INTERISLANDER operate daily ferry services across Cook Strait between Wellington on the North Island and Picton in the South. The 92km journey takes 3 hours and 45 minutes with breathe-taking scenery as you enter Marlborough Sounds and pass through Tory Channel and Queen Charlotte Sound down to Picton. Bookings can be made by visiting www.interislander.co.nz. In the peak summer months the ferry service is very popular and advanced bookings are a must.
Campervan rental companies permit the use of the ferry with their vehicles. Some suppliers charge an additional one way fee where a campervan is picked up on one island and returned on another. Check with your supplier when you pick up your vehicle.
Car rental companies have varying policies on their vehicles and use of the ferry service. In some instances this includes costly relocation fees and insurance coverage being suspended. In summary the process is as follows:
The following summarises each car rental company's policy regarding the Ferry service. Whilst every effort is undertaken to ensure that this is accurate and current, DriveNow recommends checking with your rental provider when picking up your vehicle as to terms and conditions are subject to change beyond our control.
Hertz and Firefly do not permit their vehicles to be taken on the ferry and substantial fees apply where vehicles are returned on a different island. With branches located at both the ferry wharf in Wellington on the North Island and Picton on the South Island it's easy to leave your car at one and collect at the other. This saves you the cost and hassle of transporting your car between the islands.
To use this service:
Advise Hertz when picking up your vehicle about when you intend to travel on the ferry (or call them 48 hours in advance of your ferry crossing).
AVIS do not permit their vehicles to be taken on the ferry. Any vehicle travelling on the ferry is not covered by insurance. Should a vehicle be picked up in one island and dropped off on the other a minimum relocation fee of NZ$450 will be applied.
Avis operate a special rental system known as "Multi-island Hire". This allows for a single rental booking with the same rate covering 2 vehicles one on each island.
To use this service:
If you cannot meet the Multi-island Hire requirements then 2 separate rental bookings with separate rates will be required.
Talk with the AVIS team when you pick up your vehicle about your inter-island travel plans.
BUDGET do not permit their vehicles to be taken on the ferry. Any vehicle travelling on the ferry is not covered by insurance. Should a vehicle be picked up in one island and dropped off on the other a minimum relocation fee of NZ$450 will be applied.
Budget operate a special rental system known as "Multi-island Hire". This allows for a single rental booking with the same rate covering 2 vehicles one on each island.
To use this service:
If you cannot meet the multi-island hire requirements then 2 separate rental bookings with separate rates will be required.
The final step is to send an email to Budget reservations at reservations@budget.co.nz, quoting your Budget Reservation Number from your DriveNow confirmation email and provide details of your planned itinerary. Budget will create separate reservations for each leg of your journey, ensuring that the DriveNow rate is applied over the entire rental period.
If you wish to collect your rental car outside of the normal operating hours for Budget Picton & Budget Wellington Ferry Terminal, a 'Meet Late Arrival' fee of NZD $50 + GST will apply. Please refer to the following pages for location opening hours, contact details, and location maps:
Budget Inter-Island Info
Europcar, Keddy and Inter-Rent vehicles are not permitted to travel on the ferry between the North and South islands in New Zealand.
Where your drop-off location is on a different island you need simply specify the pick-up and drop-off locations (for example Christchurch and Auckland) and your booking will be split by the rental company into 2 separate bookings with a drop-off and pick-up at the ferry terminal at either end of the Inter-Island service in Picton or Wellington.
To use this service:
Thrifty vehicles are not permitted to travel on the ferry between the North and South islands in New Zealand. All insurance cover is voided if a vehicle is taken on the ferry and other financial penalties may apply.
Thrifty have offices at both ferry terminals in Picton and in Wellington. If you plan to tour both islands you won't have to worry about the ferry expense of taking the car across.
To use this service:
The final step is to send an email to Budget reservations at reservations@thrifty.co.nz, quoting your Thrifty Reservation Number from your DriveNow confirmation email and provide details of your planned itinerary. Thrifty will create separate reservations for each leg of your journey, ensuring that the DriveNow rate is applied over the entire rental period.
Thrifty Inter-Island Info
Go Rentals vehicles are permitted to be taken across on the Inter-Island ferry service.
Go Rentals Inter-Island Info
Jucy do allow their vehicles to be taken onboard the Inter-Island Ferry services at no extra charge. Note that Jucy does not have branches at either the Wellington or Picton Ferry Terminals.
Updated March 2019