What's it like to take New Zealand's WORLD FAMOUS Ferry?
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- Опубліковано 22 тра 2024
- Watch this New Zealand Travel Guide to get a sense of what it’s like to travel the 58 miles over three+ hours from New Zealand’s South Island to the North Island in the comfort of New Zealand’s Interislander Ferry, the Kaitaki..
Join us as we travel across the Cook Strait from the Picton at the top of the South Island to New Zealand’s bustling capital of Wellington on the North Island aboard the Kaitaki ferry!
This is only the second time we’ve made a video highlighting a ferry and it was incredible!
Kiwirail runs this ferry as part of its Great Journeys of New Zealand brand, which is an apt name. They also run the TranzAlpine, Coastal Pacific, and Great Northern trains. The schedules line up to make it possible to travel by rail and ferry all the way from Christchurch to Auckland and back using these services.
We splurged for the lounge access to make this a luxury travel experience. That means you get to see the Kaitaki Plus Lounge where we indulged in the range of food and drinks they make available. You’ll have to be the judge of whether it’s worth the increased price for you. For the latest pricing and schedules, check out this website:
booking.interislander.co.nz/B...
You’ll also see the other amenities onboard, including the restaurants, bars, food, and drinks.
And, if you stick around to the end, I’ll even rate it using the JebScore!
0:00 Introduction
2:19 Interislander Ferry Booking
3:12 Interislander Kaitaki Ferry Tour
5:50 Queen Charlotte Sound
7:50 Cook Strait
9:17 Jebscore
Watch our first Ferry Video here:
• Luxury Greek Ferry? LU...
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Music:
Waste Our Time (Instrumental Version) - BLAEKER
Just Carry On (Instrumental Version ) - Windshield
Dreaming of You (Instrumental Version) - Chyara
My California (Instrumental Version) - Pastis
Stay For Now (Instrumental Version) - Ray
Carry On (Instrumental Version) - Kadant
Racing For Life (Instrumental Version) - Duty Division
"Not really a boat person, lets get back in the air" 🤣Having done it a few times I can say that landing at wellington airport in a strong crosswind will fix that. Great Video.
New Zealand has been #1 on my bucket list for years. This video reminds me that it's still #1. 🤎
It definitely deserves to be #1. We went in 2016, picking up our campervan in Christchurch, toured South Island, took the Ferry to Wellington, toured North Island and finally flew home from Auckland. My wife said it was our best holiday ever, and so do I. Go for it.
Fantastic. Worth the extra $80. Really enjoyed the trip. NEW zealand is my favourite country. Very beautiful.
As a regular traveler on the Interislander, it was super weird to see Jeb sitting in the exact same seat I always choose in the Plus Lounge. I have found over the years that the Plus Lounge is well worth the additional cost. Fun fact: the window in the lounges are tinted, so you can see out but people standing on the deck can’t see in. And some people that stand on the deck aren’t aware that the lounge is there. Consequently you can sometimes observe some… interesting… behavior.
it was weird to see him standing in the place i did on my way to school camp years ago
uh oh xD
@@fallenangel_899 During a weekday sailing I once saw a guy who thought he was alone on the deck perform an entire dance routine. There was no music, just this lone guy dancing away. One of the more entertaining crossings I've experienced... The few others in the Lounge were also impressed...
Sorry your secret is out about the best seats in the lounge🤣
This ship was originally built for Irish Ferries in the 1990s as the Isle of Inisfree she was then chartered to this company in the 2000’s and was then bought outright , the new Isle of Inisfree now runs between Dover and Calais on the Channel Crossing as one of three Irish Ferries Vessels on the Route
I'm irish
@@yahoooooooooooo.oooooooooooooo cen ait tu ar do conai, Agus cen phairt a rugadh tu e sa Eireann
@@Therealprinceofcobh Dfás mé suas I Ros Comáin agus tá mé fós Ann. Cad fút?
Now that I didn't know
Still remember the fantastic Irish Ferries crew letting 10 year old me visit the bridge on the Innisfree in June 1997 just after it started on the Pembroke-Rosslare route!
This is exactly the kind of video I love to watch. I highly doubt I will ever visit New Zealand in my lifetime, but I truly enjoyed seeing it in your video. I would have absolutely LOVED that ferry ride, and being able to experience it through your video was a real pleasure.
