Picton Tours
Half-Day Cruise in Marlborough Sounds from Picton
4.5

Half-Day Cruise in Marlborough Sounds from Picton

By Beachcomber Cruises
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About
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-99, max of 70 per group
Duration: 3h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • Commentary on board
  • Restroom on board
What's not included
  • Food
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Beachcomber Cruises keep cup ($6 available for purchase)


Start:
  • 1 London Quay, Picton 7220, New Zealand
    Please meet us at the Beachcomber Cruises Office on the waterfront - the Corner of Wellington Street and London Quay, we are a black building with Blue Signage.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Pushchair accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 6607SCENIC

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Most travellers can participate
    • Guests are welcome to bring their own food and drinks to consume on board
    • Closed-toe walking shoes suitable for walking are recommended
    • Not accessible for motorized wheelchairs
    • We are not able to pick up / drop off at the Cruise Ship Terminal - you must make your way to our booking office
    • Please note that this tour departs sharply on schedule at 9:00am
    • This tour has a minimum number requirement and may be cancelled if we do not reach this capacity
    • The boat used for the tour can vary from a smaller 9 seater to a 99 seater catamaran and is not guaranteed
    • Not recommended for travelers with serious mobility issues or confinements
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 70 travellers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 6607SCENIC

    From
    £50.69
    per adult
    Select date and travellers
    Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.

