New Zealand · BOAT TOURS IN PICTON

Top 15 Boat Tours in Picton

27 tours  ·  from $50

The 15 best boat tours in Picton you can book today, with what each costs, how long it runs and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason; start there.

Queen Charlotte Sound Mail Boat Cruise from Picton - Setting out from Picton on a changing route
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Queen Charlotte Sound Mail Boat Cruise from Picton

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 Queen Charlotte Sound mail boat run. Your skipper delivers post, groceries, and freight to remote homes and lodges while sharing local history. Boats range from a nine-seat vessel to a 90-seat catamaran, and dolphins or seals may appear along the route.

“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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Queen Charlotte Track: Cruise & Self-Guided Hike from Picton - Cruising from Picton through Queen Charlotte Sound
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Queen Charlotte Track: Cruise & Self-Guided Hike from Picton

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

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

Cruise from Picton with Beachcomber Cruises through Queen Charlotte Sound, stopping at Historic Ship Cove before a 12.7 km or 17 km self-guided hike. Expect skipper commentary, native bush, sound views, and a well-earned drink at Furneaux Lodge or Punga Cove.

“Excellent boat trip and good instructions about the walk and pick up points. Really recommend doing this as a way to see the Queen Charlotte Sound and learn about the area. The walk itself was lovely - especially as we had amazing weather and great views of the turquoise water through the trees. Not to be missed!”

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Full Day Iconic Mail Boat Cruise - Kenepuru Sound, bays, and remote homes
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Full Day Iconic Mail Boat Cruise

3.Full Day Iconic Mail Boat Cruise

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

Board the Pelorus Mail Boat in Havelock for about five hours among the bays and inlets of Pelorus and Kenepuru Sounds. Captain Ross and the crew deliver mail, groceries, and freight to remote homes while you watch for dolphins, seals, and blue penguins. Bring lunch and warm layers.

“So much natural beauty- great commentary and crew. So cool to see the transport and mail soupy team to the remote sounds in action. Lunch at Rawa bar on the waterfront was brilliant- great food in a stunning setting. Well done all round.”

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Queen Charlotte Sound Mail Boat Cruise - Leaving Picton at 1:30pm
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Queen Charlotte Sound Mail Boat Cruise

4.Queen Charlotte Sound Mail Boat Cruise

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

Set out from Picton at 1:30pm on a four-hour Queen Charlotte Sound mail run. Your skipper delivers mail and supplies to isolated bays, shares local history, and points out wildlife. Boats vary from small water taxis to catamarans, and Ship Cove visits run only from October to April.

“Great way to see the sound up close and personal. The commentary gives a great insight into the area and the isolation of those living on the sound.”

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Marlborough Sounds and Ship Cove Cruise from Picton - Leaving Picton at 9:00am
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Marlborough Sounds and Ship Cove Cruise from Picton

5.Marlborough Sounds and Ship Cove Cruise from Picton

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

Leave Picton at 9:00am with Beachcomber Cruises for a three-hour ride through Queen Charlotte Sound to Ship Cove. Expect live English commentary, a short walk ashore at Captain Cook’s former anchorage, possible dolphins or seals, and a return through Endeavour Inlet.

“We spent the morning on the cruise which was beautiful! We didn’t have the weather in our corner but it was still an amazing experience. The views were great and information along the way was very interesting. I personally don’t do well with water activities however was absolutely fine! Smooth and still, even with a bit of rocking, the boat is big enough to not really feel it.”

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Motuara Wildlife Sanctuary Tour and Dolphin Cruise from Picton - Motuara Island and its bird sanctuary
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Motuara Wildlife Sanctuary Tour and Dolphin Cruise from Picton

6.Motuara Wildlife Sanctuary Tour and Dolphin Cruise from Picton

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 180 reviews · from $104

From Picton, E-Ko’s 4.5-hour cruise searches for dusky, bottlenose, and Hector’s dolphins, fur seals, seabirds, and little penguins. You’ll walk Motuara Island with a guide, use free binoculars and species cards, and return with hot drinks, biscuits, and local wine on afternoon departures.