Thanks so much for watching, Jim!!
We would love you to come down this way though Jim 🙂
Aw cmon it’s not much further than Hawaii ❤😂
@@GreenerGrass Jeb I,m a huge fan keep up the great videos
@@GreenerGrass Is the reply to my comment real, or a scammer using your profile pic (Yet another Wats app or Text Me scam profile...
I have done that crossing 4 times. 3 times were perfect but the last time I thought we were going to die, it was so rough. People were throwing up everywhere. I said I will never do it again! Of course, that was many years ago and I guess the ferries have improved since then. But you never know what the sea is going to be like.
You two are well travelled. Good to see you in the land of the long white cloud
I went across at night, very still night. It was just beautiful. We had company accross the strait an Albatross was following the ship.I don’t know whether you went further South than shown in your videos Milford Sound & the surrounding areas is just beyond beautiful. I have been to Norway,in my opinion the Fjordland in NZ is the most spectacular scenery I have ever seen .
Yes South Island is Better also Where I live Right at bottom in Southland
Oh, your video brings great memories back, when I did it in 1993.
Thank you very much, Suzanne and Jeb, for sharing your wonderful documentary video with us.
Many thanks! We so appreciate all of your support through the years!!
I live in the South Island so have travelled on this Ferry quite often. I enjoy it when it's quite rough and the waves splash up the windows lol. Also have often watched dolphins riding the waves alongside the boat and dashing across the bow.
When my wife and I took the interislander the sea was calm, as well. That was in September 1996....long time ago, but we will never forget it.
The was a calm day crossing Cook Strait. 'InterCity' bus is usually late, as it originates in Christchurch. The Kaitaki Plus Lounge is located in the quietest area of Kaitaki. Interislander is the ferry operation of Kiwirail - a government own company. On of the ferries - Aratere, carries both rail, vehicles and passengers.There is a misconception that you don't need reservations but you do, especially foot passengers. The 4 ferries main role is freight trucks, followed by vans/cars with drivers and passengers and foot passengers are at the bottom of the list. I am still curious if you guys traveled on the Northern Explorer train from Wellington to Auckland.
I absolutely loved NZ. Picton and Wellington were great.
500k subscribers!! 💪🏼
My wife and I did the ferry from Wellington to Pickton back in 1999. That was 23 years ago. I’m not sure what the ships name was nor the ferry line. But, the ferry did accommodate train cars. I specifically remember watching them load up.
We also booked first class/premium. It was a nice little lounge that no one else used except us as I recall it was only US$30 per person more than the regular ticket. There was no special meal involved in the lounge, but it did include snacks and beverages as part of the fare. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who goes to New Zealand.
I've always enjoyed your videos and as an American expat living here in New Zealand, I was really excited to see this one. Enjoy your time in New Zealand!!!
If you get the chance and have the time, get on up to the far north and see some of the world’s finest beaches.
Congratulations on 500k subscribers. Been a long time viewer...
Very beautiful New Zealand tour videos,useful detailed information congratulations 👌👌👌
Ahh Wellington...my old stomping grounds! Great video Mr. Brooks!
I actually enjoy the whole interislander experience, done it a few times now in various weathers and still rate it as a trip within a trip, truly unique.
What a laugh!!! The strait was in a docile mood for you....having travelled in 5 m swells that sea was calm as.
You guys are just so relaxing to watch. Thank you for that.
Yeah that was a calm crossing of the cook strait... its in the top 5 roughest bodies of water in the world..one of other others in at the bottom of the south island!! Having traveled on the ferries many times on some pretty rough sailings, I always enjoy a calm one!!
And on the pronunciation of the place names, said like a New Zealander! 5/5👍
I have taken this ferry twice, once in 1992, when it had a smashing 70s retro jukebox and once in 2002.
New Zealand is on my bucket list and it is every bit as beautiful as I had imagined. The only other places I had seen it was in the movie, Lord of The Rings. Thank you so very much for allowing us to ride along on your breathtaking trip.
Kev
Lake Tekapo (when the lupins are out in springtime) is one of my favourite places in NZ. There's an amazing calmness about the lake and the little town of Tekapo.
