Experience the Marlborough Sounds any way you like! Whether it's for 2 people or groups of 50 or more, only Dolphin Watch Ecotours can provide you with a unique Marlborough Sounds experience to remember. We've provided example itineraries below or can cater towards a variety of requests.
Itinerary #1: Scenic Dolphin Cruise • Motuara Island Bird Sanctuary Visit • Queen Charlotte Track Walk
Enjoy a scenic dolphin cruise and visit Motuara Island Bird Sanctuary before walking the QC Track at either historic Ship Cove of Captain James Cook fame or Resolution Bay. Enjoy Motuara Island on your own or with a guide and make your way along the bush track where you may see blue penguins, rare saddleback, robins, bellbirds, native pigeons and yellow-crowned parakeets. At the top of the island is the lookout where you'll be amazed at the view across Cook Strait and the outer Sounds. No other Marlborough Sounds operator contributes so much to the conservation of Motuara Island bird sanctuary as Dolphin Watch Ecotours. On your freedom (self-guided) walk, you'll enjoy Capt. Cook's favorite anchorage. Plentiful birdlife, breathtaking scenery and old-growth native bush inundates the cove. The native bush surrounding Ship Cove is relatively untouched since the time of Captain Cook's visits in the 1770s and this area is simply magic! Those wishing to start at Resolution Bay can soak up the views before walking the track. Whatever you choose, Dolphin Watch Ecotours will return to collect you later that afternoon and return to Picton. This is by far the best way to experience the Marlborough Sounds and the Queen Charlotte Track!
Queen Charlotte Track Day Walk Times & Lengths
- Resolution Bay to Ship Cove - 2 hours/4.5km: Marvel at the fish at the Resolution Bay jetty before exploring old-growth native forest and lush ferns as you make your way over the saddle and into historic Ship Cove of Captain Cook fame where you'll enjoy the pristine beauty and native birdlife. Take a short walk to the waterfall behind Ship Cove. Amazing views of the outer and inner Sounds are sure to please. Relax at Ship Cove before your afternoon pick-up.
- Resolution Bay to Furneaux Lodge - 3 hours/9.5km: A relaxed walk through native bush and forest before winding along the coast with fantastic views of Endeavour Inlet and Mount Stokes. Have a drink and converse with new friends at historic Furneaux Lodge before your afternoon pick-up.
- Ship Cove to Furneaux Lodge - 5 hours/14km: A popular option for those walkers wanting to experience Ship Cove, the resident birdlife, pristine native forests and amazing views across Cook Strait and Endeavour Inlet. Truly a nature lovers dream! Have a drink and and converse with new friends at historic Furneaux Lodge before your afternoon pick-up.
Itinerary #2: Swim With The Dolphins - Private Tour - JUST YOU AND THE DOLPHINS!!!
There is no other way to experience nature at its best! All gear is supplied, all you have to do is bring your swimsuit.
Itinerary #3: Best of the Sounds Eco-Cruise
Itinerary #4: Cruise to the Whaling Station
Whaling in New Zealand ceased in 1963 and the Tory Channel Whaling Station provides us with a look into the past. Your cruise includes a visit to the salmon farm to see New Zealand fur seals and a search for the dolphins that call the Sounds their home. A fantastic option for school groups. Contact us for additional details.
