Stewart Island Ferry
Stewart Island Ferry
Duration: 1 hour
1 hour
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience
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Get your booking confirmed instantly
Cross the Foveaux Strait on a comfortable express catamaran, enjoying stunning coastal views, fascinating history, and spot unique wildlife.
Take a relaxing one-hour ferry journey to Stewart Island with coastal views, live commentary, and a warm cup of tea or coffee.
Spot seabirds such as mollymawks (albatross) and titi (muttonbirds) soaring behind the ferry as you cruise.
Learn about the region’s history and see key sights like Dog Island Lighthouse, Ruapuke Island, the Titi Islands, and Mount Anglem.
Enjoy a smooth, scenic ride with complimentary tea and coffee on board, making for a relaxing start or end to your Stewart Island adventure.
Did you know? Captain James Cook, who first charted the island in 1770, initially mistook Stewart Island for Banks Peninsula of the South Island.
One-way ferry transfer to Stewart Island from Bluff (as per option selected)
One-way ferry transfer to Bluff from Stewart Island(as per option selected)
Live commentary
Complimentary coffee or tea
Tourists on the deck of the Stewart Island Ferry in New Zealand waters.
Cross the wild waters of Foveaux Strait on the Stewart Island Ferry. With stunning coastal views, a chance to spot diverse wildlife, and tidbits of local history, this ferry ride will give you a peek into Stewart Island’s remote beauty and maritime heritage.
Getting started
Check-in at the Stewart Island Experience Visitor Terminal at 21 Foreshore Road, Bluff, before boarding your express catamaran. Set sail from this coastal gateway for a scenic one-hour ferry ride across Foveaux Strait.
What to expect
Scenic ferry journey: Cross Foveaux Strait, the waterway separating Stewart Island from the South Island, aboard a fast and comfortable express catamaran.
Wildlife spotting & seabirds: Keep your eyes on the horizon for wildlife , from soaring mollymawks (a type of albatross) to other seabirds following the ferry.
Live commentary & iconic sights: Listen to onboard commentary about landmarks like Dog Island Lighthouse, Ruapuke Island, the Titi Islands, and Mount Anglem—Stewart Island’s highest peak.
Relax & enjoy a warm drink: Sip on a complimentary tea or coffee as you take in the views of Stewart Island’s rugged coastline and the Southern Ocean.
Wrapping up
Disembark at Oban, Stewart Island’s only town, where you can explore Rakiura National Park, spot native kiwi, or soak in the island’s remote charm. Once done exploring, you can always take the return ferry to Bluff.
Crew assisting tourists boarding the Stewart Island Ferry.
Couple talking to staff at the cafeteria on board the Stewart Island Ferry.
Tourists on the deck of the Stewart Island Ferry in New Zealand waters.
Crew assisting tourists boarding the Stewart Island Ferry.
Couple talking to staff at the cafeteria on board the Stewart Island Ferry.
Passengers enjoying the view from Stewart Island Ferry window.
What to bring
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Bring sunscreen, camera, water, sunglasses, hat, insect repellent, and a waterproof jacket for this experience.
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Pack your motion sickness medicines just in case they’re not available onsite.
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Bring local currency or your preferred payment method for meals, souvenirs, and extra delights not covered by the ticket.
Accessibility
- This experience is not wheelchair accessible.
Additional information
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Guests can carry two bags and one small carry bag per person.
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The one-way ferry lasts 1 hour.
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The one-way ferry from Bluff to Stewart Island departs at 9:45am, 1:45pm, 4:30pm, & 5:15pm, whereas the one-way ferry from Stewart Island to Bluff departs at 8am, 12:15pm, 3pm, & 3:30pm.
Couple enjoying the view on Stewart Island Ferry, New Zealand coast in background.
Stewart Island Ferry docked with distant islands in the background.
Passengers enjoying the view from Stewart Island Ferry window.
Couple enjoying the view on Stewart Island Ferry, New Zealand coast in background.
Stewart Island Ferry docked with distant islands in the background.
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