Hi Kevin. Have you also seen The Last Samuri starring Tom Cruise? Filmed in New Zealand because we had a Mountain that looked just like Mt Fuji in Japan. There have been dozens of movies filmed in New Zealand, not just LOTR. The TV shows Zena, Warrior Princess plus Hercules starring Keven Sorbo were all filmed here. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Whale Rider. I don't want to drown you with hundreds of lists of movie names.
Oh the number one grossing movie, Avatar plus the follow-ups (Avatar 2 has just been released, plus 3 and 4 were all filmed here in New Zealand. James Cameron has lived here for many, many years.
@@johnwilson5743 WOW! Thanks for the hot tips! I will check them out!
Glad you are enjoying your time here in NZ. You may wish to let people know that the premier lounge is 18+. It includes all the food, drinks both alcoholic and non alcoholic. As it has limited capacity it’s never as crowded as the rest of the ferry. Something to keep in mind if you are travelling at peak season. When all the ferries had rail decks, it was great to watch the wagons stunted on and how the effected the level of the ship.
" You may wish to let people know that the premier lounge is 18+...."
SOLD!
Spent the extra 80 dollars to purely enjoy the fact it was 18+ when I went haha Definitely worth the cost
I’m on this same ship in a few months, I’m so looking forward to it. Thanks for showing how nice a journey it will be
Love this . I used to love the ferry especially going from Wellington to Picton, When we lived in Picton we had a boat & loved exploring the sounds with dolphins swimming around us. Recently I did the ferry to Shetland Islands- & Newcastle to Amsterdam . A favourite was from Greece to Venice where we slept in our camper & was near the railing.Next year I am going from Barcelona to Genoa by ferry.
Looks amazing! Thank you for this video.
We took the same trip a couple of weeks ago, smooth sailing and a pleasurable trip. However I've also been on the ferry in gale force winds and 23 foot swells, which is the point at which sailings are cancelled. Winter waves in Cook Strait can get up to about 14 metres (42 feet). The sister ship to the Kaitaki (Awatere) carries up to 27 rail wagons and the 2 bigger new ferries due for delivery in 2025/6 will both have rail wagon facility.
You know you are in for a rough trip when the crew secure all vehicles with chains to stop them being thrown around. You can see the anchoring points set flush into the deck between the rows of cars.
Really good video as usual.
Cars are never lashed, trucks are always lashed, but with more if it's rough. They won't park vehicles athwartships around the stern if it's rough though
@@benmac7315 You are right, I did see that trucks were lashed. Maybe it has changed now but when I travelled on the Aramoana back in 1968 on a really rough day trucks and rail wagons were double chained and cars were securely lashed (lessons from the Wahine disaster were still very fresh).
On my trip a couple of weeks ago there were dozens of lashing straps tied onto the hull rails on the car decks, even after all the trucks has been tied down so I just assumed they were still lashing cars down in rough weather.
@Bob Sellars aramoana was a long time ago and a totally different ship in all respects. Now no cars are ever lashed partly because there is no where to lash to on most cars. They do have enough lashings onboard to do storm lashings on a full load of trucks which on kaitaki is about 65 with no cars onboard so if passengers/cars are onboard there will be alot of spare lashings. And on Aratere rail is also always lashed, and again double lashings if it's rough
What a lovely trip report.
So cool thank you. Look at all that food.
Years ago I went on the Arahura, took the truck on, parked up and went into the truckers lounge. 3 Navy guys came in,the seas were pretty rough that day. One of the Sailors was seasick, yep,a Sailor, seasick.
So glad you enjoyed the strait crossing and a perfect day!!
Great video. Love seeing you start doing some voyages on the water!
Oh Jeb that isn’t a massive ship! The big cruise liners come into Picton on a regular basis in cruise season and they make the ferry look small!
Hello Jeb Sir,
You narrate all of your videos with absolute perfection. Loved every bit of this video as well.
Keep doing it. You are Awesome.
Been travelling with the ferry for years but never bothered to check out the lounge...food sure looks good!
Highly recommend this trip. The view of the coasts of both North and South Islands is stunning.
