PictonNZWaitohi · Marlborough Sounds
An Interislander ferry underway in the sheltered water of the sound

Ferry

The Interislander at Picton

KiwiRail's Cook Strait ferry between Wellington (Kaiwharawhara) and Picton, about three and a half hours. What to know at the Picton end.

Photo: Oren Rozen / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Published

Timetable and booking

Use the official Interislander timetable. When we looked on 29 September 2026 it listed four sailings each way a day, one each way being for commercial vehicles only, and noted that some days there are delays. Interislander sends sailing alerts by text and email to people who have booked.

Interislander says daytime sailings can fill quickly and advises planning ahead for peak times such as school holidays and long weekends, especially with a vehicle. Customer service: 0800 802 802.

  • Where: the passenger terminal on Auckland Street, a short walk from the town centre. The railway station and the InterCity coach stop are beside it.
  • When: check in at least 60 minutes before departure.
  • ID: photo ID is asked for if you are over 18.
  • Luggage: carry-on is one small bag plus one handbag or laptop bag. Everything larger, including backpacks, is checked in; the allowance is two bags of up to 23 kg each.
  • The walk to the ship: about 400 m, including steps, to board or leave the ferry at Picton. Interislander recommends checking in heavy luggage.
  • Help boarding: tick “I require assistance” when booking, call 0800 802 802, or tell staff at check-in, and someone will help you on or off.
Picton's ferry terminal wharves on the foreshore, with ships alongside
The Picton ferry terminal, on the foreshore a short walk from town. Andy king50 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

With a vehicle

Vehicle check-in is on Lagoon Road. Coming into Picton on State Highway 1, Interislander’s directions are: turn left into Kent Street, which becomes Lagoon Road, and the check-in is on the right just after the NPD Picton Fuelstop. Follow the pink signs and road markings.

  • Arrive at least 60 minutes before departure; check-in closes 60 minutes before.
  • Have your booking and photo ID ready; after check-in you stay with your vehicle.
  • Anyone in your party travelling as a walk-on passenger checks in at the passenger terminal instead.
  • Accessibility: tell the crew at check-in and they will tag your vehicle to park near the lift on board.

Rental cars and parking

Hertz, Europcar, Thrifty and Dollar have rental kiosks at both the Wellington and Picton terminals, according to Interislander. Check your rental company allows the car on the ferry before you book it across.

If you are leaving a car in Picton and crossing on foot, Interislander points to the council’s long-term parking in the Dublin Street and Coathanger car parks. Parking in Picton →

At the Wellington end

The Wellington terminal is at Kaiwharawhara. A free shuttle for ferry passengers runs from Platform 10 at Wellington Railway Station, leaving 70 minutes before each sailing, and takes arriving passengers back to the station — except, when we checked, off the 9.30pm Kaiārahi arrival. There is no public car parking at the Wellington terminal apart from the drop-off and pick-up area.

Check-in times, luggage allowances and shuttle details on this page are Interislander's own. Checked 29 September 2026. These change — confirm on interislander.co.nz.

Sources