Ferry Tickets

Stewart Island Ferry

Name: Stewart Island Ferry
Start: 2026-05-17T15:00:00
End: 2026-05-17T16:00:00
Location: Stewart Island

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.

Couple enjoying the view on Stewart Island Ferry, New Zealand coast in background.

Duration

1 hr

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience

Book now, pay later

Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.

Transfers available

Cross the Foveaux Strait on a comfortable express catamaran, enjoying stunning coastal views, fascinating history, and spot unique wildlife.

4.7/5(131)

Izelle S

Couple

Verified booking

Apr 2026

The boat ride was very smooth and the captain was very good at navigating through the rougher parts of the strait. Complementary coffee and tea were good however only black tea no uncafinated options. Would definitely use the ferry again in the future and would definitely recommend for others.

Rowan-atarangi C

Solo

Verified booking

Apr 2026

We had a lovely experience, very great ferry ride! The views are gorgeous, you can sit in a seat or stand out the back and watch the ocean. Dropping off and collecting luggage is also incredibly efficient!

Carl R

Group

Verified booking

3 weeks ago

Briliant service , good seamanship to make the ride comfortable due to the lumpy sea conditions Luggage loaded and unloaded promptly and inspite of the conditions was kept perfectly dry

Sally L

Couple

Verified booking

2 weeks ago

The ferry is just a means of getting there but really enjoyed our tour of the island and learnt so much from Bevan about the island which we wouldn't have learnt otherwise - a most interesting 90 minutes

Christine H

Couple

Verified booking

Mar 2026

It was great to see an equal opportunity ferry company. So nice to see females working on the boats. We felt safe and comfortable on both there and back from Stewart Island. The return trip was delayed due to extreme and unsafe weather conditions. All staff were proficient and dealt with passengers who were uncomfortable with the stormy conditions.

Elizabeth A

Couple

Verified booking

Mar 2026

We booked return Ferry tickets to Stewart island as had the experience recommended to us and enjoyed it throughly. The Ferry was well organized, timely and conveniently located. We stayed overnight and also did a Kiwi walk experience on Ulva island with RealNZ, a highlight of our 24 hour stay.

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

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

131 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
102
22
4
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Guests from Australia, United Kingdom, United States and over 15 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Rowan-atarangi C
Solo
Verified booking
Apr 2026
We had a lovely experience, very great ferry ride! The views are gorgeous, you can sit in a seat or stand out the back and watch the ocean. Dropping off and collecting luggage is also incredibly efficient!
Sally L
Couple
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
The ferry is just a means of getting there but really enjoyed our tour of the island and learnt so much from Bevan about the island which we wouldn't have learnt otherwise - a most interesting 90 minutes
Izelle S
Couple
Verified booking
Apr 2026
The boat ride was very smooth and the captain was very good at navigating through the rougher parts of the strait. Complementary coffee and tea were good however only black tea no uncafinated options. Would definitely use the ferry again in the future and would definitely recommend for others.
Carl R
Group
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
Briliant service , good seamanship to make the ride comfortable due to the lumpy sea conditions Luggage loaded and unloaded promptly and inspite of the conditions was kept perfectly dry
Cindy G
Couple
Verified booking
Apr 2026
Although the ride over was a bit bumpy the tour guides accommodated by busing us around to catch the second boat. That was very thoughtful of them

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.

What to bring

Bring sunscreen, camera, water, sunglasses, hat, insect repellent, and a waterproof jacket for this experience.

Pack your motion sickness medicines just in case they’re not available onsite.

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

Guests can carry two bags and one small carry bag per person.

The one-way ferry lasts 1 hour.

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.

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

Please arrive at the boarding point 15 mins before the scheduled time of your ferry to avoid any delays.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the boarding point.

Boarding point

Please check your final voucher for the boarding point details and specific instructions.