Seatoun ferry trial

Seatoun residents will be able to commute to the city by ferry from next month.
Greater Wellington’s transport and access committee today approved a three-month trial of the Seatoun service beginning on Monday 3 March. The ferry service is part of Metlink – Greater Wellington’s public transport network.

Under the trial, an initiative of East by West Company Ltd which operates the ferry service, the 8.10am sailing from Days Bay will depart at the earlier time of 8.05am and travel via Seatoun to Queens Wharf, and the 5.30pm sailing from Queens Wharf will go via Seatoun to Days Bay. East by West is also adding a commercial sailing, departing Queens Wharf at 3.40pm and travelling via Seatoun to Days Bay and return. This will give the opportunity to Scots College students who live in the Eastbourne area to travel to and from school via the ferry.

Peter Glensor, chair of Greater Wellington’s transport and access committee, said the extended service would provide an alternative means of travel for Seatoun commuters. “Travelling to work on the water is a very pleasant and relaxing way to go. Particularly for those people who would usually take their cars in each day, strolling to the wharf and catching the ferry instead can both reduce stress levels significantly and provide an opportunity to browse a newspaper or plan your working day – or simply enjoy our beautiful harbour.

“And of course the more cars we can take off the road, the better for our environment.”

Jeremy Ward, managing director of East by West Company Ltd, said he believed there were many people in Seatoun who would use a commuter service to Wellington city. “We’ve received great support from eager Seatoun residents. Traffic congestion at peak hour is getting worse and the travel time on the ferry will be under 20 minutes, which will be a big draw card. The wharf’s there; and we already call in to Seatoun on our weekend harbour tours, so it makes sense to give Seatoun commuters another choice of travel weekdays.

"If the trial proves successful we expect this may lead to a third ferry in our fleet which would then allow the company to offer increased services to both Days Bay and Seatoun.”