    Similar experiences

    Itinerary
    • 1 London Quay, Picton 7220, New Zealand
      Please meet us at the Beachcomber Cruises Office on the waterfront - the Corner of Wellington Street and London Quay, we are a black building with Blue Signage.
    • Pass by
      Queen Charlotte Sound
    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Beachcomber Cruises
      984
      Picton, New Zealand
      Joined in June 2011
    • 162belindas
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Wow. Lady Ann cruise was fantastic!
      We took a cruise on Lady Ann from Picton up to Cook's Landing at Ship Cove, where we stopped for a wander around, and were then dropped at Torea Bay. What an amazing day we had. The pre-planning was a breeze with the assistance and helpful advice from Becky along the way. On the day we were treated to a very memorable experience. The boat itself is fantastic. Mark, Courtney and Flame looked after us so well - we wanted for nothing. We saw penguins, dolphins, seals, and gannets. We ate food that looked beautiful and tasted as good as it looked. I highly recommend this company. I do not often post reviews, but feel the memories we were given of a very special day, and how well treated we were, is deserving of praise. Thank you so much to the team at Beachcomber Cruises for looking after our team so well. A definite highlight of our trip.
      Written 19 September 2024
    • HeaMcD
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Stunning must-do cruise!
      Captain Greg,took us on an amazing cruise around the best spots to be seen on our private 1 hour trip. Such a beautiful part of the world and Greg was very informative,with some very interesting facts.
      Written 23 August 2024
    • Brendajulie
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      The sounds mail delivery run
      Greg our captain gave a great commentary of the sounds as he delivered supplies and mail all the way to Furneaux lodge and back, we saw lots of dolphins, seals and blue penguins as well as the lovely landscape. A very interesting trip, well worth doing and enjoyed by ourselves and friends that we travelled with
      Written 17 July 2024
    • Discover62977272803
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      MAGIC Mail Boat Cruise - the best adventure in all of Picton!
      The cruise of our DREAMS! Stunning views, small tour size, friendly and informative staff. We were greeted at the counter and shown a map of the Queen Charlotte Sounds, boarded the boat and took off. We saw dolphins, seals and Blue Cod! The sun went down on the trip back. A perfect afternoon!
      Written 8 July 2024
    • JonnyM2468
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fantastic company for Queen Charlotte Track
      Fantastic service from Beachcomber. Booked some pickups/drop offs and bag transfers for the Queen Charlotte track. It was the start of the 'quiet season' but they were more than happy to accommodate and still had busy boats for the day tours. Excellent communication via email and clear instructions on the day from office staff and skippers. All staff super friendly and knowledgeable. They were flexible enough to pick us up earlier when we arrived to the pickup point a bit sooner than we had planned which was really appreciated at that time of year. Would highly recommend them for any shuttles or tours in the sounds. Cheers
      Written 8 June 2024
    • lkrocks
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Lovely tour!!!!
      Great tour! Kevin and Kayla made it enjoyable…loved the information, views, and total experience. The town of Picton was great and this was a beautiful way to see it!!
      Written 21 May 2024
    • wegge
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great trip
      We enjoyed our cruise with ‘Beachcomber Cruise’ very much. The boat trip from Picton to Ship Cove was very informative and pleasant. The cruise from Punga Cove to Picton was speedy and absolutely on time. Thank you for a great service in the Marlborough Sounds. HeiWe
      Written 21 May 2024
    • Global25528487494
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fantastic QC walk and views
      Ship Cove to Furneaux Lodge 17km walk It takes about an hour to get there and back on the smaller boat, depending on the mail drop/ pick up. It was a pleasant trip with lots of commentary on history and facts. The walk takes about 5 hours with a few breaks in between. It's intermediate level with a couple of uphills at the start. Beautiful views and seats to rest along the path. The track wasn't as well maintained as thought, but still very doable.
      Written 28 April 2024
    • philiplO8061JR
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great scenery and great to visit all the bays
      Had a great day out. The weather was perfect. Saw lots of new country. The staff were very friendly and informative. Well worth doing.
      Written 21 April 2024
    • Departure00096900417
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fabulous cruise around the Sound
      A very beautiful and interesting trip. Well worth doing to see this incredible scenery and to see the beautiful remote places where people live in the Sound
      Written 20 April 2024
    • Traveler57575348312
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Highly recommended.
      The skipper, Aaron was knowledgeable, friendly and good-natured. My family used the water taxi service to be dropped off and picked up from the Queen Charlotte Track. The boat had plenty of room and comfortable. Top deck was open for great views. Highly recommend!
      Written 17 April 2024
    • Wayne J
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Unique Experience
      Great experience on the water on a working mail delivery boat. Greg the skipper was a local fisherman who was an excellent guide with plenty of local knowledge and experience. The boat is dry, comfortable and safe. We saw some great out of the way places and people, all excited to be receiving the mail. Highly recommend. Ps. Office staff were a delight to talk to, also very knowledgeable
      Written 15 April 2024
    • Wander08299315569
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great trip
      Skipper provided a very interesting commentary. We walked from Ship Bay to Furneaux Lodge. Only snag is there is not too much to see for a lot of the walk due to the bush. But you do get to see lots of wekas. Good quick boat ride both ways and friendly staff.
      Written 31 March 2024
    • RobynF888
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fabulous
      I went out on the Friday’s 1.30pm Mail boat delivering Mail to the most off the grid, eclectic places and seeing the amazing Kiwis who live there Such a fabulous 4 hours following the Wellington bound Interislander ferry up the Tory channel, seeing the Salmon farms, Mussel farms and the old whaling station. Picked up some Queen Charlotte Track walkers on the way back at the Fumeaux Lodge then back down Endeavour Inlet. It’s Autumn, so I left Picton in a T shirt, then a jacket and then scarf and gloves. Such a beautiful place, both on land and sea. The staff were great also. Nothing was too much trouble for them A must for everyone to experience.
      Written 23 March 2024
    • Stevaroo
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great excursion.
      Great fun. Extremely enjoyable cruise through the sound. Stopped first at Ship's Cover, where Cook spent so much time reprovisioning on several trips, It's a beautiful sight to spend some time. Saw some dolphins and tons of birds. recommended.
      Written 18 March 2024
    See all 984 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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    4.5
    4.5 of 5 bubbles65 reviews
    Excellent
    45
    Very good
    12
    Average
    3
    Poor
    1
    Terrible
    4

    judieroberts
    Kerikeri, New Zealand9 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2021
    Something went wrong!!
    We had booked for 3 adults for a beachcomber cruise price $273. Instead we found we ended up on the Picton Taxi service.
    It states - "Along the way your skipper will provide a commentary on the surrounds, history and the wildlife be it bird, fish or mammal!

