14 Boat Tours in Marlborough, With the Price Beside Each

1.Queen Charlotte Sound Mail Boat Cruise from Picton

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 541 reviews · 4 hours · from $75Our pick

Join Beachcomber Cruises in Picton for a four-hour working mail boat run through Queen Charlotte Sound. Your skipper delivers post, groceries, and freight to remote homes and lodges while sharing local history. The boat may be a small nine-seater or a 90-passenger catamaran. Keep your camera ready for dolphins and seals.

“I liked that you were able to sit either inside or out. The skipper was very informative in a friendly fashion.”

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2.Queen Charlotte Track: Cruise & Self-Guided Hike from Picton

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 383 reviews · 8h 30m · from $66

Cruise with Beachcomber Cruises from Picton through the Marlborough Sounds, then choose a 12.7-kilometer walk from Furneaux Lodge to Punga Cove or a 17-kilometer route from Ship Cove to Furneaux Lodge. Expect skipper commentary, native bush, sound views, and a full day outdoors.

“excellent commentary on the boat. even managed to pickup some playful dolphins. nice 12k walk.”

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3.Full Day Iconic Mail Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 321 reviews · from $86Top rated

Join Ross, Mark, or Kelly Foot aboard the Pelorus Mail Boat from Havelock for a full day through Kenepuru Sound. You will watch mail, groceries, and freight reach remote homes, hear lively local commentary, and look for dolphins, seals, and blue penguins. Bring lunch and warm layers.

“The whole trip was brilliant from start to finish . Skipper’s dry sense of humour was entertaining as well”

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4.Queen Charlotte Sound Mail Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 295 reviews · from $75

From Picton, you cruise Queen Charlotte Sound while the skipper delivers mail and supplies to isolated bays and homes. Expect local history, wildlife spotting, and changing scenery. The boat may range from a small water taxi to a larger catamaran. Ship Cove stops run from October 1 to April 30.

“Fun way to see the sound. Beautiful views along the way. Boat was very crowded, and despite the Captains request for those up top to switch places half way with those downstairs no one did. Also the ones who got the top deck would staRead more”

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5.Marlborough Sounds and Ship Cove Cruise from Picton

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 252 reviews · 3 hours · from $66

Join Beachcomber Cruises for a three-hour morning trip from Picton through Queen Charlotte Sound to Ship Cove. Guides such as Jason, Greg, Ian, and Dylan share local history, ecology, and conservation stories. Expect a short shore visit, possible dolphins or seals, and a boat that may range from a nine-seat vessel to a 90-seat catamaran.

“Very enjoyable, especially the stops around the sound to pick-up, drop-off passengers; we were able to get off the boat for a few minutes and see the area.”

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6.From Havelock: Marlborough Sounds Mail Boat Full-Day Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 92 reviews · 6 hours · from $86

From Pier B at Havelock Marina, join the Pelorus Mail Boat for a six-hour cruise through Pelorus and Kenepuru Sounds. Guides such as Mark and Kelsey provide lively local commentary while mail, parcels, and supplies are delivered to remote jetties. Bring lunch, watch for dolphins and seals, and take a mussel farm tour if weather allows.

“Great day dropping and picking mail and passengers from remote piers. Captain and the guide explained the area. You park nearby and deposit nzd 7 in honesty box. Board the boat and relax. Free tea and coffee on board. We stopped for our packed lunch at a small beach Lovely day out”

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7.Marlborough Icons Tour – Wine tasting + Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 76 reviews · from $198

Spend the morning tasting at two Marlborough wineries, then enjoy a light lunch and a seafood cruise through Queen Charlotte Sound. Hotel pickup, transport, wine tastings, lunch, salmon, and greenshell mussels are included. Guides such as Heather, Matt, Pete, Sam, and Job add local insight, while the cruise may join a larger group.

“A fantastic day! Visited some quality wineries in the morning and spent the afternoon cruising the Marlborough Sounds while enjoying a never ending supply of freshly steamed Green Shell Mussels! Not to be missed!!”

