Travelling over the busy peak holiday season
Heading across the Strait during the summer or holiday periods? Daytime sailings can fill up quickly, so it pays to plan ahead. Last minute bookings for private vehicles are unlikely.
Why things are a bit tighter right now
The Interislander rail ferry, Aratere was retired in August to make way for new port infrastructure to prepare for the arrival of two brand-new, larger, rail enabled ferries in 2029.
The new ferry project is being led by FHL (Ferry Holdings Limited), in collaboration with port authorities and a range of industry partners.
The new ferries will have a greater capacity than our previous fleet of 3 ships. Until they arrive, our fleet is made up of the two “K” ships, Kaitaki and Kaiārahi. This means fewer sailings overall, but we’ve finetuned the timetable to keep capacity as high as possible.
What this means for you
Peak times (Christmas, school holidays, long weekends) will book out faster, especially for passenger vehicles.
Your preferred sailing time may not always be available. You might need to travel earlier in the morning or later in the evening.
We’ve opened more capacity on off-peak sailings 0330 and 0230 from 24 Dec - 6 Jan and added an extra 8:30pm sailing on 20 December.
Tips for smoother travel
Book early: The sooner you lock in your plans, the better your chance of getting the time you want.
Think off-peak: Travelling outside the busiest times gives you more options.
Go on foot: Foot passenger spaces are often easier to secure when vehicle spots are tight. Read more on where to park.
Pet travel: Now you can leave your dog in your vehicle, as long as you follow animal welfare rules.
Looking ahead
This is all part of a long-term upgrade. The new ferries arriving in 2029 will have more capacity than our previous fleet of 3 ships.
Until then, we remain focused on continuing to deliver a safe and reliable service with our two-ship fleet. Independent maritime experts have confirmed our vessels are fit to sail safely right through to 2029, thanks to our enhanced maintenance programme.