    "Yes he slowed down and showed us 2 dolphins for a minute, otherwise it was silent no commentary!! He was too busy texting!!
    But Hey... Then at the ship bay we broke down for an hour the taxi gears were not working. Not long enough to really do anything but wait.

    I was cheeky enough to ask for a free coffee, and was told to ask the owners at Furneaux Lodge. We had booked not a taxi but a cruise that would tell us about the Islands.
    Also had to wait while picking up and dropping off other people.
    Sorry to say it was a total waste of a day and money.
    To make is worst we did it for my husband birthday
    Written 5 December 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Good Morning Thank you for your review, its really unfortunate for us to hear that you did not enjoy your day trip out with us. We strive to deliver a fantastic experience for all of our guests and endeavor to always provide the very best service, we are sorry that you feel we have let you down. On days when we do have limited numbers we do take a smaller vessel out for our cruises, on this day it was just your family so instead of the disappointment of cancelling the trip we pulled a smaller boat off another tour in order to accommodate you. Unfortunately we did also experience a break down on this day however a replacement vessel was dispatched from Picton immediately so as not to interrupt your days plans to much, we do apologize that you were kept waiting at Ship Cove. We have also corresponded by email regarding your comments and hopefully we can achieve a resolution.
    Written 6 December 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Tweetie B
    Edmonton, Canada45 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2024 • Friends
    Excellent boat tour of the Queen Charlotte Sound from Picton. Beautiful day, calm water and gorgeous scenery. The narration by the captain was interesting. the 2 short stops to get ashore were nice. Overall a very enjoyable tour. A very relaxing way to see this area.
    The staff at Beachcomber was all very friendly, flexible and helpful. We've a tight schedule to make the last shuttle bus back to the cruise ship terminal. Becky at the Beachcomber office offered to ask the shuttle bus to come closer to the boat dock for us to get on in case the tour boat sometimes come back a little late. When we informed the captain of our tight schedule he made sure that we arrived back to the dock even a few minutes ahead of schedule time. Now that's great customer service.
    Written 12 March 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi 896Tweetie Thank you for your review, we are really pleased that your group enjoyed the tour with us that afternoon. We are always happy to help make sure guests get back to the ship on time with confidence :)
    Written 21 March 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Andy and Cheryl Cordier
    Christchurch, New Zealand20 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    We chose this cruise after researching all the available cruises offered from Havelock and Picton. It was a real disappointment. All the advertising refers to the commentary and knowledge of the area. We were really looking forward to learning the local information, learning about the birds and hopefully seeing some sea life. Our tour operator was totally disinterested. He made 4 short comments on a 4 hour cruise. My children, husband and I watched the beautiful scenery go by with not a single bit of information. When I asked he was rude saying surely I did not expect him to speak for 4 hours! We brought keep cups for the “free tea and coffee” - not even offered once. 15 minute stop at Ships Cove - is not enough time to even read all the information at the site. This trip should actually be refunded to us as what we paid for and what we received what not at all acceptable!
    Written 1 May 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi CherylCordier22 Thank you for your review, we are really disappointed that you did not enjoy your time on the cruise with us. Its really rare for us to receive such negative reviews about our tours and our drivers, we think they do an excellent job at keeping everyone entertained. Tea and coffee is available throughout the tour from the front bar, you would have been able to go up at any time to make your hot drink. We had lots of other guests on this same tour on this day and this is the only negative feedback we have received, our skippers do try and make sure that every experience is memorable and enjoyable so we are sorry to hear that we let you down on this day.
    Written 4 May 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    olivemilburn
    Christchurch, New Zealand4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2022 • Friends
    Just being in the Marlborough Sounds & hearing some real stories from a local family, delivered with humour.
    The weather wasn't helpful, being very cloudy and cool, however, we all still thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and hope to return to do a different cruise. Learning more about mussel farming & King salmon was most interesting..
    Written 23 July 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi olivemilburn Thank you for your review, we are really pleased to hear that you enjoyed your time on the cruise even if the weather wasn't at its finest. We find that the ever changing Marlborough weather always adds an extra special uniqueness to each and every day we cruise - its true that no two days are the same! Its great that you were able to learn about our local aquaculture, we do hope to see you on board again some other time.
    Written 7 August 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Matthew G
    Brisbane, Australia55 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This was the mailboat cruise. It left at 9am and we were back around 12.

