interislander ferry
- terms and faqs
Find the answers to commonly asked questions here. If you need any further help
please do not hesitate to contact us.
do you offer discounted fares?
Yes. We offer three fare types with different terms and conditions to suit the different
needs of both domestic and international travellers. These are summarised below.
Flexi-Saver Fares
Flexi-Saver fares are fully transferable and fully refundable up until 24 hours
prior to the scheduled departure time of the service. After this time no refund
applies.
Flexi-fares are an ideal choice for those customers that do not want to be tied
down to a fixed timetable, and want the flexibility of being able to change their
travel plans at short notice.
Super-Saver Fares
Super-Saver fares are non-transferable and non-refundable. They are only valid for
the services stated on the ticket and are not able to be changed or cancelled.
Super-Saver fares are an ideal choice for those customers that are travelling on
a fixed timetable, and that want a cheaper alternative to the flexi-saver fare.
Ultra-Saver Fares
Ultra-Saver fares are our special promotional fare type and are only offered on
a very limited basis. These fares are sold on the same basis as super-saver fares.
i.e They are only valid for the services stated on the ticket and are not able to
be changed or cancelled.
All fares are sold subject to the general terms and conditions of carriage of interislander.
Please click here to view or download full terms and conditions.
what is kaitaki plus?
Kaitaki Plus is the most comfortable and luxurious way to travel across Cook Strait.
Enjoy your time on board in the elegant and exclusive Kaitaki lounge, where you'll
be treated to complimentary light snacks, beer wine tea coffeee, and newspapers
magazines and internet access.
Seats are limited, so be sure to reserve a space when you make a booking.
Kaitaki Plus is restricted to those 18 years and over. It's so peaceful and quiet,
you'll wish you could sail for longer - children are not permitted.
does the cost of taking my car include the driver?
No, our fares are comprised of an individual charge for the vehicle plus the cost
of each person travelling. The total fare will be the sum of each of these components.
do you offer special fares for seniors?
Yes, we offer senior fares for passengers over 60 years of age. These are available
on every sailing. A Seniors Card is not required but proof of age may be requested
at check-in.
do you offer special fares for tertiary students?
Yes, we offer student fares full time NZ students. These are available on every
sailing. Please Note. Student photo ID may be requested at check-in.
do you carry unaccompanied children?
No. Interislander is unable to carry passengers under the age of 14 unless an adult
of 15 years or over accompanies them.
do I receive a GST Invoice?
Yes, the e-ticket sent to you is an Inland Revenue-approved tax invoice.
how long does the journey take?
The journey time from Wellington to Picton on our passenger vessels is 3 hours.
what time do your ferries leave from Wellington / Picton?
Interislander offers a year round service of up to 5 return passenger sailings per
day between Wellington and Picton. Please
click here to view the
wellington ferry and
picton ferry timetables.
do you change your timetable during holiday periods?
Generally Interislander offers two timetables - a summer and a winter schedule.
Please click here to check the timetable for the date you are looking at.
when should I check-in?
If you are travelling as a walk-on passenger, you need to check-in at the terminal
at least 30 minutes prior to the departure time of your sailing. If you are travelling
with a vehicle onboard then you need to check-in at the vehicle check-in area no
later than 1 hour before departure time.
how do I make an online booking?
Booking online is a simple 4-step process:
- Enter your travel requirements in the search panel.
- Select a sailing time and fare type that best meets your needs.
- Enter your contact and passenger details.
- Enter your payment details.
Your e-tickets will be emailed to you immediately after your credit card details
have been verified and processed.
how do I change or cancel an online booking?
Please call our Central Reservations Centre on 0800 500 690 or email reservations@ferrytickets.co.nz
Please be aware that any changes must be made prior to the time of check-in, and
that some fare types are non-transferable and non-refundable.
how far in advance can I book?
In general you are able to book six months in advance.
what happens if I book the wrong vehicle fare?
