RTW Trip Day #89: The Cook Strait Ferry to Wellington

26 December 2025

Steps: 7,436

This morning we said goodbye to Paradise Bay in the Pelorus Sound and caught the ferry from Picton over to Wellington, where Susie’s brother lives. We’ll be staying here for the next five nights, so it will be nice to have a home base for a while.

Leaving the Pelorus Sound and the Drive to Picton

Boxing Day looked a little different for us this year, as we caught a water taxi directly the off grid house we were staying in (which can only be accessed by boat). That's not something I expect to be able to say again anytime soon!

The skipper was a great guy, and we really enjoyed chatting with him during the ride. After hearing about some of his fishing charter trips, I’d love to come back and give one a try if we ever return to the area.

We made a brief stop in Picton and grabbed a great cheese toastie from Toastie Lords, which was the perfect spot to grab something quick before boarding the ferry.

The Cook Strait Ferry to Wellington

After what felt like forever queueing to get on board, we finally drove onto the Cook Strait ferry. The crossing itself was not too bad at all, especially considering the last time we did this trip twenty years ago when it was absolutely horrific.

The ferry ride takes around 4 hours from port to port, but around an hour of that journey navigates through the Marlborough Sounds, and it's definitely worth going up on deck to catch the epic scenery. You might even be able to spot your car down below!

The girls were kept entertained with some free face painting on board, which was a nice bonus, and free!

Arriving in Wellington

We arrived at Michael’s house in Wellington later in the day, and it’s lovely. He’s only been living there for a few months, but he’s put so much effort into making it perfect for our stay, including setting up a Christmas tree and even adding a few extra presents for the girls.

For dinner, we cooked some Chinese food - sweet and sour chicken with rice and noodles, which was a great way to end the day.

Previous Day #88: Christmas Day in the Pelorus Sounds

Next Day #90: Visiting Mount Victoria and Wellington Zoo

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