Lived in Nelson for years. And did this trip to the north island many times with my young twin daughters,what an adventure it was,great👍
Amazing video from my home country it is a amazing trip over the straight - dxrk
Hope you enjoyed my country and cant wait to see more great videos!
Wonderful video guys! Congrats on 500K!
I flew to Picton once from Wellington and the views are just as spectacular, a totally different view than the ferry, I would recommend doing that flight just once to experience it.
Great ferry ride - it's amazing all of the amenities considering it's just a three-hour trip!
I called this one last week! 🤣 When I rhode this Ferry in 2019 in the opposite direction their were several trucks of sheep on board so we were graced with noisey sheep every time we where around the car deck.
I travelled that route back in 2004. It was lovely
You got a great day and Cook Straight was very very gentle for you it is seldom calmer
Interesting seeing how the kiwi’s cross between their islands! If you’re ever considering visiting Tasmania, you should compare this ferry to it’s Australian counterpart, the Spirit of Tasmania, which I happen to be sailing on right now! Would make a great vid!
Safe travels in the New Year... I wish you the best in this Holiday Season...
That journey is amazing. I did it back in 2004
That was head and shoulders above The Blue Line experience that I've had.
Aotearoa… ❣️❣️❣️ see you in March 2023. i’m coming home
500K! you're unstoppable my friend. Happy for all your success, well deserved. :)
Greetings thanks for a wonderful tour it was beautiful stay safe and blessed
So nice mate. We are about to embark in April and this is a fantastic introduction for a wee-little-bit warm up. Well-done!
I only took it from the North to the South Island. I loved that you drop off your rental car at the ferry terminal in Wellington and pick up a new one in Picton on the same reservation (as long as you spent 72 hrs per island on the same reservation.
Beautifully done Jeb and Susann. The views were breathtaking, and the trip looked fun and easy despite the early angst with the bus. You guys keep adding to my bucket list. Well done!
BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY WOW !! LOVE THE FARRY BEAUTIFUL !!
Another very enjoyable video Jeb. I did that journey earlier in the year back in August, an absolute must for any visitor to New Zealand. The views as you leave Wellington, enter and cross the Cook Strait and of course sailing through the Marlborough Sounds coming into Picton are all equally amazing!
When I went north to south my ferry journey connected with the train and my case was checked all the way through to Christchurch and we picked up the train in Picton with a shuttle bus to get between the two - excellent idea!
Great video Jeb, congrats on 500k subscribers!! Way to go !!!
Thanks so much! We appreciate your long-time support!
Absolutely fabulous…
Very interesting and informative. It looked like a fun way to see a country.
I once spent 10 hour's on that exact boat on a horrific crossing. It's so nice seeing you enjoying it though
Great to see these old ships still playing their trade. These old Irish and British ferries get a new lease of life down under, including the MV Connemara which I believe is just taking up service on the Cook Strait.
If you want to see how rough it gets, look up MV Suiliven on this crossing, horrendous!!! (Also a former ship from the Isle of Lewis in Scotland)
Connemara arrived to Wellington two days ago, looking forward to trying her out
I just have to say that you are your wife are so adorable together! I like how you guys do all these videos together now!
Excellent video guys!
Love all your videos keep it up
Next time your here in Nw Zealand, you should compare Your interisland ferry to the Blue bridge ferry’s which follow the same routes as the inter islander ones. They too do the ferry trips from Picton to wellinton, wellington to picton. Using the native language of New Zealand this phrase, Kia pai tō rā, in english means, Have a good day!
Very beautiful country... hopefully one day I can visit there...
Great video.
The ferries can already carry train carriages and was originally advertised as a road and train "bridge" across cook strait.
In bad weather they sometimes switch to freight only and delay passenger trips.
Only the Aratere can take rail currently
@@benmac7315 Though the new ones on order will all be capable of it.
@VhenRaTheRaptor are you trying to teach me something I don't know? I've known that for a good few years now, probably before it became general public knowledge. Plus even if I didn't I think you'll find this very video said it. The op said that the ferries are already rail capable and I clarified that with its only the one that is.
500 K subscribers Jeb! Congrats
Loved the video. Well done. Well paced, good storytelling. I'm a NZ er who hasn't been on the inter ilander ferries since 1999, so it was good to see how it looks now. Thank you
Spectacular country 😊😊
Great job navigating the high seas Suzanne!