Interislander reserves the right to reassess at check-in the classification (type,
width, length or weight) of any vehicle and applicable changes may be made to the
fare charged. Any increase in a fare must be paid before the vehicle is loaded.
Vehicles will not be carried unless accompanied by a driver. Trailers or caravans
will not be carried unless towed by another vehicle.
Carriage of a vehicle may be refused if Interislander considers it to be insecurely
loaded or otherwise unsafe for carriage.
All vehicles must conform with laws, regulations and General Conditions relating
to the carriage of Dangerous or Hazardous Goods or substances.
House trucks must have more than 50% of the vehicle permanently converted as living
space.
what happens if I book the wrong passenger fare?
Interislander may reassess at check-in the classification of passenger type (adult,
child, infant, senior or tertiary student) if this cannot be verified at check-in.
what happens if there are service delays or cancellations?
Departure times are not guaranteed and schedules are subject to change. We will
not be liable for any loss suffered as a result of a service departing/arriving
before or after the scheduled time or being cancelled altogether.
We advise passengers to obtain their own travel insurance to cover delays, changes
or cancellations, and to insure all vehicles, luggage and personal items.
what is my luggage allowance?
Passengers may check-in two items of luggage, up to a size of 200 linear cm (height
plus length plus width) and weighing up to 30kg each. Excess luggage under 30kg
will be charged at $5 per item. Luggage items between 30 and 50kg will be charged
an excess luggage fee of $35.
how about hand baggage and sporting equipment?
Small hand baggage can be taken onboard our vessels as personal hand luggage and
at the owner's risk. Coin operated lockers are available onboard for the storage
of these small items.
equipment such as surfboards, golf clubs, canoes and bicycles can be carried on
all vessels for a small charge of $15.
do you carry unaccompanied luggage
No. Unfortunately we do not offer this service. Please contact a courier company
to help you with this type of facility.
must I have a driver to accompany my car?
Yes, all vehicles must have someone travelling with them.
what facilities do you have for disabled travellers?
Interislander Ferry - Arahura
Arahura has lift access between most decks, and most of the facilities (including
some toilets and the Food Court) have disabled access. click here to view ship layout.
Interislander Ferry - Aratere
People with disabilities and those caring for babies and toddlers will appreciate
the lifts provided for easy access from the vehicle deck to both passenger decks.
Toilet facilities for people with disabilities are on Deck 4. click here to view ship layout.
Interislander Ferry - Kaitaki
Kaitaki has lift access between most decks, and most facilities have disabled access.
click here to view
ship layout.
Wellington Interislander Ferry Terminal
Foot passengers - elderly or disabled passengers can arrange a ride up the gangway
onto the ship by advising check-in staff when collecting their boarding passes,
or the security officer at the gangway entrance.
Vehicle passengers - we can arrange for the vehicle to be parked as close to the
lift on board as possible, as long as terminal staff are advised at the time of
check-in.
Disabled Toilets - are available in the departure terminal.
Picton Interislander Ferry Terminal
Foot passengers - there is a lift to the first floor of the Picton terminal. Elderly
or disabled passengers can arrange a ride up the gangway onto the ship be advising
check-in staff when collecting their boarding passes, or the security officer at
the gangway entrance.
Vehicle passengers - we can arrange for the vehicle to be parked as close to the
lift on board as possible, as long as terminal staff are advised at the time of
check-in.
Train passengers - if you require assistance to the train station from the Picton
terminal, please see the onboard services staff who will arrange a ride to the station
for you.
Disabled Toilets - are available at the terminal.
can I take my pet on the ferry?
Yes, you can take your pets in the ferry. Animals are accepted on interislander
services as follows:
Guide dogs may remain in the company of blind persons. There is no charge for a
guide dog.
Dogs can be placed in dog kennels. The kennels are located on the vehicle deck of
Kaitaki and on the rail deck of Aratere and Arahura. Passengers place their dogs
in the kennels themselves. There are a limited number of kennels therefore it is
necessary to book early. There is a small charge of $15 per kennel. Please bring
a blanket, as this will make the dog more comfortable on the steel kennel floor.
