Marlborough Sounds
Marlborough Sounds
5
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Marlborough Sounds
The area
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
1 within 3 miles
Contribute
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.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
5.0
699 reviews
Excellent
618
Very good
74
Average
6
Poor
1
Terrible
0
David R
Auckland Central, New Zealand116 contributions
Feb 2022
Our trip to the Marlborough Sounds was a mixture of land ( own car); sea Beachcomber Cruises); air ( flying back to Auckland by Air New Zealand from Nelson).. Fortunately Mother Nature remained kind. The open water cruise with Beachcomber cruises from Picton to Ship Cove watching wild life and the Interisland ferries was undertaken in smooth water. The circular road from Picton to Havelock gave plenty of time for camera stops. Then finally flying over the Sounds to Auckland on a cloudless day, was the icing on an already delicious cake.
David R
David R
Written 27 March 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.
Bob S
Hervey Bay, Australia514 contributions
Dec 2019
While on our Cruise stop in Picton we decided to do our own thing and took a flight with Pelorus Air Scenic flights over Marlborough Sounds. It was fantastic and thoroughly recommended. The pilot picked us up at the wharf in Picton. transferred us to the airport and then the magic begun. The scenery was magnificent and to add to the flight we actually landed on a private airstrip in the Sound which went uphill. After having a stroll around the private property we flew a different area of the Sound returning to Picton.
Written 4 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.
dimitry8
Sydney, Australia7 contributions
Feb 2020
Fantastic scenery and very informative and interesting visit to the Hydro Power Plant.
We were welllooked after over the 5 hr tour which included two bus rides and a boat trip
The scenery on the Sound and over land were equally stunning.
Though it was a cold day, everyone on the tour seemed to have a great time.
We were welllooked after over the 5 hr tour which included two bus rides and a boat trip
The scenery on the Sound and over land were equally stunning.
Though it was a cold day, everyone on the tour seemed to have a great time.
Written 10 March 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.
Holdmeup
Blenheim NZ28 contributions
Jul 2020
This location has a heap of wonderful places to visit, Just soaking up some wildlife / atmosphere or overnighting in one of the secluded bays. This place has something for everbody and, dont forget your fishing rod.
Travelling around on one of the charter vessels or privately it is almost guaranteed that is you will see something new every time.
The wildlife is diverse and the scenery is out of this world.
Travelling around on one of the charter vessels or privately it is almost guaranteed that is you will see something new every time.
The wildlife is diverse and the scenery is out of this world.
Written 10 August 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.
pd7
Weymouth, UK544 contributions
Jan 2020
We were lucky with the weather but I'm sure the MS would look spectacular in most weather. In bright sunshine the really vivid blue of the water and green of the islands/mainland was gorgeous. The best way to see it is going south from Wellington to Picton (but looks good going north too). If you have the time I would definitely recommend seeing more of MS by staying on the N coast of S Island.
Written 16 September 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.
Ray Webb
5 contributions
Mar 2023
A great tramp, well supported by Jake the Tour Guide. Some long days (>20km) were well paced on good walking tracks. Lots of opportunities to take in the breath taking scenery
Written 22 March 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.
HahnTravels
Liverpool, Australia1,290 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
Beautiful views and scenery by water, hiking or by car. Plenty of walks down to uncrowded beaches. water an amazing colour in the sun. Amazing area, just get out and wander, grab a kayak or drive some slow roads - eg Picton to Havelock.
Written 6 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.
AucklandWiz
Auckland, New Zealand2,256 contributions
Feb 2021
I absolutely love the Marlborough Sounds ++. We stayed on Kenepuru Sound and the scenery is absolutely stunning. We had beautiful gorgeous sunny days and it made me want to go and live there. The silence, the birdsong, the clear beautiful water, the different inviting bays in the sounds, and the colours- Kenepuru is turquoise blue while Queen Charlotte is navy blue. There are ample and beautiful walks around the sounds. Not a lot of people around when we went. The places that are only accessible on the Sounds must be on another level. I will definitely return one day and stay longer than the couple of days we had and get out on the water.
Written 3 March 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.
barbarajandrews
Melbourne, Australia103 contributions
Mar 2020
A wonderful trip, Julian was our guide and gave us plenty of information. Big bonus was to have the dolphins with us, frollicking along in the wake of the boat. Weather was also kind to us. So many wonderful views of the Sound, beauty personified.
Written 15 March 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.
Sachin K
New York City, NY6,556 contributions
Dec 2018 • Solo
Marlborough Sounds is best viewed on the ferry that leaves from Picton to Wellington. The scenes of the Sound change dramatically with the passage of the ferry. Truly Flabbergasting.
Written 29 November 2019
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, we are thinking of doing a week down this way, likely travelling across on ferry from Wellington. What do people suggest we do (would be mid-late April) and is it best just to stay in Picton or do you have other ideas given we have a week to explore and could hire a car?
Written 23 February 2019
I would get a car for two days.1 day drive down to kaikoura.stop at kekerengu for lunch.at the store which is 30-40mins north of kaikoura.blenheim havea look at the war museum at omaka aerodrome well worth it and a lunch at wairau river wines.picton there are a few walks and lookouts.cafes le cafe,gusto, and oxleys are the pick.
Written 6 March 2019
I am interested in a 1days private tour around Picton for the 17th of Dec. 2018 for 8 seniors, while cruising with Celebrity.
Can you recommend a good guide or a tour operator ?
Thanks
Tammy
Written 24 September 2018
Bonjour
Nous préparons un voyage en camping car et bien sûr, cette parait incontournable.
Nous arriverons par le ferry de Wellington
La route de Queen Charlotte est décrite sinueuse, mais selon vous praticable en camping car?
Peut on envisager de passer une journée sur cette côte sans forcément réserver une excursion?
Pensez vous qu'une portion de la queen charlottewalkway soit envisageable avec mes 2 jeunes (8 et 9 ans) garçons?
Merci d'avance pour vos conseils!
Lydie
Written 26 September 2017
Is there a place where you can rent a boat for the day?
Written 3 February 2017
Is there a place where you can rent a boat for the day?
Written 3 February 2017
I don't think so, however, its not something we were looking out for.
Written 4 February 2017
Mohammed T
Wellington, New Zealand
Hi, My family would be arriving at Picton terminal by interislander ferry at 12.30pm. Can you please tell me how do I reach Marlborough sounds from the terminal. And what activites should I plan to explore the Marlborough sounds. catamaran rides / boat rides / walk around.. we will be returning back to wellington by the 6.45pm interislander ferry. I guess we will have 4 hours to spend. can someone suggest
Written 8 August 2015
Showing results 1-6 of 6
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing