One hour of open water, and Rakiura rises from the swell.
Hand-picked by our editors — only the best 6 Stewart Island ferry tours from 41 reviewed.
Verified partners for Stewart Island Ferry tours, free cancellation where available, and instant confirmation on every booking.
1 hr
Sail the Foveaux Strait by catamaran, spotting seabirds and coastal landmarks along the way.
Reserve
120 hr
5-day rail, coast and fiord adventure from Queenstown through Otago, the Catlins and Milford Sound.
Reserve
2 hr 30 min
Cruise Paterson Inlet's hidden coves and walk Ulva Island's bird sanctuary with an expert nature guide.
ReservePrices from verified partners. Availability updates in real time at checkout. Free cancellation policies apply where shown.
The landmarks, rooms, and views travelers on Stewart Island Ferry tours remember — all visible on a single visit.
Experience the hour-long transit between the mainland and the island. You may spot marine life including dolphins and seabirds during the trip.
The main arrival point on the island provides immediate access to village amenities. This is where most stewart island ferry tours conclude.
The open-air deck provides panoramic views of the southern coastline. It is the best spot for photography during the stewart island ferry crossing.
Every Stewart Island Ferry tour side-by-side — duration, what's included, how you redeem.
| Experience | Duration | Rating | Transfers | Pickup | Small group | Free cancel. | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Standard Entry Most popular
Bluff to Stewart Island Ferry Crossing
|
1 hr | ★ 4.6 | — | — | — | ✓ | €69 | Book → |
|
Guided Experience
Queenstown to Milford Sound: 5-Day Southern Highlights Tour
|
120 hr | ★ 5.0 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | €1672 | Book → |
|
Standard Entry
Ulva Island Wilderness Cruise & Guided Walk
|
2 hr 30 min | ★ 4.5 | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | €74 | Book → |
All prices from verified partners. Availability and exact terms confirmed at checkout.
The ferry crossing provides a traditional nautical experience, whereas flying offers a rapid transit alternative for those prioritizing speed over coastal maritime travel.
| Feature | Top pick Stewart Island Ferry | Stewart Island Flights |
|---|---|---|
Transit Time |
1 hour | 20 minutes |
Departure Point |
Bluff | Invercargill |
Typical Cost |
135 NZD (adult) | 145 NZD (adult) |
Weather Sensitivity |
High (rough seas) | Moderate (low cloud/wind) |
Views |
Coastal waters and wildlife | Aerial Foveaux Strait vistas |
| See tickets → |
Verdict: Securing your stewart island ferry tickets is ideal for travelers seeking an immersive maritime journey, while those purchasing a stewart island ferry tour alternative often value the efficiency of a quick flight to reach the island landmarks.
Choose your ticket, select your date, and reserve in under two minutes. Secure checkout handled by our verified partner.
Instant confirmation by email, with a mobile voucher you can save offline. No printing, no queuing at a collection desk.
Arrive at the entrance, show your voucher on your phone, and walk in. Most tickets include priority or skip-the-line access.
Practical details for Stewart Island Ferry tickets straight from our verified partners — hours, access, rules, and how to get there.
21 Foreshore Road, Bluff 9814
Main check-in desk
Open in Google MapsDrive to Bluff via SH1 and follow signage to 21 Foreshore Road.
Book a transfer from Invercargill to the Bluff terminal.
Casual, warm clothing is recommended for the stewart island ferry as weather conditions across the Foveaux Strait can change rapidly. Layers and a windproof jacket are essential even in summer.
Passengers are limited to specific luggage allowances per person on the stewart island ferry. Security staff may inspect bags prior to boarding the vessel.
Photography is permitted throughout the stewart island ferry journey. Capture the coastal scenery and potential wildlife sightings from the outdoor viewing decks.
The stewart island ferry terminal and vessel provide access for travelers with mobility requirements. Please notify the operator in advance to arrange assistance.
Mobile phones are permitted. Keep ringer off inside exhibition spaces.
Families traveling on the stewart island ferry will find the crossing suitable for all ages. Children should be supervised on deck at all times during the transit.
Light refreshments may be available for purchase on board the stewart island ferry. It is advisable to bring water for the one-hour crossing.
Pets are not allowed, with the exception of service animals with appropriate documentation.
Last entry is typically 1 hour before closing. Check the specific ticket for timing.
Best time to go, insider tips, nearby landmarks, and the cancellation fine print — flip through to skim what matters to you.
How crowds, weather, and events shift across the year.
December to February offers the warmest temperatures for island hiking. Expect higher demand for stewart island ferry tickets during these months.
March to May provides stable weather and fewer crowds for coastal exploration. This is an ideal period for photography.
June to August brings cooler temperatures and crisp air. Check the official site for any schedule variations.
September to November is active with birdlife. The weather remains changeable, requiring appropriate gear.
Small details that turn a good visit into a great one.
