Ferry Trips in New Zealand: The 6 Best Crossings

1.Waiheke Island: Ferry & Hop-On Hop-Off Explorer Bus Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 3,311 reviews · 1 day · from $59Our pick

Explore Waiheke Island by ferry and hop-on hop-off bus, with flexible stops for wineries, beaches, villages, galleries, and nature walks.

“Great way to see the island. And what a beautiful island it is. You won’t be disappointed. We didn’t do any of the wineries but they did really sound good. So if wine your thing then well worth a visit. As you get plenty of time so it’s worth taking advantage of so many wineries on offer. Guides really chatty and informative. We had a really lovely girl who originally from Southend in UK, who noted our English and Essex accents. Lovely person . Gave lots info about the stops. Loved stop 9 the beach! The sun was hot! Very chilled atmosphere and beautiful to swim in the sea there.…”

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2.InterIslander Ferry – Wellington to Picton

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 417 reviews · from $58

Review of the InterIslander Ferry from Wellington to Picton, with Cook Strait views, baggage details, onboard facilities, pricing, and practical tips.

“The Ferry was a good experience, and the service aboard was very friendly and helpful. A chance to sit back and enjoy the ocean scenery.”

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3.InterIslander Ferry – Picton to Wellington

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 247 reviews · from $58

Review the InterIslander ferry from Picton to Wellington, with Cook Strait views, baggage rules, food, timing, costs, and practical tips.

“Make sure you read every single thing in the voucher before planning this trip! We drove four hours to the ferry that morning, did not see in the fine print that you have to check in 60 minutes before the ferry leaves. We were able to messRead more”

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4.Tiritiri Matangi Island Ferry

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 133 reviews · 5 - 9 hours · from $65

Review of the Tiritiri Matangi ferry from Auckland, with birdlife, walking tracks, lighthouse, beaches, schedules, value, and practical tips.

“Absolutely couldn’t have asked for more. Our guide Tina was the best and was so friendly. Just loved the whole experience. We managed to see all species of birds bar one which was the Takahe. One of the highlights was seeing a big Tuatara which really made our day and the big Punga Weta also was a great sight to see.”

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5.Auckland to Rangitoto Island Ferry

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 109 reviews · from $37Best value

Review of the Auckland to Rangitoto ferry, summit walk, lava caves, ferry logistics, costs, food advice, and tips for a smooth half-day trip.

“I loved it but then I love to hike. My husband not so much. Be aware you are walking on a volcano lava rock and it is a long steep walk to the top. Glad we went on a cloudy day. I love the view once you reach the peak. Be certain to wear good supportive shoes, you're feet will be tired from the trip. Saw many people who had fallen from slipping on the lava rock and were scraped up from the experience. Never fret it is beautiful and fun.”

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6.Man O’ War Vineyard Ferry (Waiheke Island)

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 10 reviews · 7 - 8 hours · from $65

Review the Man O' War Vineyard ferry from Auckland, with wine, lunch, beach time, schedules, value, tips, and practical advice.

“We had an excellent day celebrating our 52nd wedding anniversary. Everything about the day was done professionally and instructions were clear and the boat ride very comfortable and Island was amazing. Food very good and we loved the beer and wine. Would recommend this trip for an awesome day out.”

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