Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
MetService says a new weather system will whip up the waves Tuesday, but the northerly doesn't look set to cause the same disruption on Cook Strait as recent days.
Strong southerly winds saw ferry crossings delayed and cancelled over the last few days, with huge swells making the strait too treacherous for sailings.
There has been significant disruption to Bluebridge and Interislander services since the weekend.
Ferry operators are still playing catch-up after days of cancelled Cook Strait crossings, but say no extra sailings will be added to the schedule.
Meteorologist Mathapelo Makabulane said the swells dropped below four metres as the southerly eased Monday evening.
Tuesday would see the southerly dying away entirely, but a northerly would pick up later in the day.
Bluebridge was not expecting any cancellations or delayed sailings on Tuesday and had not added extra sailings to the schedule.
It said passengers were being rescheduled or refunded as quickly as possible.
Interislander said there were no cancellations, but there would still be some delays on Tuesday.
It said most passengers had been rebooked on alternative sailings within 24 hours and expected to be back on schedule in the next day.
Crossings should be back on schedule in the next 24 hours and passengers were being kept up to date with timings, it said.
Earlier, Interislander said all passengers affected by ferry cancellations have been rebooked on alternative sailings.
Meanwhile Nigel Kennedy, who had performed magic shows for families on Interislander ferries for the past 35 years, said he had never seen a summer period like this one for bad weather.
"We've seen southerly after southerly after southerly and they're not little ones - they've been storm force southerlies," he said.
Kennedy said staff handed out sick bags and cups of ice on Monday's sailing of the Kaitaki, and some sailings took the long way around to avoid the worst of the swells.
He would expect three to four days of rough southerly weather in winter, but not in summer.
But he said the tough trips made his job all the more important. "You've got to have a laugh and put and a smile on things."
During rough conditions he shifted the timing of his show so it took place in calmer waters, rather than the middle of Cook Strait.
"Fortunately I've got my sea legs, which is a bonus - I don't think I would've last this long in the job if I didn't."
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