East by West Ferries

East by West Ferries is a Wellington-based maritime transport operator that has served New Zealand's capital harbour since 1989. The company describes itself as a cornerstone of maritime transportation in Wellington Harbour, with more than three decades of continuous operation. Its core business is a contracted public transport ferry link across the harbour, carrying commuters between Days Bay in the Eastern Bays and Wellington City, with morning sailings into the city and evening return trips. The service is contracted by Greater Wellington, the regional council, making East by West a small but vital part of the region's public transportation network. Beyond commuting, the company has built a diversified harbour experiences business. It runs ferry services to Mātiu/Somes Island, a predator-free wildlife sanctuary and historic site, and offers commentated harbour tours, a Māori cultural harbour tour, e-bike hire, ticketed events and private charters. In 2023 it introduced the Wellington Harbour Explorer, a 90-minute commentated tour combining the harbour's natural landscapes with its maritime history. Private charters come with onboard bars and customisable catering options. East by West has positioned itself around sustainability. It operates the Ika Rere, launched in 2022 and described by the company as the first fully electric ferry in the southern hemisphere, used for zero-emissions harbour tours. The company states it is the busiest commercial operator on Wellington Harbour and frames its transition to electric propulsion, waste reduction and sustainability practices as a leadership effort within its community; it also says it supports the Tiaki promise, a New Zealand tourism sustainability commitment. The fleet consists of three ferries, all with bathrooms, bar facilities, enclosed lower cabins and open top decks. Ika Rere carries up to 132 passengers; Cobar Cat, commissioned, built and purchased by the company in 2005, carries up to 99; and City Cat, purchased in 2000, carries up to 91 and was marketed as "beating the traffic" with a 25-minute crossing. The company takes bookings for bicycles on its public transport trips. It is a privately held New Zealand operator and does not appear to be listed on a public exchange.

East by West Ferries traces its origins to 1989, when it began operating ferry services in Wellington Harbour. According to the company's own account, it has been a cornerstone of maritime transportation in the harbour for over 30 years, providing reliable, efficient and dynamic ferry services to daily commuters, travellers and event organisers. The company's early fleet history is documented in its fleet pages. Its first ferry was eventually replaced by City Cat, which was purchased in 2000 and provided a quick, reliable transport option, officially "beating the traffic" with a 25-minute crossing time. City Cat carries up to 91 passengers. In 2005, the company commissioned, built and purchased Cobar Cat to meet increased demand for ferry transport across the harbour; that vessel carries up to 99 passengers. Over time the business developed two complementary strands. The first is contracted public transport: East by West operates ferry services contracted by Greater Wellington, shuttling commuters from Days Bay to Wellington City in the mornings and back home in the evenings. The second is harbour tourism and experiences, including ferry trips to Mātiu/Somes Island, commentated harbour tours, a Māori cultural harbour tour, e-bike hire, ticketed events and private charters with onboard bars and customisable catering. A defining recent chapter has been electrification. In 2022 the company launched Ika Rere, which it describes as the first fully electric ferry in the southern hemisphere and a significant milestone in its journey towards sustainability. The vessel carries up to 132 passengers and is used for zero-emissions harbour tours. In 2023, East by West introduced the Wellington Harbour Explorer, a 90-minute commentated tour that combines the harbour's natural landscapes with the region's maritime history, operated aboard the electric ferry. The company states that it is the busiest commercial operator on Wellington Harbour and frames its environmental work — the transition to electric propulsion, waste reduction and broader sustainability practices — as an effort to lead by example and inspire positive change in its community. It also states that it supports the Tiaki promise, a New Zealand tourism sustainability commitment. All three of its ferries feature bathrooms and bar facilities, enclosed bottom cabins and open top decks, and the company now takes bookings for bicycles on its public transport trips.

• 2023

  The Wellington Harbour Explorer, a 90-minute commentated tour, is introduced.

• 2022

  Ika Rere, described as the first fully electric ferry in the southern hemisphere, is launched.

• 2005

  Cobar Cat is commissioned, built and purchased to meet increased harbour ferry demand.

• 2000

  City Cat is purchased, replacing the company's first ferry and offering a 25-minute crossing.

• 1989

  East by West Ferries begins operating ferry services in Wellington Harbour.

Wellington Harbour's busiest commercial ferry operator, combining contracted public transport with tourism experiences and a sustainability-led electric ferry offering.

• Queens Wharf–Days Bay public transport ferry

  Contracted by Greater Wellington; morning commuter sailings into Wellington City and evening return trips.

• Mātiu/Somes Island ferry

  Ferry access to a predator-free wildlife sanctuary and historic island in Wellington Harbour.

• Wellington Harbour Explorer

  90-minute commentated tour aboard the electric ferry, introduced in 2023.

• Māori cultural harbour tour

  A harbour tour experience centred on Māori culture.

• eBike hire

  City eBike adventures or full harbour adventures combining eBikes and ferry travel.

• Private charters

  Ferries available for private events with onboard bars and customisable catering.

1. 1East by West Ferries | Explore Wellington From The Watereastbywest.co.nz
2. 2About Us | East by West Ferrieseastbywest.co.nz
3. 3Ferry Services | East by West Ferrieseastbywest.co.nz
4. 4Our Fleet | East by West Ferrieseastbywest.co.nz
5. 5East by Westwikidata.org