In 2 years you might be off the ferry and on the Molesworth in 10 minutes

[Eddieb]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/new...r-Clifford-Bay

Work on a new $200 million port south of Blenheim could be under way within months, with the Government set to announce a study today.

KiwiRail is backing the plan for a public-private partnership (PPP) terminal at Clifford Bay, replacing the Picton ferry terminal.

"It will take a while to get it built, but it will actually shorten the time between Wellington and Christchurch, and Auckland and Christchurch for rail by nearly two hours, and road by 80 or 90 minutes," Transport Minister Steven Joyce said.

[dogsnbikes]

Certainly Not a trip I would be happy doing in a southerly at least with going to wgtn/picton its a north/south sailing.....Wgtn/clifford is east/west so a southerly on the beam not a good idea...so any time travel they make up on the road they will loose in the late and cancelled sailing

[Bald Eagle]

They would'nt be considering it if the tree huggers hadn't made them drive up the sounds with the handbrake on.

[oneofsix]

Certainly Not a trip I would be happy doing in a southerly at least with going to wgtn/picton its a north/south sailing.....Wgtn/clifford is east/west so a southerly on the beam not a good idea...so any time travel they make up on the road they will loose in the late and cancelled sailing

Wgtn/Picton is not north/south. Wangas/Picton would be a lot closer to North South and so is Clifford Bay/Wellington. Wgtn/Picton is around the islands. Either route the Wgtn Heads are going to be an issue in the Southerly. Clifford Bay looks rather large and open so not sure how the weather will affect it.

[dogsnbikes]

Wgtn/Picton is not north/south. Wangas/Picton would be a lot closer to North South and so is Clifford Bay/Wellington. Wgtn/Picton is around the islands. Either route the Wgtn Heads are going to be an issue in the Southerly. Clifford Bay looks rather large and open so not sure how the weather will affect it.

The cook strait runs north south so going to picton you have too sail north turn right at Kaori rock....

[Paul in NZ]

One of the benefits of this route apart from a shorter sailing time is that the ferry will sail into and with the sou wester as it sweeps up the coast. The most unpleasant part of any rough crossing (and I've slopped across knee deep in womit on a few) is the right turn out of wellington harbour when you get the sea 3/4 on and the ferry corkscrews.

This route should be gentler on the passengers...

[DangerMice]

I guess that might be the death of Picton then?

[Paul in NZ]

I guess that might be the death of Picton then?

Pictons been dead for as long as I can remember. Getting rid of the interisland traffic and making it a destination port of call could be a way of it reinventing itself.

[Bald Eagle]

It might be quicker but it's still 3+ hours wasted, airborne is the only way to cross the ditch.

[merv]

Yep this Port should have been built years ago so the sooner the construction starts the better.

[merv]

It might be quicker but it's still 3+ hours wasted, airborne is the only way to cross the ditch.

How often have you flown your orange bike across the ditch then?

[scumdog]

Well it better be cheaper too - nearly $500 return for two people and a pick-up truck is a tad on the nose.

[slowpoke]

Well it better be cheaper too - nearly $500 return for two people and a pick-up truck is a tad on the nose.

Abso-farkin'-lutely! Hard to see how it's justified and must be one the most expensive stretches of water in the world.

[Kickaha]

Yep this Port should have been built years ago so the sooner the construction starts the better.

It was planned years (probably 5+)ago but for whatever reason put on hold

[White trash]

Well it better be cheaper too - nearly $500 return for two people and a pick-up truck is a tad on the nose.

That's the "Ford price". Chevs and real cars are half that.............