Ferry Tickets

Stewart Island Ferry

Name: Stewart Island Ferry
Start: 2026-04-03T13:45:00
End: 2026-04-03T14:45:00
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

(111)

Christine H

Couple

Verified booking

2 weeks ago

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.

Julian L

Solo

Verified booking

Jan 2026

It was a ready great experience. And we saw Kiwis. The crew was lovely, they talk good care of us and showed us alot. However, we were half the size of a maximum capacity group. And even then I sometimes felt like the group is to big and loud for a walk in the bush. Well I guess we saw Kiwis so I might need wrong, but be prepared.

Elizabeth A

Couple

Verified booking

6 days ago

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.

Denyse C

Solo

Verified booking

Feb 2026

Captain ggave great instructions on how not to get seasick on our soon to be very rough crossing. Attendents were very caring to those who were. I always take Gravol (anti-emetic) when using marine transport and thus enjoyed a roaring forties experience.

Renee B

Group

Verified booking

Jan 2026

The trip over was fast & easy. Coming back, we were on hold due to gale-force winds; however, in the last hour, the trip went ahead. The skipper warned us it would be a little rough & bumpy (understatement at times). He managed the big waves & tide expertly, making the trip as smooth as he could. For someone who suffers from motion sickness, I had no problems (with a little help from Travacalm!). It was even a little exciting watching the waves wash over us!

John L

Couple

Verified booking

Jan 2026

Ferry excellent but rough crossing (unavoidable). Booking my bike was very difficult.couldnt get any contact or replies for over a week whereas booking passengers easy.when got to the ferry return journey they advised us they were unaware of the booking.so whoever organized it didn't forward information on.there needs to be a tick box for extra cargo at time of passenger bookings .

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.

111 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.
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4
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Guests from Australia, United Kingdom, Canada and over 15 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Christine H
Couple
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
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
6 days ago
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.
Anne H
Couple
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
Stunning day, excellent crossing, tour was fantastic with a very humourous guide, she was also extremely informative and knowledgeable on the island history etc. If only coming over for the day this tour is a must. Highly reccomend
Sheryl R
Couple
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
Great ride over to Stewart Island, plenty of bouncy waves to make it exciting, but not too rough. Very smooth oily calm coming back, nearly went to sleep.😀
Nathalie B
Couple
Verified booking
2 days ago
The kiwi tour was incredible. We saw five different kiwis. And heard them talking to each other. The guides were so lovely.

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.