Ferries in Wellington form a part of the Wellington public transport system

Public transport in Wellington

Public transport in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, is well developed compared to other parts of the country. The system covers the Greater Wellington region, including Wellington city, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, Porirua, the Kapiti Coast and the Wairarapa.-Administration:Public transport in...

, carrying commuters and tourists on Wellington Harbour

Wellington Harbour

Wellington Harbour is the large natural harbour at the southern tip of New Zealand's North Island. New Zealand's capital, Wellington, is on the western side of Wellington Harbour. The harbour was officially named Port Nicholson until it assumed its current name in the 1980s.In Māori the harbour is...

. Ferries operate between central Wellington and Days Bay (near Eastbourne

Eastbourne, New Zealand

Eastbourne is a suburb of Lower Hutt city in the southern North Island of New Zealand. Its population is about 4,600.-Location:An outer suburb, it is situated on the eastern shore of Wellington Harbour, 5 kilometres south of the main Lower Hutt urban area, and directly across the harbour from the...

), Petone

Petone

Petone is a major suburb of the city of Lower Hutt in New Zealand. It is located at the southern end of the narrow triangular plain of the Hutt River, on the northern shore of Wellington Harbour...

, Seatoun

Seatoun

Seatoun is an eastern suburb of Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. It is on the east coast of the Miramar Peninsula, close to the entrance to Wellington Harbour , some seven kilometres southeast of the CBD...

, and Matiu/Somes Island

Matiu/Somes Island

Matiu/Somes Island, at , is the largest of three islands in the northern half of Wellington Harbour, New Zealand. It lies south of the suburb of Petone and the mouth of the Hutt River, and about northwest of the much smaller Makaro/Ward Island....

. They have previously served Miramar

Miramar, New Zealand

Miramar is a suburb of Wellington, New Zealand, south-east of the city centre. It is on the Miramar Peninsula, directly east of the isthmus of Rongotai, the site of Wellington International Airport.-History:...

, Karaka Bay, and Eastbourne proper. The development of road connections around the harbour's edge has reduced the importance of ferries to the city's transport network, but regular services still run.

Eastbourne and Days Bay

A ferry service to Days Bay began in 1893, and later served Eastbourne

Eastbourne, New Zealand

Eastbourne is a suburb of Lower Hutt city in the southern North Island of New Zealand. Its population is about 4,600.-Location:An outer suburb, it is situated on the eastern shore of Wellington Harbour, 5 kilometres south of the main Lower Hutt urban area, and directly across the harbour from the...

 (at Rona Bay). The service was taken over by the Eastbourne Borough Council in 1913, and continued to operate until 1948.

In 1989, a new ferry service was established to Days Bay. It is the only commuter ferry in operation in Wellington. It is run by the private company East by West, with a subsidy from local authorities.

Miramar, Seatoun and Karaka Bay

Ferry services from central Wellington to Miramar

Miramar, New Zealand

Miramar is a suburb of Wellington, New Zealand, south-east of the city centre. It is on the Miramar Peninsula, directly east of the isthmus of Rongotai, the site of Wellington International Airport.-History:...

, Seatoun

Seatoun

Seatoun is an eastern suburb of Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. It is on the east coast of the Miramar Peninsula, close to the entrance to Wellington Harbour , some seven kilometres southeast of the CBD...

, and Karaka Bay began in 1901. There were several runs each day, operated by a private company, Wellington Harbour Ferries. A second company, the Miramar Ferry Company, began operations the following year, but was bought out by Wellington Harbour Ferries in 1906. Improvements to road connections, notably the construction of the Seatoun Tunnel, made road journeys substantially quicker and easier, and caused patronage to drop — regular services ceased in 1913. In 2006 weekend services to Seatoun resumed, followed in March 2008 by a commuter service.

Petone

Attempts have been made in recent years to establish a ferry service from central Wellington to Petone

Petone

Petone is a major suburb of the city of Lower Hutt in New Zealand. It is located at the southern end of the narrow triangular plain of the Hutt River, on the northern shore of Wellington Harbour...

, on the northern coast of the harbour. Although there is a major road and rail corridor connecting Petone and Wellington, it was considered that a ferry service might reduce congestion, and possibly provide a faster journey. A trial commuter service was withdrawn after failing to attract the level of patronage expected. Petone is still served on weekends.

Matiu/Somes Island

Although Matiu/Somes Island

Matiu/Somes Island

Matiu/Somes Island, at , is the largest of three islands in the northern half of Wellington Harbour, New Zealand. It lies south of the suburb of Petone and the mouth of the Hutt River, and about northwest of the much smaller Makaro/Ward Island....

has never had a substantial population, its establishment in recent years as a nature reserve has generated demand for a ferry service. The island was opened to the public in 1995, and off-peak and weekend ferries call on request.

Ferries

• Admiral
• City Cat (currently in service)
• Cobar
• Cobar Cat (currently in service)
• Duchess
• Loyalty
• Muritai

(list is likely to be incomplete)