Wellington Region - New Zealand - page 676

lounges, cafes, bars, information desks and cinemas but no pool tables. There are two op-
tions for crossing the strait between Wellington and Picton: Bluebridge and the Interis-
lander.
Booking online is the cheapest option, but folks at the i-SITE and hotels will happily
book for you. Bluebridge is based at Waterloo Quay, opposite the Wellington train sta-
tion. The Interislander terminal is about 2km northeast of the city centre; a shuttle bus
($2) runs to the Interislander from platform 9 at Wellington train station (where long-dis-
tance buses also depart). It also meets arriving ferries, returning passengers to platform 9.
There's also a taxi stand at the terminal.
Car-hire companies allow you to pick up/drop off vehicles at ferry terminals. If you ar-
rive outside business hours, arrangements can be made to collect your vehicle from the
terminal car park.
Bluebridge Ferries ( 04-471 6188, 0800 844 844; www.bluebridge.co.nz ; 50 Waterloo Quay)
Crossing takes 3½ hours; up to four sailings in each direction daily. Cars and campervans
from $118; motorbikes $51; bicycles $10. Passenger fares from adult/child $51/26.
Interislander ( 0800 802 802, 04-498 3302; www.interislander.co.nz ; Aotea Quay) Crossing
takes three hours 10 minutes; up to five sailings in each direction daily. Cars are priced
from $118; campervans (up to 5.5m) from $133; motorbikes from $56; bicycles $15.
Passenger fares start from adult/child $55/28.
BUS
Wellington is a major bus-travel hub, with InterCity ( 04-385 0520; www.intercity.co.nz )
boasting the most extensive network. Services depart from platform 9 at the train station
north to Auckland (11 hours) and all major towns in between and beyond such as
Palmerston North (2¼ hours), Rotorua (7½ hours), and Napier (5½ hours). Buy tickets
from the Intercity ticket window in the train station, or online for discounted fares.
Naked Bus ( 0900 625 33; www.nakedbus.com ) runs north from Wellington to all ma-
jor North Island destinations, including Palmerston North (2½ hours), Napier (five
hours), Taupo (6½ hours) and Auckland (11½ hours), with myriad stops en route. Buses
depart from opposite the Amora Hotel in Wakefield St, and collect more passengers at
Bunny St opposite the railway station. Book online or at Wellington i-SITE; get in early
for the cheapest fares.
TRAIN
Wellington train station has six ticket windows ( 0800 801 700; 6.30am-8pm Mon-
Thu, to 1am Fri & Sat, to 7pm Sun) , two selling tickets for KiwiRail Scenic Journeys (
04-495 0775, 0800 872 467; www.kiwirailscenic.co.nz ) trains, Interislander ferries and InterCity