Inter-Island Travel in New Zealand
The ferry across the Cook Straight is not your average ferry ride, the journey takes you through the beautiful Marlborough Sounds. This maze of forested inlets, cliffs, coves and rolling hills is a memorable part of the journey through Aotearoa for locals and visitors alike. It’s a must do experience. Here’s how to enjoy it in an Avis rental vehicle:
Taking Your Avis Car on the Ferry
If you are planning to Island Hop from South to North or North to South Island you can take your rental car with you.
Thanks to our Multi-Island hire service, you can take your Avis vehicle on the ferry and continue your journey seamlessly in the same car. There’s no need to unpack or transfer luggage, just drive onboard and enjoy the scenic crossing.
Here’s what to keep in mind:
You’ll only need one booking for your entire trip—for example, pick up at Auckland Airport and drop off at Queenstown Airport.
Minimum hire periods and one-way fees may apply. We’ll confirm these at the time of booking.
Rentals can start and finish at any Avis location in New Zealand, subject to availability.
You’ll need to book your own ferry tickets early (vehicle and passenger). Ferries can fill up quickly, especially during peak travel times so we recommend booking your ferry at the same time as your car rental.
Check out Interislander or Bluebridge for ferry bookings and schedules.
If you don’t wish to take your rental vehicle on the ferry, you must make to separate vehicle reservations.
No Cars Available? Try booking two separate rentals for your North and South Island legs.
If you see a “no cars available” message, it doesn’t always mean we’re fully booked, it might just mean the vehicles available can't be taken across the ferry. Instead, try booking a multi-leg trip with a car on each island.
This way, you can still explore the best of both islands, just with a new set of wheels waiting for you on the other side. It’s easy, flexible, and your trip is still packed with views.
Example itinerary:
Booking 1 for North Island Leg: Pick up in Auckland City → Drop off in Wellington
Take the ferry as a foot passenger
Booking 2 for South Island Leg: Pick up in Picton → Drop off in Queenstown
A few things to note:
You’ll need two separate reservations, one for each island.
After you drop off your vehicle, you can take the ferry as a foot passenger between islands and then pick up another vehicle at the other side.
Be sure to book your ferry early to avoid missing out.
Inter-Island Travel in New Zealand
The ferry across the Cook Straight is not your average ferry ride, the journey takes you through the beautiful Marlborough Sounds. This maze of forested inlets, cliffs, coves and rolling hills is a memorable part of the journey through Aotearoa for locals and visitors alike. It’s a must do experience. Here’s how to enjoy it in an Avis rental vehicle:
Taking Your Avis Car on the Ferry
If you are planning to Island Hop from South to North or North to South Island you can take your rental car with you.
Thanks to our Multi-Island hire service, you can take your Avis vehicle on the ferry and continue your journey seamlessly in the same car. There’s no need to unpack or transfer luggage, just drive onboard and enjoy the scenic crossing.
Here’s what to keep in mind:
You’ll only need one booking for your entire trip—for example, pick up at Auckland Airport and drop off at Queenstown Airport.
Minimum hire periods and one-way fees may apply. We’ll confirm these at the time of booking.
Rentals can start and finish at any Avis location in New Zealand, subject to availability.
You’ll need to book your own ferry tickets early (vehicle and passenger). Ferries can fill up quickly, especially during peak travel times so we recommend booking your ferry at the same time as your car rental.
Check out Interislander or Bluebridge for ferry bookings and schedules.
If you don’t wish to take your rental vehicle on the ferry, you must make to separate vehicle reservations.
No Cars Available? Try booking two separate rentals for your North and South Island legs.
If you see a “no cars available” message, it doesn’t always mean we’re fully booked, it might just mean the vehicles available can't be taken across the ferry. Instead, try booking a multi-leg trip with a car on each island.
This way, you can still explore the best of both islands, just with a new set of wheels waiting for you on the other side. It’s easy, flexible, and your trip is still packed with views.
Example itinerary:
Booking 1 for North Island Leg: Pick up in Auckland City → Drop off in Wellington
Take the ferry as a foot passenger
Booking 2 for South Island Leg: Pick up in Picton → Drop off in Queenstown
A few things to note:
You’ll need two separate reservations, one for each island.
After you drop off your vehicle, you can take the ferry as a foot passenger between islands and then pick up another vehicle at the other side.
Be sure to book your ferry early to avoid missing out.
