Walk one of New Zealand's top ten coastal tracks with an expert guide, cruising deep into the Marlborough Sounds to reach pristine trailheads inaccessible by road. Lush native bush, turquoise inlets, and sweeping ridgeline panoramas — this is the Sounds at their most intimate.
What to expect
Board a dedicated water taxi from Picton and be dropped at a remote trailhead deep in the Sound, where road travellers simply cannot reach. Your guide leads you through cathedral podocarp forest, past resident tūī and kererū, to a ridgeline with jaw-dropping 360° views over both Queen Charlotte and Kenepuru Sounds. A gourmet packed lunch is taken on a sun-drenched jetty before the water taxi returns you to Picton. The track surface is well-maintained but gloriously wild — proper boots are rewarded.
Good to know
Water-taxi return timing is coordinated with your all-aboard; confirm your ship's departure with the operator at booking. Pre-book well in advance in peak season (Nov–Apr). Moderate fitness required. Sturdy walking shoes and a light waterproof layer essential.