The trip
Everything you need to know about the Journey through Cook Strait and our ships.
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
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.