Teeboons’ travel tips: Cross the Cook Strait in style

For those of us who prefer to conduct our travels in a caravan or motorhome, the Cook Strait crossing is part and parcel of getting around this beautiful country of ours. Luckily, there are two providers happy to get us (and our vehicles and animals) between the islands. Dan and I have done this trip more times than we can remember now, and we have learned a few tips and tricks which we thought we would share.

1. If you have a mobile home, join the NZMCA
   This one is a no-brainer, really. If you do any kind of real travel with your house on wheels then you need to get your wings, especially if you plan on crossing the Strait. For $90 a year to join, you will save over 50% on your ferry fare on either Bluebridge or Inter-Islander - so it pays for itself. In addition to it being insanely cheap, all NZMCA fares are flexi-sale

2. To save a night’s accommodation, book Bluebridge’s sleeper service
   This is only available for the Wellington to Picton crossing, and sells out pretty quickly so you’ve got to be able to plan ahead. If you check in before 11.15pm, you can board early and bed down for the night, and get a decent night’s sleep before the wake-up call at 5.30am. You arrive in Picton at 6am. This has worked for us quite well, but if you have a rough crossing it might affect the quality of the sleep you have. In addition, if the ferry is delayed arriving in Wellington, you might not get to your cabin until midnight.
   
   Oh, and for the love of God, don’t try to do this crossing without a cabin booked. Just no.

3. Book a cabin on Bluebridge’s service
   Speaking of bedding down, Bluebridge offers private cabins on its sailings and they are brilliant. They have a private bathroom, a how shower and beds. There are varying sizes from single ($30) to a five-berth family room ($75). The Feronia has a wider range of rooms available, including our favourite, the double room, but the Straitsman has the accessible rooms for those in wheelchairs. Towels and bedding is provided and always impeccably clean.
   
   We initially tried the Plus Lounge on the Inter-Islander to escape from the screeching kids dashing around, and having to guard your partner’s seat while they dash off to the loo. However, at $110 for the two of us, including food and drinks, it turned out to be much more economical, comfortable and private to book the Bluebridge cabins at $50 for the double ($40 for the twin if no doubles were available) and just pop out to get some snacks. To date, despite our best efforts, we have never managed to spend $60 on ferry food. It’s only 3.5 hours, after all!
   NB: Inter-Islander also has a limited number of four-berth cabins on the Kaitaki sailings only for $40.

Our preferred option is a day sailing with Bluebridge with a cabin booked. Now we are living the van life, we pretty much jump at any chance to get a shower included! It’s quiet, we get our on space, and we can catch a nap. It’s bliss.