Dogs and other animals remaining in their owner's vehicle will not be charged (excludes
campervans taking cattle, horses, sheep etc). The animals must remain in the vehicle
throughout the journey and have fresh water available to them.
Cats or birds in cages may be conveyed as checked baggage and will be placed in
the front of our baggage trucks or at the Information desk, as long as the cage
or container is well ventilated and leak-proof.
All animals are carried at owner's risk.
can I carry hazardous substances, dangerous goods, arms and munitions
Dangerous goods / hazardous substances include items such as compressed gases, flammable,
explosive, corrosive, poisonous, toxic, infectious or magnetised materials or substances.
Carriage may be permitted only if arranged with Interislander prior to the journey.
Firearms must be checked-in at the terminal.
Interislander reserves the right to inspect any vehicle, baggage or other property.
who is interislander?
Interislander is a division of KiwiRail Ltd and operates three vessels
- Arahura, Aratere and Kaitaki, that provide daily ferry services across the Cook
Strait for passengers, vehicles, and freight.
Each year interislander transports over 1 million passengers and 230,000 domestic
vehicles between Wellington and Picton. In total, interislander employs 567 full
time staff. 68 work in the Head Office environment, 98 at the terminals, and 401
onboard the ships themselves. Ship crew is made up of 67 officers, 62 engineers,
175 onboard services crew and 97 deck crew.
what is your smoking policy
Smoking onboard or at our terminals is not permitted except in designated outdoor
areas.
what is your security policy?
Our online booking system uses internationally accepted Secure Socket Layer (SSL)
technology to protect your details. Once you have chosen your desired sailing(s)
and have reached the Enter Passenger Details page you will notice a padlock symbol
on the bottom right side of your web browser. This indicates a secure connection
between your web browser and our web server.
From this point in the booking process, any data passed between your web browser
and our server will be encoded to form a secure information tunnel. This includes
of course your credit card details. Our server, in turn, has a high level of security
attached to it when it verifies your payment details.
what is your privacy policy?
We are committed to protecting the confidentiality of information we collect and
hold. Consequently, we have adopted the following policies to safeguard your personal
information and that of our customers. This Policy Statement reflects the requirements
of New Zealand's Privacy legislation, and the 12 Principles this embodies.
The collection and use of personal information is limited to what is necessary to
administer our business, provide customers with the highest quality service, and
offer opportunities we think will be of value to customers. We do not disclose any
individual information to other organisations, unless authorised by the individual
concerned.
We may on occasions collect personal information from visitors to our site on a
voluntary basis. Such personal information may include name, title, company, address,
phone number, e-mail address, etc. This individual information is used to process
transactions initiated by our customers or for marketing our products, events and/or
services, or market research by a third party. We do not sell, rent or transmit
personal information to other organisations. When such data is voluntarily provided
it may also be used to help us refine or customise our website to better meet customer
needs. The intention is to ensure that site visitors only see data that they are
entitled or wish to see. In other words it allows us to protect the privacy and
commercial confidentiality of data derived from our normal business transactions
while also meeting the needs of site visitors.
When personal information is provided to us it is secured on a separate server with
restricted access. Only designated employees or technical support agents who need
to carry out legitimate business functions are permitted to view your personal data.
Employees or agents who violate our privacy policies are subject to disciplinary
actions, up to and including termination.
Our Web server does not automatically recognise or capture information regarding
the e-mail address of any visitor to our website. The server does however collect
originating domain and visitor activity on the site - what pages are accessed, the
duration of visits, and what paths are followed within the site. This information
is only available to staff in an aggregated form.
Because we consider the individual information we maintain to be confidential, our
policy is to disclose no personal information to third parties unless release is
required by law or is pertinent to judicial or government investigations or proceedings.