Arrive within the recommended 08:00–17:00 window to allow for check-in procedures. This ensures you are ready for the one-hour crossing.
If prone to motion sickness, consider medication before boarding. The Foveaux Strait can experience significant swells.
Secure your stewart island ferry tickets early, especially during peak holiday periods. This avoids last-minute availability issues.
Monitor local forecasts closely as weather impacts sailings. The official site provides updates on service status.
Pack light to comply with luggage restrictions. Efficient packing makes boarding the stewart island ferry much faster.
Non-bookable sights within a short walk — free to visit, easy to pair.
The iconic signpost marking the end of State Highway 1.
Exhibits detailing the history of the Foveaux Strait region.
A quiet coastal stretch near the ferry departure point.
Flexible, no hidden fees.
Cancellations must be made within the operator's specified timeframe to qualify for a refund. The 135 NZD one-way adult fare includes the government visitor levy which is generally non-refundable.
Hand-picked options within walking distance — pick a district for vibe, or a specific hotel for convenience.
Convenient stay before your morning crossing.
Wide selection of options near the regional hub.
Foveaux Strait is barely 30 kilometres wide, yet it ranks among the roughest stretches of water regularly crossed by scheduled passenger vessels anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere.
Across it runs the Stewart Island ferry, New Zealand's southernmost commercial sea link, joining the port of Bluff to the village of Oban on Halfmoon Bay. Māori named the channel Te Ara a Kiwa, the pathway of Kiwa, and crossed it by waka for centuries before European sealers arrived in the early 1800s. Rakiura, the island's Māori name, is usually translated as glowing skies — a reference to the aurora australis that burns over the strait through the southern winter.
Commercial sailings between Bluff and Halfmoon Bay date to the nineteenth century, when steamers carried mail, timber, oysters and settlers south. The modern Stewart Island ferry timetable is built around purpose-built aluminium catamarans with deep-V hulls, designed for a channel where three-metre swells pass without comment. The crossing runs about one hour from the terminal at 21 Foreshore Road in Bluff. Rakiura has no bridge and no causeway; apart from a short flight from Invercargill, the sea route is the island's only artery.
That artery carries more weight than its passenger numbers suggest. Around 400 people live on the island year-round, and roughly 85 percent of its land sits inside Rakiura National Park, gazetted in 2002 as New Zealand's fourteenth national park. Nearly every tramper on the 32-kilometre Rakiura Track, every visitor to the predator-free forest of Ulva Island, and every birder hoping to watch a tokoeka kiwi forage on a beach at dusk arrives across the same water. Stewart Island ferry cost is set at 135 NZD for a one-way adult fare, a figure that includes the government visitor levy.
The passage itself carries a good part of the island's reputation. Sooty shearwaters — tītī, the muttonbirds harvested from the Tītī Islands under Rakiura Māori right — stream past in rafts of hundreds. Mollymawks shadow the wake. Dolphins work the tide rips near Ruapuke Island, the low green shape that holds the middle distance to port on a clear run. Stewart Island ferry tours are usually listed beside connecting excursions into Paterson Inlet, yet the strait needs no supporting act: one hour of open ocean, ending where the mainland's road network gives out and an island of 1,680 square kilometres begins.
"Rakiura has no bridge and no causeway; the sea route is the island's only artery."
A step-by-step walkthrough of Stewart Island Ferry tickets — what you'll see, how long each stage takes, and the details that matter.
You reach the terminal at 21 Foreshore Road with the smell of oyster boats on the wind, Bluff Hill dark behind the car park and the wharf cranes working across the harbour. Stewart Island ferry tickets are scanned at a single desk, and checked bags go into a cage trolley to travel separately in the hold.
Then you walk down the ramp to a catamaran that sits lower in the water than you expected.
Inside, you choose: a padded seat in the forward cabin, or the open rear deck where the wind is loud and the horizon holds steady. The engines take hold. Bluff shrinks to a green smudge. For the next hour the swell arrives on the beam in long, deliberate rolls, and you brace a knee against the seat frame without deciding to. Shearwaters cut the bow line at wave height, so close you can see the wingtip shear.
Then Rakiura resolves — dark bush running down to the waterline, no seawall, no billboards. The vessel slows into Halfmoon Bay, ties up at the Oban wharf, and you step off beside a painted board listing the return ferry times. Behind it, a single road climbs past the hotel and the museum, and the bush begins about ten minutes later.
The terminal is open daily from 08:00–18:00.
The one-way adult fare is 135 NZD, which includes the government visitor levy.
Yes, the service provides accessibility for passengers with mobility requirements.
The best arrival window is 08:00–17:00 to ensure enough daylight for the scenic crossing.
Light refreshments are sometimes available, though bringing water is recommended.
The scenic crossing takes one hour.
Yes, luggage is permitted subject to specific operator allowances.
Yes, cancellations must be made within the operator's window to qualify for a refund.
The vessel departs from 21 Foreshore Road, Bluff 9814.