We did this crossing 5 years ago now, as foot passengers. We had beautiful weather and a calm sea. Watching this vid brings back fantastic memories of our 1-month trip in NZ. By the way - as a Dutchie it was a nice surprise to see where the ship was build - Krimpen aan den IJssel - Holland, way back in 1995. See builders plate at funnel.
I live in Auckland, Nz and love this ferry trip that done a few times
Great video! Just like the train one. I love New Zealand, I can't wait to go in their summer and play golf on some of the most beautiful courses in the world.
I went on the ferries that preceeded rhis. Really good crossing, free cinema, reasonable food. Good value.
You had such a calm day. You should see it on the wild days - it's all rock and roll 😅
Excellent Mr Brook I enjoyed very much
Tku
As a kiwi, I have traveled many times on the Interislander mainly when it was operated by NZ Rail. The seats were hard, there was a very small gift shop that sold gimicky items, no movies and the pies (the old railways ones) could break teeth. I traveled frequently on the Aranui and was singularly unimpressed with the experiene. This video demonstrated an incredible turn around in traveling across Cook Strait. Great video.
Reading your post brought back memories of when I was a young girl and my Mum taking me from Wellington to Auckland on the old rattlers that used to do the journey. The highlight for me was when we used to stop at Taihape for a pie and a cup of tea - the tea handed to you in the old white railway cups and saucers. Those were the days. I am old and grey now and live in Australia, but I loved hearing your story.
Grats on 500k subs Jeb!!!
We are travelling to NZ in June. Can't wait
Well when traveling between islands, use the Bluebridge or fly, don't use Interislander. Kaitaki shat itself in the straight the other week. Lost power and almost got thrown into rocks. Aratere has a history of issues too.
In January 2023 I was in New Zealand for 10 days. I went to Kaikoura, Wellington, Rotorua and Auckland. I was on that ferry on the 8th of Jan. The water was rough and we didn't go on the deck because it was freezing when we went. I then went to the Cook Islands but the Ferry is AMAZING.
Some Tips: 1. go outside, even if its rough you don't want to be inside when its bad. 2. If its late and you need to sleep just sleep under the table, its very common on the night ferries. 3. Check the weather the furry does run in very rough weather, I once went in over 7 M swells.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 🎄👵
Congratulations on your 500k subscribers 👏👏💐
great video!
Super camera work. I enjoyed it all😊 Music4/10
I used the ferry service the first time I visited NZ many years ago. Unlike Jeb when I sailed we had 3m waves, I found out that I did have sea legs and kept my breakfast down.
The other trips I did which was really worth it was Doubtful Sound.
wow the price of the lounge has gone up since the last time i was on it, but the food looks like a better quality... and btw, the current fleet does take rail cars, i have video of them loading the ferry with railcars using a remote engine ( a guy uses a remote , simlar to a drone one ), its quite a sight to see
Congratulations on 500k subscribers.
I hope one day you come back across to Australia and take the Spirit of Tasmania ferry from Geelong to Devonport. It's a 12 hour journey, which can be done during the day (generally summer months) and night (all year). New ferries will be coming in the new few years.
We hope to do that trip someday!
Congratulations on breaking 500k!
Thanks Jeb!
Jeb, you have the ability to make any travel experience look amazing. Interislander is a great experience, the team behind it are amazing and dedicated. Just try it on a rocking Cook Strait sometime though and you might change your opinion when the fierce NZ weather comes into play!!! 🤣 You picked a great day. Is a treacherous stretch of ocean at times (no fault of the ferry operator of course)
That's smooth. On a rougher crossing water can splash up to deck 5 or higher.
Jeb!! congratulations on your 500k great vlog!!I have traveled on that ferry back in day when it ran for P&O Portsmouth it was called Pride of Cherbourg nice ship back then!!it belonged to Irish ferries first.
Love watching all your videos Jeb. Even though I am a Kiwi (live and bred NZ) still love viewing all videos on you travels all around the World. Must be great to have Heeeeeaps of Doe Rey Me ( means money. LOL) Just teasing mate. Please Jeb. Keep up the great videos you keep on offering everyone who tunes to your site.