Wellington Ferry

About Wellington ferry port

Wellington ferry port is a busy transport hub located in the capital of New Zealand. It’s the main gateway to the country’s South Island, with regular services to and from Picton, a port town located on the north coast of the South Island. 

The port serves both foot passengers and vehicles, with 7 daily and 42 weekly sailings.

 Services across the Cook Strait are operated by 2 ferry companies; Interislander and Bluebridge. There are separate terminals for each ferry company, one at Aotea Quay and the other at Waterloo Quay with both terminals just a few minutes’ drive from each other.

Wellington port location

There are 2 terminals at Wellington ferry port. Bluebridge Terminal is located at 50 Waterloo Quay, just a short walk from the centre of Wellington. Meanwhile, the Interislander Terminal is located at Aotea Quay which is around a 10-minute drive from the centre of Wellington.

Getting to Wellington port

Bluebridge terminal:

Bluebridge terminal is located at 50 Waterloo Quay in the centre of Wellington. 

• By train: The terminal is located just across the road from the train station which connects Wellington to various other destinations in New Zealand such as Auckland and Hamilton. 
• By car: If you’re arriving by car, take the Aotea Quay exit off the motorway. Continue past the Sky Stadium for about 1km until you reach the terminal. 

Interislander terminal: 

The Interislander terminal is located a little bit further from the centre of Wellington on Aotea Quay. 

• By car: If you’re arriving by car, take the Aotea Quay exit off the motorway. Head south on Aotea Quay until you reach the roundabout. Take the third exit and head north. Then take the left exit, following signs for ‘Motorway North/Interislander’. 
• By shuttle: If you’re travelling as foot passenger, you can get a free shuttle from Wellington train station which will take you to the terminal. The shuttle departs 70 minutes before your scheduled departure and takes around 5 minutes.

Arriving at Wellington port

If you’re arriving at Wellington port with a vehicle, make sure you follow the signs on where to go. If you’re arriving as a foot passenger, staff will be on hand to instruct you on how to get to the terminal. 

If you’re arriving at Bluebridge terminal, you can walk to the centre of Wellington. However, if you’re arriving at Interislander terminal, you can either get a taxi or there is a complimentary shuttle service which operates between the terminal and Wellington train station. The shuttle bus leaves from the front of the terminal and will drop you at Platform 10 at Wellington train station.

Wellington port: services, amenities and more

Amenities

At both terminals you’ll find amenities such as comfortable seating areas, toilets, baby changing, vending machines, free wifi and cafes.

Parking

There are no long-term car parks directly at the ferry terminals. However, there are private car parks nearby. If you’re travelling from the Interislander ferry terminal, Sky Stadium is the nearest car park. You can pay via their app. If you’re travelling from the Bluebridge ferry terminal, Care Park NZ offers short-term parking options. For longer stays, there’s Primeparking and Wilson Parking.

Accessibility

Both Interislander and Bluebridge offer assistance at the ferry port. Just inform the company when booking your ferry or at check in on the day of your departure.

Pets

Pets are allowed at both terminals.

Luggage

There are no official luggage storage facilities at Wellington port.

Useful information

Wellington port address:

Bluebridge: 
50 Waterloo Quay, 
Pipitea, 
Wellington 6011, 
New Zealand 

Interislander: 
Aotea Quay, 
Pipitea, 
Wellington 6011, 
New Zealand

Visiting Wellington

Sandwiched between lush green hills and a natural harbour, Wellington has a picture-perfect location on the southern tip of New Zealand’s North Island. Taking the Wellington Cable Car is a great way to soak up the city’s beauty, as is climbing to the Mount Victoria lookout which offers incredible 360-degree views of the city. As well as stunning scenery, Wellington also has a vibrant culture with many art galleries and museums to browse. Te Papa, the country’s national museum, is a must-visit where you can learn all about the fascinating history of New Zealand. Wellington is also known for its amazing culinary scene, with countless markets, cafes and restaurants scattered throughout the city’s streets. Its independent coffee shops are also renowned for serving up some of the best coffee in the country.

The surrounding region

Wellington is also a great starting point for your New Zealand adventure. You can hop on a ferry to Picton and explore the country’s incredible South Island or you can head north. If you’re exploring New Zealand’s North Island, the Kapiti Coast is within easy reach with its beautiful sandy beaches, glorious sunsets and hiking trails. For something a little different, there’s the Martinborough Wine Region where you can sample and learn about the local wines. The amazing Tongariro National Park with its breathtaking volcanic landscapes is around 3 and half hours from Wellington too. Further north you’ll also find popular attractions such as the Waitomo Caves where you can see glowworms and Waikato where you’ll find the famous Hobbiton.