The Cook Strait between the north and south islands connects the Tasman Sea to the east with the Pacific Ocean to the west. It can be a very unpredictable stretch of water for navigation due to the winds that can roar through from the south, giving large swells on the open stretch of the crossing. We were fortunate that for our crossing it was it was calm and tranquil following Cyclone Gita which had passed through the area two days earlier.
The crossing itself between, Wellington on the north island and Picton in the south, is approximately 94 kilometres and takes three and as half hours. Only about a third of this time is actually in open water, the first third is leaving Wellington harbour and bay and the final third is the cruise up the beautiful Queen Charlotte and Marlborough sounds.
Two ferry companies cross the straits, Interislander and Bluebridge, both have several crossings per day. We crossed with Interislander which have bigger ships, our vessel Kaitaki is the largest and is used for the busy 9am crossing. It can carry 1350 passengers and on the day we crossed was very busy indeed.
The following photographs show some of what is considered by some to be one of the great ferry journeys of the world.
