Queen Charlotte Sound Mail Boat Cruise
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Queen Charlotte Sound Mail Boat Cruise
/ New Zealand / Marlborough District / Picton / Tours & Activities /
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Queen Charlotte Sound Mail Boat Cruise

4 h
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About this activity
Head to the waterfront in Picton to meet the mailboat for your 4-hour tour on Queen Charlotte Sound. Every trip starts along the routes detailed below by day of the week, then wraps up with a 15-minute stop at Ship Cove (1st Oct to 30th April).

The visit to Ship Cove gives you a chance to disembark at the inlet where Captain Cook anchored his ship, The Endeavor, in 1770. Explore the beach and see a memorial to Captain Cook, several large Maori statues carved from wood, and informative displays about the island. Birds such as oyster catchers, weka, and paradise ducks can be spotted here as well.

On Mondays and Thursdays, start by cruising through Queen Charlotte Sound to Kaipapa, a small cove in Kumototo Bay. Continue into Blackwood Bay to drop off mail, then pass a king salmon fish farm en route to Ruakaka Bay where the boat stops at a local residence. Then deliver mail to the Bay of Many Coves Resort and make a few more mail stops at Arapawa Island before pulling into Ship Cove.

On Tuesdays and Fridays, the mail boat heads to Curious Cove and then the Tory Channel, traveling along one side past Te Pangu as far as Whekenui, where the Tory Channel enters Cook Strait. Return along the other side of the channel, making a few mail drops along the way, before heading to Ship Cove.

The Wednesday and Saturday mail deliveries stop first near the East Bay King Salmon Farm on Arapawa Island. Then sail to the top of East Bay for a couple of mail drops. On Saturdays, the run goes to Cape Jackson, a community that only receives deliveries once per week due to the distance. On your return, stop at Ship Cove.

No matter which day of the week you travel, you'll get a glimpse of daily life in the small outposts that dot the Marlborough Sounds, as well as memorable views of the stunning scenery.

During the Winter Months we do not stop at Ship Cove.

Please advise us if you have an evening connection or are visiting from a cruise ship 

Please note: This is a sample itinerary that can change based on what time of the year you visit.
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Included
  • Live commentary on board
  • Tea and coffee
Not included
  • Food
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • 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
  • Please Note: The stop at Ship Cove only occurs during Summer months of 1st Oct to 30th April
Features
Tourism
90%
Cultural
45%
Aquatic
30%
Original
25%
Reviews
4.5
17
C
Carole D
5 | 2019-04-18

Captain was knowledgeable personable and funny. Fantastic trip ... worth every penny! Would highly recommend this trip!

K
Katharine D
5 | 2018-05-11

This was a very relaxing trip. Queen Charlotte sound is beautiful and we were blessed with glorious weather and very calm seas, which all contributed to making this one of our most comfortable and leisurely trips. The postal run itself was fascinating, and it was very interesting in some cases to approach a jetty and collect/deliver post where the property itself couldn't be seen from the boat! It was great to have this very 'local' experience. We thoroughly enjoyed it!

r
russell k
5 | 2018-01-27

Well worth the time. Great experience.

c
cabbage
5 | 2017-01-28

Great experience! Wonderful scenery and a good insight into living in remote and beautiful area of New Zealand while delivering mail and essential supplies.. Friendly staff and boat operator. Also good to support a local family business. Stop at Ship cove also not to be missed.

R
Russell H
5 | 2016-05-05

Great trip. Enjoy the commentary by the skipper, lots of,tales to tell plus local history. Also good stories about th people we dropped off mail and supplies to. The boat was very stable, even in some of the rough stuff close to Cook Straight. Well worth doing.

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