Cook Strait Ferries Megathread

[longwayfromhome]

Thanks everyone for the info. All very useful...even an offer for accom which I'll pass on this time as I have some hard targets to make, otherwise next time (ta W.).

I'll try the Interislander this time and Blueridge next. Jeez, its not bloody cheap though is it!

ANy comments on the following for tie-down...I have straps with loops at either end. What I would normally do is put it on the side stand, lock the front wheel and tie the side stand to the front axle so it can't roll off the stand. The triangulation is then at its most stable. Any other ties would be to stop it toppling the other way in a big roll/pitch (depending on bike's orientation on the barky). I may see if the car parts place has any of those straps with ratchets on them. That may be quicker/neater. Then I have a good set for future trips as well. The LT does have plenty of room to carry crap like this :-)

[crazybigal]

with my blackbird i use a bike bra (oxford make them) loops over the handle bars with a strap between them.
Also keeps the tiedowns off the bodywork, stopping rubbing on the paintwork.
I use the method of standing the bike upright with tiedowns on all four corners of the bike. They have rubber chocks for the front wheel.
Some of the ships have rings on the deck to clip to others have a silly hole on the deck for a hook to go into, not a big fan of those.
Some people prefer the triangle method to tie theri bike down on its side stand.
what ever works for you i guess.
Dont trust the cheep tiedowns they give you on the boat, if they even have them, some just have dirty old ropes.
i did hear the other day that interislander is no longer going to keep a stock of tiedowns as people nick them or wreck them.

Thanks everyone for the info. All very useful...even an offer for accom which I'll pass on this time as I have some hard targets to make, otherwise next time (ta W.).

I'll try the Interislander this time and Blueridge next. Jeez, its not bloody cheap though is it!

ANy comments on the following for tie-down...I have straps with loops at either end. What I would normally do is put it on the side stand, lock the front wheel and tie the side stand to the front axle so it can't roll off the stand. The triangulation is then at its most stable. Any other ties would be to stop it toppling the other way in a big roll/pitch (depending on bike's orientation on the barky). I may see if the car parts place has any of those straps with ratchets on them. That may be quicker/neater. Then I have a good set for future trips as well. The LT does have plenty of room to carry crap like this :-)

[Crasherfromwayback]

with my blackbird i use a bike bra (oxford make them) loops over the handle bars with a strap between them.
Also keeps the tiedowns off the bodywork, stopping rubbing on the paintwork.
I use the method of standing the bike upright with tiedowns on all four corners of the bike. They have rubber chocks for the front wheel.
.

Good advice mate...those Oxford doo dakies are the go for road bikes!

[Beemer]

Dont trust the cheep tiedowns they give you on the boat, if they even have them, some just have dirty old ropes.
i did hear the other day that interislander is no longer going to keep a stock of tiedowns as people nick them or wreck them.

And if they do have any tie-downs, they are covered in cow shit from the cattle trucks that often share the same deck. You definitely don't want to be untying them and then putting your gloves straight on when you leave at the other end! We take our own, and have left them at the place we stay overnight in Picton on the way south, picking them up again on the way to the ferry home.

[Paul_C]

I went over on Bluebridge a couple of times and they've always ushered me to the front of the queue both getting on and getting off, and generally been pretty good about it.

I also used that crappy smelly ropes, however they were fairly strong looking and I used a few truckies hitchs' to tie the bike down and didn't have any problems. The sea was pretty calm though. I'd hate to go over on a rough day, proper tie downs or not.

[sunhuntin]

ive always used inter islander, and bikes are generally put on first. one has the bike parks at the very end of the deck, and theres no way a bike would be able to "filter' through once its full of cars. [i have to walk sideways sometimes, so yeh.] another has the parks at the front, so the bikes can get on at any time during loading. im not sure if that boat has parks at the back, as there didnt seem to be much room at the front. room for maybe 8 or 10? maybe?

i always book ahead, and make sure i arrive at least an hour early in wellington, mainly so if i get lost, i dont miss the boat.

[3umph]

I have been on both and both are good. I have booked and turned up and usually just turn up and and get on as well with no problems... wen I do that i go and see who is sailing next and go with them.
The last time I got on the Bluebridge it was that close that when I got off the loading ramp they started raising the ramp and we were sailing just about before I had tied the bike down...

from now the only time I book is if it is a holiday period otherwise its roll up and buy when i get there

[MarkH]

ive always used inter islander, and bikes are generally put on first. one has the bike parks at the very end of the deck, and theres no way a bike would be able to "filter' through once its full of cars.

That one might have been the Aratere - it has bike parks at the back.

The Arahura has room for about 8 bikes at the front, not sure if there are more at the back.

[longwayfromhome]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Went down last weekend. Put it on the sidesstand, then did one tiedown on the left and on the right, start forward at about front axle level, diagonally in over the footpeg, then diagonally out the back, to level with the back axle. Can't tell if it would hold in a really bad swell as it was pretty calm.

Personally, I think they should buy 20 or so front wheel clamps...that would solve it once and for all. Imagine a situation where you ride stright in, clamp auto closes, put in the locking pin, one light tie to stop the back jumping around....finished in about 1-2 mins, all bikes, all shapes and sizes. The advantage for the Ferry company would be that they can fit quite a lot more bikes in, and be more secure.

Other thing is that if you have a booking, you don't have to turn up until much nearer the sailing time. Bikes go in second (Freight goes in first on the two sailings I was on).

[DMNTD:Me]

Quick question...I'm riding down to Wellington tomorrow to take the ferry over the great divide.
Now then...can someone give me a heads up re how easy it is to find the ferry terminal?

[Ixion]

Easy as. Ride out to sea about 5 miles. Watch for a honking big boat steaming in and follow it in

[Disco Dan]

A true nightmare.

Ride in correct direction and then use GPS, maps, compass and stars to navigate.

Picton is worse... theres bloody two different ones... but you have to be a right plonker to wait at the wrong one...

[DMNTD:Me]

Easy as. Ride out to sea about 5 miles. Watch for a honking big boat steaming in and follow it in

Why thank you for you pearls of wisdom....somehow they remind me of my Grandma's necklace

[Ojai]

Quick question...I'm riding down to Wellington tomorrow to take the ferry over the great divide.
Now then...can someone give me a heads up re how easy it is to find the ferry terminal?

I'll do the real answer

SR 1 south, exit onto Aotea Quay. Take the first right, go around the bend and it will dump you into the car park.

Easy as, and there are signs pointing you to it as well.

[Headbanger]

Its sign posted. If you can read then your fine.

Otherwise down the big hill with the speed camera and take the exit at the bottom.