on foot
| Take the vehicle | Cross on foot | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Higher — you pay for the vehicle | Lower |
| Luggage | Anything that fits in the car | What you can carry or check |
| Effort | Drive on, drive off | Unpack, repack, refuel, second check-in |
| Choice of hire company | Limited | Unrestricted |
Foot passengers check in about an hour before departure and large bags are loaded for you. Vehicle check-in usually closes earlier than that — read your ticket, and allow for Wellington traffic.
The no-driving option
Plenty of our passengers skip the hire car entirely on this stretch. We drop you at the ferry terminal, you enjoy the crossing without a vehicle to worry about, and a driver meets you at the other end for the run to Nelson, Blenheim, Kaikōura or Christchurch. No fuel, no parking, no second check-in.
Common questions
- How long is the crossing?
- Roughly three and a half hours between Wellington and Picton, plus check-in time at each end.
- Does it get rough?
- It can. The strait is exposed, and sailings are occasionally cancelled in heavy weather, so avoid booking a tight onward connection the same day.
- Can you meet me at the ferry terminal?
- Yes — Picton and Wellington terminal pickups and drop-offs are routine for us, and we watch the sailing time.
Land, meet your driver, go
We run private airport transfers and intercity trips across both islands with a fixed price quoted before you book — no meters, no surge, and your driver tracks the flight.
Get a transfer price