Marlborough Boat Tours

The Marlborough Sounds are a maze of flooded river valleys northeast of Blenheim, reached only by water in most places, which is exactly why boat tours are the best way to see them. Our Marlborough boat tours cover working mail boats, wildlife cruises, scenic lunch stops and a wine and seafood cruise from Picton.

Ride Along on a Working Mail Boat

The Mail Boat Cruise in Queen Charlotte Sound and Pelorus Sound Mail Run Cruise from Havelock both follow genuine working boats delivering post and supplies to bays with no road access, a tradition that still runs the Sounds today.

Wildlife and History on the Water

The Motuara Island Cruise and Walk from Picton reaches a predator free bird sanctuary near Ship Cove, the site where Captain Cook once claimed the South Island for Britain, and the Cruise and Day Walk from Ship Cove to Furneaux Lodge pairs the same history with a walking leg along the Queen Charlotte Track.

Scenic Cruises with Lunch Included

The Scenic Cruise and Waterside Dining at Furneaux Lodge and Scenic Cruise and Waterside Dining at Punga Cove Resort both combine a cruise through the Sounds with lunch at a waterfront lodge only reachable by boat.

Half Day Cruising from Picton

The Queen Charlotte Sound Cruise from Picton covers three and a half hours on the water, and the Afternoon Wine and Seafood Cruise from Picton pairs the same Sounds scenery with Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and local seafood.

Why Book Your Marlborough Boat Tour with Everything New Zealand

We are your local travel partner across Marlborough, not the operator, so we only list boat tours we would genuinely recommend to family and friends. Compare mail boats, wildlife cruises and scenic lunch cruises side by side, book online in a few minutes and get instant confirmation. Less scrolling, more strolling, straight onto the Sounds.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a mail boat cruise in the Marlborough Sounds? A genuine working boat delivers post and supplies to remote bays with no road access, with visitors able to join the same route on the Queen Charlotte Sound and Pelorus Sound mail runs.

Why is Motuara Island significant in the Marlborough Sounds? The predator free island near Ship Cove is where Captain Cook once claimed sovereignty over the South Island, and is now a bird sanctuary reached by cruise.

Can I have lunch as part of a Marlborough boat tour? Yes, both the Furneaux Lodge and Punga Cove Resort cruises include waterside dining at a lodge only reachable by boat.

How long does the Queen Charlotte Sound Cruise from Picton take? The cruise runs three and a half hours, covering a section of the Marlborough Sounds directly from Picton.

Is there a boat tour that combines wine with Sounds scenery? Yes, the Afternoon Wine and Seafood Cruise from Picton pairs Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and local seafood with a cruise through the Sounds.