Check-in & boarding information

Find out when you need to arrive and how to board with your vehicle

Checking In

Safety Briefing

In the unlikely event of an emergency, please follow the instructions of your crew.

Life jackets are located under the seats in the main cabins, and in the lockers throughout the vessels. Childrens and Infants lifejackets are available with the crew.

Emergency muster stations are located forward and aft of the vehicle decks, and your well-trained crew would advise when you would need to go to them.

Please be careful when moving around the vessel and ensure that children are supervised at all times. SeaLink is a smoke-free environment, including our terminals and vessels.
Smoking, including vaping and e-cigarettes is prohibited.. 


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Waiheke Island

All passengers and vehicles travelling to/from Waiheke Island with or without vehicles should report a minimum of 30 minutes prior to departure. Due to loading requirements, boarding will close 20 minutes prior to departure for vehicles and 15 minutes prior for foot passengers. SeaLink reserves the right to deny boarding after this time.

SeaLink employee checking in a customer

If you're travelling with your vehicle our traffic marshal will greet you as you enter the gate onto the wharf. They'll direct you to park in one of the loading lanes ready to board the ferry. As we often have full sailings we ask that you park as closely as possible behind the car in front of you to allow us to get all travellers into the loading lanes.

If you have a paid and confirmed booking our traffic marshal will give you your return ticket. If you don't already have a pre-purchased ticket, or have extra passengers joining you, then you will be directed into the ticketing office.
As part of our safety protocols, In times of poor visibility into the vehicle Marshalls may ask passengers to wind down windows so we can confirm passenger count. 
Payment can be via EFTPOS or credit card.

Drop-off and pick-up of elderly and disabled passengers is available near the ramp at Kennedy Point.

“Smooth trip and good service buying ticket.”  Keltiades Family

Great Barrier Island

All passengers and vehicles travelling to/from Great Barrier Island with vehicles should report a minimum of 60 minutes prior to departure. Passengers travelling without a vehicle (foot passengers) should report a minimum of 30 minutes prior to departure. Due to loading requirements, boarding will close 20 minutes prior to departure for vehicles and 15 minutes prior for foot passengers. SeaLink reserves the right to deny boarding after this time.

If you're travelling with your vehicle our traffic marshal will greet you as you enter the gate onto the wharf. They'll direct you to park in one of the loading lanes ready to board the ferry. As we often have full sailings we ask that you park as closely as possible behind the car in front of you to allow us to get all travellers into the loading lanes.

If you have a paid and confirmed booking our traffic marshal will give you your return ticket. If you don't already have a pre-purchased ticket or have extra passengers joining you then you will be directed into the ticketing office. Payment can be via EFTPOS or credit card.

Skipper readying the SeaLink ferry

Rakino Island

All passengers and vehicles travelling to/from Rakino Island should check-in 60 minutes prior to departure. To get everyone loaded and ensure the ferry departs on time, we can’t guarantee passage if you’re running late. If you're travelling with your vehicle our traffic marshal will greet you as you enter the gate onto the wharf. They'll direct you to park in one of the loading lanes ready to board the ferry. As we may also have a check-in for Waiheke Island and often have full sailings we ask that you park as closely as possible behind the car in front of you to allow us to get all travellers into the loading lanes.

If you have a paid and confirmed booking our traffic marshal will give you your return ticket. If you don't already have a pre-purchased ticket, or have extra passengers joining you, then you will be directed into the ticketing office. Payment can be via EFTPOS or credit card.

Boarding the ferry with a vehicle

If you're travelling to Waiheke Island then we have ferries which you can just drive onto and ferries that you will need to reverse your vehicle on.  It will depend on which ferry is operating the service you have booked on.

If you're travelling to Great Barrier you'll need to reverse your vehicle onto the ferry.  If for some reason, you are unable to reverse your vehicle onto the ferry our crew will be happy to assist.  Please ask for assistance when you talk to our traffic marshal at check-in.

Unaccompanied vehicles or trailers

Unaccompanied vehicles or trailers can only travel on certain sailings and by prior arrangement which must be made by calling SeaLink on (09) 300 5900. Loading and unloading fees apply per vehicle, including an additional charge during peak (December, January, and public holiday) periods.

Due to loading requirements, unaccompanied vehicles or trailers should be available for boarding no later than 30 minutes prior to departure. SeaLink reserves the right to deny boarding for any unaccompanied vehicle(s) or trailer(s) where a prior arrangement has not been made with us.

Passengers walking on at Half Moon Bay

Boarding the ferry by foot

If you're travelling to either Waiheke or Great Barrier Island, we have a loading area for foot passengers to gather.  The traffic marshal or crew will direct you when it is time to load.  For your own safety we do not allow foot passengers and vehicles to load at the same time.  We ask that you follow the crew instructions and walk in the pedestrian areas only.  It is unsafe to cut across loading lanes.