Timetable & Facilities
Turn up prepared. Get the full rundown on check-in, facilities and what to expect at the terminal.
Timetables
We offer 8 sailings every day, including one overnight sailing each way. There are dangerous goods capable sailings each day.
Our two ferries make around 2,300 sailings each year and cater for commercial trucks, livestock, refrigerated units, hazardous goods, over-dimensional freight and machinery.
Terminals
With a specialised tug and drive on/drive off services, we ensure your trailer units are efficiently loaded and transported.
Interislander offers dedicated driver rooms at the terminals and on board the ferries.
Wellington Interislander Terminal
Aotea Quay
Pipitea, Wellington 6011
Access is from Hutt Road (from the north) and Aotea Quay (from the south). When coming from the north, exit from SH1/SH2 just before the two highways meet.
Picton Interislander Terminal
Lagoon Road
Picton 7220
From State Highway 1, turn right onto Kent Street which turns into Lagoon Road.
Safety
We operate machinery and plant at our terminals and onboard our ferries that has the potential to cause notifiable injuries and illnesses.
To help you stay safe, please read the Interislander CV Safety Briefing (248 KB, Pdf)open_in_new and familiarise yourself with the hazards and the appropriate controls at our terminals and on board the ferries.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Zones in the commercial vehicles area of the terminal require mandatory Hi Vis clothing to AS/NZS4602 standardsopen_in_new and safety footwear.
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Lashing Points
Specific requirements apply to the vehicle’s securing points so that it can be safely secured on board. -
Transporting Livestock
Bringing animals across? There are specific requirements around effluent tanks, vehicle covers and animal welfare. -
Dangerous Goods
Make sure your load meets code requirements before it reaches the terminal. What you need to know in advance.
Driver Facilities
Interislander offers dedicated facilities for commercial drivers before, during and after your sailing, ensuring you can meet your rest requirements throughout your journey.
Driver hut at Picton Terminal
On-board Driver Lounge
Dedicated commercial driver lounges at our terminals create a quiet place to rest before boarding the ferry. Each lounge is equipped with hot and cold drinking facilities, a microwave, toilets and showers.
Each ferry offers a dedicated lounge for commercial vehicle drivers with SKY television and WiFi. At vehicle check-in, you'll receive a voucher for a complimentary fresh, tasty meal prepared by our on-board chefs. Present your voucher to on-board staff to redeem.
Cabins and shower facilities will be allocated to drivers, subject to availability. Cabins are multiple occupancy. Crew will do their best to accommodate requests for single occupancy, however this is not guaranteed. Please note, cabins are for driver use only. Partners and children are not permitted in cabins.
Six rest slots are available for truck and trailer units at both Wellington and Picton, on a first-come, first-served basis for booked sailings discharging from the ferry.
At check-in, you'll receive a QR code to access the facility on arrival at your destination. Check in and out of the facility using this code. Lounges, showers and toilets are available to meet rest requirements.
Please note, the facility is for clean CV units with a rest cab only. Livestock trucks and dangerous goods vehicles are not permitted, and the facility cannot be used for driver exchanges or temporary parking.
| Conditions of Use and all health & safety protocols apply when using the driver rest areas at the terminals. |
Picton Driver Rest Area
Wellington Driver Rest Area
Check-in Processes
If you are taking a commercial/heavy goods vehicle or horse float across Cook Strait you will need to check-in at the Commercial Vehicle check-in hut at our terminal.
Check-in time
Please arrive at the ferry terminal at least 60 minutes prior to the scheduled time of departure. Trucks and trailers must be set up and ready to travel prior to arrival at the terminal.
Due to operational considerations such as load planning, stowage and timetable adherence, vehicles arriving within 60 minutes of departure may not be accepted for the sailing.
Interislander will send you a reminder 12 hours and 6 hours prior to the scheduled sailing to remind you to confirm, cancel or move your booking.
Booking Changes
Changes to bookings will not be possible within the hour before a scheduled sailing.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your Key Account Executiveopen_in_new to discuss.
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Until 4 hours before sailing
You can confirm, move or cancel a booking using the Customer Portal until four (4) hours before sailing. -
Until 1 hour before sailing
You can confirm or cancel (but not move) a booking through the Customer Portal until one (1) hour before sailing. -
Until 1 hour before sailing
The Interislander Contact Centre can assist with a booking change during their regular opening hours, until one (1) hour before sailing.
No show policy
| If you do not confirm your booking and you arrive less than 60 minutes before your sailing’s scheduled departure time, you will not be able to sail and you will be charged an Un-utilised Booking (No Show) ancillary surcharge for that crossing. |
We need your help to manage ferry capacity .
Demand for freight transport services continues to grow. Commercial Vehicle demand for capacity on Cook Strait ferries over the last decade has increased over one million lane metres and international and domestic tourism is rebounding post-COVID.
Together, these factors are challenging us to manage allocation and capacity utilisation more efficiently for the benefit of all Interislander’s customers.