Taking The Ferry Back to the South Island

Just two words about what it's like taking the ferry down to the South Island, versus our prior ride up to the North Island:

It's worse.

It started off nearly the same. Sure, our ship, the Arahura, was quite a bit smaller than the floating city of a ferry that we took on our northbound crossing. But after all, it was a Saturday morning, typically a lighter day for interisland travel. We got in line a bit early, drove up on to the boat, and then parked and locked our car. And just like last time, we found the forward lounge and grabbed a couple of seats where we could have a great view.


However, this is the important part: It's a lot harder on your stomach taking the ferry south than it is taking it north. When you board the northbound ferry (at Picton in the South Island), you will spend the first hour or so of the trip navigating the beautiful Queen Charlotte Sound. The boat hardly feels like it's moving, and everybody's enjoying the amazing view and taking pictures like mad up on the sundeck. You feel like you're riding on glass.

Of course, once you get out onto the open sea the ride gets noticeably rougher. But when you're coming from the South Island, you get this nice, smooth acclimation period of sailing through the sound. You can get used to things.

The problem is this: when you take the southbound ferry out of Wellington, you head immediately out into the open--and sometimes very rough--sea. There's no gentle, gradual acclimation period (with beautiful scenery, no less) at all.

Let's just say we were two queasy landlubbers who were really glad we had taken along our Dramamine.

And don't expect to get any sympathy from a New Zealander about this, either. You'll likely hear their own story about some fearsome ferry trip that they took where the seas were so rough that passengers got thrown to the floor by the heaving ship. It'll make you feel like a complete wimp for whining about your slightly rough ferry ride.



This is our little car, near the front of the line, waiting for the ferry:


More views from the boat:



While on board, we learned about a new drink, Frank's Ginger Beer. It was damn good.


Entering the Queen Charlotte Sound in the South Island:




Passing some speeding locals once we got back on the South Island. There must have been a show of old Model T's going on nearby, because we passed at least half a dozen of cars just like these on our way down the road.