    Our skipper was very informative about the sounds and the area including history and environment. We stopped to watch dolphins work with gannets to feed. Saw fish schools and a salmon farm in addition to the visit to Ship Cove.

    A great way to learn something of the area.
    Written 10 October 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi matthewglynn Thank you for your review, we are really pleased to hear that you enjoyed your time on the cruise with us. It sounds like you saw lots of local friend's on the tour too which is always an added bonus. Enjoy the rest of your travels
    Written 19 October 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Carien B
    Orewa, New Zealand34 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sept 2023 • Friends
    Loved it. Great skipper with lots of knowledge on the area and history. It's fascinating to see how many people live in The Marlborough Sounds which is only accessible by boat. Delivering the post by boat had us seeing way more than we thought, in the way back we saw a pod of dolphins which completed the trip for us.
    Written 29 September 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi 175carienb Thank you for your review, we are really pleased to hear that you enjoyed your time on the cruise with us!
    Written 4 October 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    suziewong101
    Glasgow, UK131 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Boat was clean , captain was knowledgable and informative . Sun was shining , beautiful location . Ships cove is beautiful - well worth the 4 hour trip
    . And the dolphins wanted to play ….. what more could you ask for ?
    Written 9 November 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi suziewong101 Thank you for your review, we are really happy to hear that you enjoyed your time on the cruise with us - Ship Cove really is a beautiful spot. And even better you got to see the dolphins too, it always adds an extra special touch to any trip in the sounds.
    Written 28 December 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Teresa Q
    Dallas, Texas23 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2020
    This was a good way to see the area from the water. However,at one point we made a stop and many people who had been trekking got onto the boat for a ride across the way to another area. They keep coming on and it was packed with standing room only. It seemed quite unsafe and it was very uncomfortable.
    Written 24 January 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    trophywest
    Redding, CA815 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2023
    It was nice, but like our local lake when full & in the Spring. It was pretty & we took in the sights but similar to home. Some live on the ocean with the only transportation being a boat. We saw where Captain Cook first landed on the South Island for supplies (food, water, firewood). Fur seals, cormorants, & a Weka (bird) were the only wildlife. Along the way, the boat was a taxi for hikers & those staying at resorts, also for transport of luggage. All in all, it was nice but we were expecting views like in Milford Sound.
    Written 17 February 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi there, Thank you for taking time to review our Half-day Marlborough Sounds Cruise. The Milford Sound (despite the name) is actually a fiord, so has extremely steep sides, is narrow and has a multitude of cascading waterfalls, especially after rain. It is located in one on the wettest places in the world, so it rains a lot. The Marlborough Sounds area is much more open with gently rounded hills, making them completely different. All the best for your future travels.
    Written 18 February 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    sd76
    Picton, New Zealand3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Top service from the comfort of a amazing boat and awesome skipper.
    Great local knowledge and history of the area.
    Take snacks and drinks relax and enjoy this amazing experience.
    From the greeting at check in to the farewell! Amazing
    Written 30 April 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi scooby272 Thank you for your review, we are really happy to hear that you enjoyed your time on the cruise with us. Many Thanks
    Written 3 May 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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