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8.Picton Shore Excursion: Queen Charlotte Sounds Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 60 reviews · from $50Best value

Join Beachcomber Cruises at Picton waterfront for a 90-minute English-language sightseeing cruise into Queen Charlotte Sound. Your skipper points out sheltered bays, native forest, seabirds, and marine life, with inside, outside, and upstairs seating. It is a practical choice for cruise ship passengers with limited time, though transport from the ship is not included.

“It was great to see a part of Queen Charlotte Sound that is otherwise hard to get to.”

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9.Marlborough: Full-Day Wine and Seafood Tour with Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 57 reviews · 7 hours · from $191

Spend the morning tasting Marlborough wines at two wineries with an English-speaking guide such as Andrew, Karen, or Lucinda. After lunch, board a three-hour cruise through Queen Charlotte Sound for local mussels, salmon, marine-farming commentary, and wide water views. Pickup is available in Blenheim, with Picton pickup by arrangement.

“Really enjoyed the day! Well organized, friendly staff and the mussels and salmon cooked on board - spectacular! Highly recommend this activity. (Just make sure to take a jacket - brisk wind)”

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10.Marlborough Sounds Cruise with Seafood

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 40 reviews · 3 hours · from $107

Join Nick, Nicole, and the Marlborough Tour Company for a three-hour cruise from Picton into Queen Charlotte Sound. You’ll see forested hills, hear local stories, learn about marine farming, and taste Greenshell mussels and Regal salmon. The boat has indoor and outdoor viewing areas, plus a licensed bar serving Marlborough drinks.

“The guides were wonderful, hospitable folks. They even gave us cozy blankets to keep warm while sitting at the front of the boat where there was lots of wind. The mussels, salmon, and wine they served us were so delicious. The guides gave us lots of interesting faces about Picton as we toured the sound. A very excellent tour, thank you for a lovely day. I would highly recommend.”

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11.Depart Picton: Marlborough Sounds Afternoon Seafood Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 38 reviews · 3 hours · from $92

Sail for three hours from Picton Marina aboard a luxury catamaran through Queen Charlotte Sound. Your English-speaking guide explains local history and marine farming while you sample Regal salmon and Greenshell mussels. Enjoy indoor and outdoor seating, Marlborough wine from the licensed bar, and forested hills above clear water.

“Trodde jag skulle betala för 144 NZ dollar. Fick betala 189. Per styck.”

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12.Marlborough Sounds: Greenshell Mussel Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 26 reviews · 3 hours · from $107

Board at Picton Town Wharf 6 at 1 pm for a three-hour cruise through Queen Charlotte Sound. You will taste steamed Greenshell mussels and New Zealand salmon, hear English commentary on local history and marine farming, and enjoy forested hills from indoor and outdoor decks. A licensed bar sells Marlborough wine, beer, juice, and snacks.

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13.Queen Charlotte Sound Cruise with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 15 reviews · 7h 30m · from $96

Spend about 7.5 hours exploring Queen Charlotte Sound by water taxi, with commentary in English, a one-course lunch at Furneaux Lodge, and free time in Endeavour Inlet. You will leave Picton in the morning and return at about 5pm. Drinks and hotel transfers are not included.

“We went for the scenery and it didn't disappoint. The surroundings at Furneaux Lodge were lovely and the staff were very friendly. Delicious lunch! We were disappointed that we didn't get any commentary during the cruise.”

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14.Pelorus Mail Boat Sunday Scenic Cruise – Full-Day from Havelock

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $86

Start in Havelock at 10:00 am for a six-hour Sunday cruise through the Marlborough Sounds. Expect a 45-minute native-bush walk, local commentary, a farm or lodge lunch option, and a visit to Hopai Bay Farm’s unusual Sounds Garden. Lunch and alcohol cost extra, while coffee and tea are included.

“Absolutely worth the money! A magical day with great, friendly crew. The boat wasn’t too crowded and it was a superb day.”

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