Sounds fantastic

PHOTO: Mountain biking, Queen Charlotte Track

Although the Marlborough Sounds is best known for its splendid walks and boat cruises,  there’s a whole host of alternative land and water-based activities that’ll keep you busy for days. These include The “Edwin Fox” - ninth oldest ship in the world - Maritime Museum, the Picton Museum describing the whaling history of the region, and the EcoWorld Aquarium & Terrarium: Aquarium of the Marlborough Sounds.

If it’s a once in a lifetime experience you are looking for, well there’s SCUBA diving including a number of wreck dives and dolphin swimming. There are more popular destinations to do these types of things but the attraction of Marlborough is that you’re more likely to secure a reservation - especially in the high season, and you’ve a better chance of getting a cheaper, more personalised, service.

Horse treks will take you through some stunning scenery inland and by hiring a mountain bike you can go pretty much wherever you want.

The watchword here is ‘flexibility’ with operators offering a range of itineraries, encouraging multi-activity trips ie walk, mountain bike and kayak etc, challenging visitors to come up with new ideas for having fun.

A multitude of tranquil, sheltered bays, uninhabited islands and almost 1500  kilometers of deep-water coastline, all make the Marlborough Sounds an ideal place to take a cruise. There’s mussel and salmon farms to see, a multitude of seabirds to observe, and the chance of seeing fur seals, penguins and dolphins - all in their natural habitat..including the predator free Motuara Island bird sanctuary where baby kiwis are nurtured to maturity.

A few hours out on the water and you’ll being doing yourself and your tramping boots a big favour. The popular mail boat offers full day and afternoon half day sailings from both Picton and Havelock and gives you the opportunity to meet some of the locals as you drop off their supplies. The service covers all the main waterways (Queen Charlotte Sound, Pelorus Sound and Keneperu Sound) as well as some of the lesser known ones, although the routes vary depending on the day of the week.

For the more independent minded, why not hire your own vessel? Chances are you’ll find something to meet your needs at one of the charter companies that operate out of Picton, and if you’re inexperienced or your sailboat sailing skills are a little rusty, you have the option of going out with a professional skipper. With a charter you have the freedom to go where you want, when you want, and your skipper will be happy to provide training and pass on local knowledge.

Kayaking is a popular budget option. You’re so close to the water in such a small craft, looking up at the towering bush-clad hills that surround you is a unique and humbling experience. Guided or freedom paddles can last a day or longer. There’s plenty of budget accommodation often in beautiful isolated spots, and with over-night camping, those really wishing to ‘get away from it all’ can fish for their supper or gather mussels and oysters.

All these water-based activities can be combined with a hike. The most popular is the 3 to 4 day Queen Charlotte track, although there are a number of shorter walks. Cruising part of the track gives you a more varied perspective on the wonderful scenery and wildlife this region has to offer.

For more information on Picton or the Queen Charlotte Track, ring the Picton i-SITE Visitor Information Centre on Ph 03 520 3113 or email picton@i-site.org.

Queen Charlotte Track - a spectacular walk through the Marlborough Sounds