The trip
Everything you need to know about the Journey through Cook Strait and our ships. You can even find out where our ships are right now.
Our sailing route
From the dynamic, hilly cityscape of Wellington Harbour out through the rugged rocks and steep cliffs above the Wellington Heads – this is a journey of spectacular contrasts.
On a clear day you can see the outline of the South Island as you depart Wellington. As you sail the short stretch of open water between Wellington Heads and Tory Channel, look out for dolphins, whales and other wildlife that often keep our ferries company.
The route through Tory Channel in the Marlborough Sounds looks good from every angle. Rolling hills, lushly covered with native New Zealand bush to the water’s edge, are dotted with the occasional remote holiday home, with water access only.
As you cruise Queen Charlotte Sound towards the pretty town of Picton, you'll experience an area world-famous for its beautiful beaches, bush walks and great climate.
The Bluebridge Journey
The Bluebridge Journey
Strait Feronia
Cross over in style aboard Strait Feronia. Formally called the Stena Feronia, the ship joined our fleet in June 2015. The vessel was renamed 'Strait Feronia' recognising its past heritage and its future with StraitNZ (formerly known as Strait Shipping). Strait Feronia carries up to 2,150 lane metres and up to 400 passengers.
Strait Feronia’s spacious lounge areas have recently been refurbished for extra comfort, resulting in a modern and relaxing onboard atmosphere. For those who prefer taking in the sights, Strait Feronia features extensive outdoor decking for sightseeing from all angles, as well as a rooftop viewing deck for expansive 360-degree views
Features
- Spacious lounge areas
- Café
- Lounge bar
- Quiet lounge
- Movie lounge
- Family room
- Information area
- Extensive decking
- Viewing deck
- Toilets and baby change areas
- Work stations
- Comfortable private cabins
Facts
- Built: Cantiere Navale Visentini, Italy, 1997
- Length: 186m
- Beam overall: 25.6m
- Gross tonnage: 21,856
- Draft: 6.4m
- Main engines: Two Wartsila 8L46B - total 15600 kW
- Service speed: 16 knots
- Freight capacity: 2,150 lane metres
- Passengers: 400
Connemara
Discover Connemara, where practicality meets unrivalled comfort. Built in 2007, Connemara joined our fleet in February 2023, accommodating up to 2,255 lane metres. This makes it both our newest and largest ferry, elevating the Cook Strait crossing for up to 500 passengers per sailing.
Onboard, Connemara is modern and spacious, featuring a variety of contemporary lounge areas ideal for relaxation. If you’d rather spend the journey enjoying the remarkable sights, you will be well-served by our outdoor viewing decks.
Features
- Spacious lounge areas
- Café
- Lounge bar
- Information area
- Family room with free movies
- Extensive decking
- Viewing deck
- Toilets and baby change areas
- Comfortable private cabins
- Dedicated dog-friendly cabins plus outside communal dog area
Facts
- Built: Cantiere Navale Visentini, Italy, 2007
- Length: 186.5m
- Beam overall: 25.6m
- Gross tonnage: 27,414
- Draft: 6.3m
- Main engines: 2 x MAN/B&W x 10,800 kW each
- Service speed: 22 knots
- Freight capacity: 2,255 lane metres
- Passengers: 500
The real time map below shows our most recent ship movements on Cook Strait. The location data is supplied by marinetraffic.com and is updated frequently.
Please note this map is only an indication of our ships’ current position and is not intended to provide exact time of arrival or departure.
Disruptions
If you have provided your mobile phone number as part of your booking, we’ll try to contact you if a sailing is delayed or cancelled. In the rare event of a sailing cancellation, we will book you on the next available sailing or fully refund your ticket.
For the most part our ships glide peacefully back and forth across calm seas, carrying happy passengers to the Marlborough vineyards or to visit our capital city, Wellington. Often the crossing is idyllic and many days are at least comfortable since only a portion of the voyage is spent in open water. The rest of the time passengers cruise through Wellington Harbour and the sheltered Queen Charlotte Sound in Marlborough.
Unfortunately Cook Strait can also be one of the world’s roughest stretches of water. It’s part of the westerly wind belt known as the Roaring Forties. As the only gap between the mountainous main islands of the country, the strait acts like a wind tunnel. So from time to time we will cancel or delay a sailing to ensure passenger comfort and safety. For current changes or to confirm your sailing time, please contact us.
Road Closure Information
For up to date information about available routes, please visit Waka Kotahi or call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49). This includes links to real-time traffic updates and information about planned closures. Make sure you check your route before you travel.