New Zealand Ferries: Cook Strait & Hauraki Gulf Islands
Cook Strait ferries link New Zealand’s North and South Islands through the Marlborough Sounds, while Auckland’s fast ferries reach the Hauraki Gulf islands, including Waiheke.
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New Zealand Ferry Routes Map
Interactive sea routes, island lifelines, and river/lake car ferries across New Zealand.
Island & Coastal Lifeline Crossings
Offshore archipelago connections and scenic coastal routes
Wellington → Picton
Wellington Ferry Terminals to Picton Ferry Terminal
The ferry between New Zealand’s North and South Islands, crossing Cook Strait and then winding through the Marlborough Sounds into Picton. It is one of the world’s most scenic ferry journeys and essential for road trips around New Zealand.
Auckland → Waiheke Island
Auckland Downtown Ferry Terminal to Matiatia Wharf
The passenger ferry from downtown Auckland to Waiheke Island, known for vineyards, beaches and Oneroa village. Vehicles go on a separate car ferry from Half Moon Bay to Kennedy Point.
Auckland → Rangitoto Island
Downtown Ferry Terminal, 99 Quay St (Piers 13 and 14) to Rangitoto Wharf
Fullers360 runs the only scheduled ferry to Rangitoto, the Hauraki Gulf’s youngest volcano, where a roughly one-hour climb through lava fields leads to summit views over Auckland; a causeway links it to Motutapu Island.
Half Moon Bay (East Auckland) → Waiheke Island
SeaLink terminal, 37 Ara Tai Road, Half Moon Bay to Kennedy Point
SeaLink’s car ferry is the main vehicle link to Waiheke Island, sailing from Half Moon Bay in East Auckland to Kennedy Point near Surfdale, for drivers heading to the island’s vineyards and beaches.
Auckland (Wynyard Quarter) → Waiheke Island (Kennedy Point)
SeaLink terminal, 56 Hamer Street to Kennedy Point
The city-centre alternative for taking a car to Waiheke: SeaLink sails from Hamer Street in Wynyard Quarter to Kennedy Point three times a day, avoiding the drive out to Half Moon Bay.
Auckland (Wynyard Quarter) → Great Barrier Island (Aotea)
SeaLink terminal, 56 Hamer Street to Tryphena Wharf
SeaLink’s car ferry to Aotea Great Barrier Island, an off-grid Dark Sky Sanctuary on the outer Hauraki Gulf, sails from Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter to Tryphena, with some sailings to Port Fitzroy.
Auckland → Tiritiri Matangi Island
Viaduct Harbour to Tiritiri Matangi Island Wharf
Explore Group’s day ferry to Tiritiri Matangi, a predator-free open wildlife sanctuary where takahē, kōkako and saddleback roam, calls at Gulf Harbour on the Whangaparāoa Peninsula on the way.
Bluff → Stewart Island (Oban)
Stewart Island Experience Visitor Terminal, 21 Foreshore Road to Stewart Island Visitor Terminal, Oban
The one-hour Foveaux Strait crossing from Bluff, at the bottom of the South Island, to Oban on Rakiura Stewart Island, gateway to Rakiura National Park, kiwi spotting and Ulva Island’s bird sanctuary.
Auckland → Rotoroa Island
Explore booking kiosk, Viaduct Harbour to Rotoroa Island
Explore Group’s ferry from Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour to Rotoroa Island, a predator-free wildlife sanctuary in the Hauraki Gulf, takes 75 minutes each way. It leaves at 9:15am every day, with a second 11:30am sailing at weekends and on public holidays, and returns to Auckland in the late afternoon.
Paihia → Urupukapuka Island (Ōtehei Bay)
Paihia Wharf (also picks up at Russell) to Ōtehei Bay, Urupukapuka Island
Explore Group’s Ōtehei Bay ferry crosses the Bay of Islands from Paihia to Urupukapuka Island in about 40 minutes, picking up at Russell ten minutes later. From September it leaves Paihia at 8:30am, 10:00am, 11:30am, 2:00pm and 5:00pm, and comes back from Ōtehei Bay at 10:45am, 12:15pm, 1:45pm, 4:15pm and 5:45pm.
Rivers, Estuaries & Lakes
Essential vehicular shortcuts, cable ferries, and scenic inland water passages
Auckland → Devonport
Downtown Ferry Terminal, 99 Quay St (Pier 4) to Devonport Ferry Terminal
Auckland’s busiest ferry crosses the Waitematā Harbour in 12 minutes from the Downtown Ferry Terminal to Devonport, the Victorian seaside suburb beneath the volcanic cones of Maungauika/North Head and Takarunga/Mt Victoria.
Auckland → Half Moon Bay
Downtown Ferry Terminal (Pier 5) to Half Moon Bay Ferry Terminal
An Auckland Transport commuter ferry from the city centre around Bastion Point to Half Moon Bay marina in East Auckland, avoiding the congested eastern suburbs roads.
Paihia → Russell
Paihia Wharf to Russell Wharf
Northland Ferries’ passenger ferry crosses the Bay of Islands from Paihia to Russell (Kororāreka), New Zealand’s first colonial capital with its historic Strand waterfront and Christ Church.
Opua → Okiato (Russell)
Opua vehicle ferry ramp to Okiato vehicle ferry ramp
The short vehicle ferry across the Veronica Channel from Opua to Okiato is the quickest road route to Russell, saving the long drive around the Bay of Islands.
Wellington → Days Bay (Eastbourne)
Queens Wharf to Days Bay Wharf
East by West’s Metlink harbour ferry links Queens Wharf in central Wellington with Days Bay on the Eastbourne shore, with some sailings calling at Mātiu/Somes Island, a predator-free scientific reserve.
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