The 10 Best Budget-friendly Things to do in Marlborough Sounds, South Island

KAYAK NEW ZEALAND'S MOST BEAUTIFUL RIVER. Are you looking for a fun and easy way to discover spectacular New Zealand’s scenery? Do you want to spend a great day out with your family or friends? Are you a Hobbit fan and you don’t want to miss any of the famous filming locations? Then, the Hobbit Kayak Tour is for you!

Wilderness Guides is an outdoor adventure company based in Picton, owned and operated for the past 20 years by Steve and Juliet Gibbons, New Zealanders and Marlborough people with a passion for the outdoors. The owners are hands-on and have a background as outdoor guides in the area and with their close-knit team and dedicated team, offer a truly personalized service for all guests. Tours offered are quality and authentic New Zealand wilderness experiences with an emphasis on education, conservation, local history and culture as well as New Zealand native flora and fauna. This is combined with the finest of local food and wine. These include guided and independent walks on the Queen Charlotte Track from one day to many days in length, mountain bike hire and packages for the Queen Charlotte Track (one of NZ’s Great Rides) and a wide variety of sea kayaking options in the Marlborough Sounds. This is where your adventure begins!

Do you want a friendly and personable diving experience? You'll find it here. We have professional staff who care about your comfort. Enjoy the beauty of the Marlborough Sounds on our sturdy ex-commercial marine farming boat as you travel to your dive site. The boat has a cozy cabin allowing you to change after the dive and we can supply you with hot drinks and soup to keep you warm.

An all day cruise through the beautiful Marlborough Sounds delivering mail and groceries to remote and secluded properties. The Pelorus Sound is the largest of the Sounds and the Mail Boat is a lifeline to the people living in this boat access wonderland. You will hear a great selection of stories about life in the Sounds, its history, and how the mail has been delivered like this since 1918. You will also get to experience the marine and bird life in the area including 5 types of dolphins, Australasian gannets, rare shags, seals and many more. A full mussel farm tour is also included and there is usually an opportunity to see the mussel boats operating during harvesting or seeding. We will stop off at a local lodge and passengers are able to buy lunch or bring your own lunch and come with us to a local farm for a tour. You will also be able to enjoy a bush walk or swim if you would like. We operate 7 days in summer, which is November to April.

Pelorus Sound Water Taxi & Cruises Havelock Water Taxi in the Marlborough Sounds for fast, comfortable & efficient water transport throughout the Pelorus & Kenepuru Sound. Take a water taxi to your bach or holiday accommodation, enjoy a boat tour and a walk, mussel cruise, sightseeing tours in the Marlborough Sounds. We offer Scenic boat cruises all year round. If there is something you want to see in the Sounds, or if you just want to see 'around the Point'. We can take you on a guided tour and share many stories relating to the history of the area. As you travel through the spectacular Marlborough Sounds on our water taxi you will pass stunning native bush. We could stop for walks on tracks following the coastline, through beautiful bush and untouched forest.

Water Taxi Service operating in Queen Charlotte Sound.