Sailing from Wellington to Picton on the Bluebridge Ferry

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Crossing the Cook Strait isn’t just an unavoidable logistical requirement for a North Island + South Island road trip combo, it’s actually a must-do New Zealand experience in itself. Sailing into (or out of) the magical Marlborough Sounds is an iconic Aotearoa moment!

The ferry journey between Wellington (North Island) and Picton (South Island) takes 3.5 hours, you can take cars and campervans with you or go as a foot passenger, and you’ve got two operators to choose from: Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries and the Interislander.

For my own trips down south I always go with Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries. Their two sister ships, the Connemara and the Livia, offer a very similar onboard experience with private cabins, viewing decks and a mix of seating options whether you’re looking for comfort, a workspace or something kid-friendly.

From the simple check-in process to the ship facilities to what to expect during the sailing, this detailed Bluebridge Ferry review covers everything you need to know before you go.

Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries: Quick summary

• Route: Wellington ⇄ Picton
• Travel time: Around 3.5 hours
• Sailings: 3-4 per day
• Current fleet: The Connemara (joined in 2023) and the Livia (joined in 2025)
• Private cabins: Yep, on both ships!
• Dog-friendly: Yes, both ships have dog-friendly cabins with dedicated outdoor areas as well as kennels. You can even get your doggo a ‘pawsport‘ to stamp each time they cross the Cook Strait 🥺🥺🥺
• Adults-only lounge: The beautiful Pōhutukawa Lounge on the Connemara

Who are Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries?

Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries have been connecting New Zealand’s North and South Islands for passengers since 2002, with up to four sailings per day and about 50 per week with their two ships, the Connemara and the Livia.

They’re particularly focused on offering great deals for different types of travellers, with 5% off for NZ-based students, discounts for families, Saver Sail fares for the budget-conscious and Flexi Sail fares if you need flexibility to change your plans.

Checking in to the Bluebridge ferry

The Bluebridge Ferry Terminal in Wellington is in the central city, right opposite Wellington Station, making it super convenient for walk-on passengers and commuters but still easy enough to reach from the motorway.

In Picton the terminal is only a few minutes from town and from State Highway 1, which will take you towards Blenheim and beyond.

Check-in closes an hour before departure, leave some leeway in your travel plans to ensure you’re not cutting it too close.

Checking in with a vehicle is a straightforward process, you just drive up to the window with your booking details and then wait your turn in the lane they direct you to until it’s time for you to board. I’ve driven a range of vehicles onto the ferry, from a compact Corolla to a not-so-compact 6.3m four berth campervan, the Bluebridge crew will help you board and park comfortably.

Once parking up (with your handbrake on tight, and with your gas bottles closed if you’re in a campervan) you grab whatever you’ll need for the next few hours and make your way up to the passenger areas. You can’t access the vehicle deck again until you arrive at the other side.

What to expect onboard a Bluebridge ferry

The Livia and the Connemara are sister ships that look practically identical from the outside with a similar onboard setup too, but there are a few differences worth knowing about to help you choose between them.

Let’s start with what you’ll find on both of the ships.

A range of seating areas

If you don’t book a cabin or the Connemara’s Pōhutukawa Lounge, there’s still loads of spacious and comfortable seating options for you depending on how you want to spend your 3.5 hours. You can choose from:

• Proper tables and chairs
• Bar seating near the coffee bar
• Comfier plush chairs to zone out or catch up on sleep
• Work-friendly spots with access to power plugs

There’s WiFi available throughout the passenger areas but it can be patchy when you’re in the middle of the Strait, so download stuff to watch before you go.

Private cabins

Both of the Bluebridge ships have simple but comfortable private cabins, ideal if you need to catch up on sleep or if you just want your own space to relax, rest and freshen up before the next leg of your journey.

All cabins have air con, plugs, a desk and chair, linen, ensuite bathrooms and towels. Prices start from $60 for a twin bed cabin, totally worth it to have your own space and somewhere comfy to lie down!

There are also designated dog-friendly cabins if you’re bringing a four-legged friend onboard.

Viewing decks

Don’t make the mistake of spending the whole trip inside, because you’ll pass through some spectacular scenes especially on the way in or out of the Marlborough Sounds.

Kid-friendly areas

Both ships have dedicated family zones with some toys, games and a TV playing kids’ movies.

The Livia vs. the Connemara

The best ship to book will probably come down to which one’s departure time suits you best, but if you’re truly tossing up between the two, here are the main deciding factors.

The Livia’s movie room & modern fitout

The Livia joined Bluebridge’s fleet in 2025 so has had a more recent fitout, and she’s got a theatre playing free movies as well as the separate kids’ area with the kid-friendly flicks on TV.

The Connemara’s Pōhutukawa Lounge

The adults-only Pōhutukawa Lounge on the Connemara is brilliant, a peaceful and relaxing way to cross the Cook Strait.

It’s got comfy lounge seats as well as proper recliners, complimentary food and drinks with local ingredients at the forefront, an exclusive panoramic viewing deck for sightseeing and photography with no kids running around, and work-friendly tables for getting in the zone with no distractions.

This was SUCH a gamechanger on my last trip down south. Ferries are typically pretty hectic with loud children and big groups, passengers rushing to the window seats, trying to find a table with an easy access plug, obviously this is just what travel is like *but* if there’s an affordable option to avoid the chaos, for me it’s well worth it.

I was one of the last vehicles to board the ship, so by the time I got up to the passenger areas alllll the good seats were taken. Having lounge access meant that I skipped the usual wander-around-for-20-minutes routine to find a suitable place to park up, I just made my way to the Pōhutukawa Lounge to check in and had plenty of seats to choose from. I was on laptop duty, and I was starving, so I made myself at home in the dining area.

This was the afternoon sailing so we had lunch served first and then some smaller bites for afternoon tea before arriving. The lunch buffet included crispy pork belly, teriyaki chicken, vegetable curry, buttery mashed potatoes, other veggies, a superfood salad and a garden salad, plus sweet treats like mini pavlovas for dessert, and afternoon tea was sandwiches, fresh fruit, eclairs and donuts.

Drinks are also included, with a range of local wine, beer, RTDs and non-alcoholic drinks, and barista-made coffee.

The Pōhutukawa Lounge is R16 and available on Connemara sailings from 8.15am Wellington to Picton and 2pm Picton to Wellington, the cost is $80 per person if you pre-book or $85 if you book onboard.

Bluebridge ferry food

The Bluebridge café serves up a decent menu of classic cooked meals, gourmet toasties and lots of sandwiches and other snacks.

The brunch menu includes a smoothie bowl, eggs benedict and a big breakfast to name a few. For lunch or dinner if you want something hearty there are burgers, fish & chips and pizza, or for a lighter meal there are dumplings, tacos, salads and toasties.

There’s also a kids menu with a few different options for the little ones, and snacks like chips, lollies, baked slices and more.

In terms of liquid refreshments they have local wine, beer (both craft beer and the usual suspects), non-alcoholic beverages like soft drinks and juices, tea and L’Affare coffee.

Bluebridge ferry prices

Prices for a one way sailing passenger-only start from $67 (or from $73 for more flexible tickets) and if you’re taking a car tickets start at $209 (or from $255 for a flexible ticket).

Students get a 5% discount year-round, and there are family discounts available too.

How to book your Bluebridge Ferry

You can book direct with Bluebridge right here >>

MORE NEW ZEALAND BLOGS YOU MIGHT LIKE:

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• All the Best Glamping Spots in New Zealand
• 12 Epic Things to Do in Marlborough
• 15 Fun Things to Do in Abel Tasman

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