“This is more focused on birds and less on dolphins. Why we saw two dolphins. Fifteen minutes out of four hours was focused on the dolphins. Bird watching was outstanding. Many varieties. The island has a steep walk to the top The guide Will was outstanding. Extremely knowledgeable and fun. Dan the boat driver maneuvered the boat to allow everyone to view the birds.”

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Picton Cruise Ship Shore Excursion Marlborough Wine Tour - Four or five cellar doors, with some variation
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Picton Cruise Ship Shore Excursion Marlborough Wine Tour

7.Picton Cruise Ship Shore Excursion Marlborough Wine Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 165 reviews · from $155

Meet your guide at Picton i-Site, then ride a comfortable minibus through Koromiko Pass to four or five Marlborough cellar doors. Guides such as Bruce, Lucinda, Lisa, John, and Marsley share local wine knowledge, with a vineyard walk, lunch stop, and chocolate tasting included.

“This tour was disappointing. Four or five winery tastings were advertised. Only three were provided. A complimentary subpar glass of wine was provided at a lunch we paid for so I guess that’s how they came up with 4. Unfortunately only one of the three wineries visited could be considered by someone who enjoys wine as an above average Marlborough vineyard. The other two lower tier wineries included an organic vineyard and a two acre vineyard winery in the hills outside of Marlborough valley. Disappointingly, this winery didn’t produce a Sauvignon Blanc which is what Marlborough is known for. The only better than average winery visited, the tour only provided…”

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Half-Day Cruise in Marlborough Sounds from Picton - Leaving Picton at 9:00 am
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Half-Day Cruise in Marlborough Sounds from Picton

8.Half-Day Cruise in Marlborough Sounds from Picton

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 145 reviews · from $65

Leave Picton at 9:00 am for a 3.5-hour Beachcomber Cruises trip through Queen Charlotte Sound. You’ll visit Captain Cook’s Ship Cove, hear live commentary, and may spot dolphins, penguins, seals, and native birds. The return boat also serves remote bays, so expect a scenic cruise with some water-taxi duties.

“I would highly recommend this morning boat ride through the Marlborough Sound in Picton. The boat is lovely, clean and easily accessible to all ages. The tour guide was excellent, gave us history and facts about the Sound and we had a nice stop at the location where James Cook landed with his sailors. The birds were chirping and came very close to us. The trip started at 9 and ended at 12 with plenty of time to shop and eat locally. Well worth the money.”

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Seafood Odyssea Marlborough Sounds Cruise from Picton - Cruising Queen Charlotte Sound
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Seafood Odyssea Marlborough Sounds Cruise from Picton

9.Seafood Odyssea Marlborough Sounds Cruise from Picton

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 128 reviews · from $111

Spend three hours aboard a 65-foot catamaran cruising Queen Charlotte Sound from Picton. Captain Nick or another local skipper explains the bays, farms, and coastline while the crew serves local salmon and Greenshell mussels. Wine, beer, and other drinks are available to buy on board.

“Lovely afternoon cruise. Best mussels ever eaten , staff friendly & informative . Beautiful scenery . Well organised.”

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Marlborough Sounds Ultimate Cruise - What the crew adds to the four-hour cruise
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Marlborough Sounds Ultimate Cruise

10.Marlborough Sounds Ultimate Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 128 reviews · from $104

Cruise from Picton into Queen Charlotte Sound with a small onboard team, free binoculars, and species cards. Look for dolphins, fur seals, penguins, shags, and other seabirds, then walk up Motuara Island sanctuary. Guides such as Bella, Andy, Dan, and Ella bring the conservation story to life.

“Too much focus on looking for sea mammals that did not appear. Insufficient commentary - not much on the history and landmarks. Saw a couple of rare birds. Great view from the island. The boat was not designed to provide open safe visibility of the animals. Poor PA system. Unstable docking at the island.”

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From Havelock: Marlborough Sounds Mail Boat Full-Day Cruise - Leaving Havelock for Pelorus Sound
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From Havelock: Marlborough Sounds Mail Boat Full-Day Cruise

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

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

Spend six hours aboard the Pelorus Express from Havelock, delivering mail and supplies to isolated homes in Pelorus and Kenepuru Sounds. Enjoy local commentary, free tea and coffee, a picnic lunch stop, and a weather-permitting Greenshell Mussel Farm visit. Guides may include Mark, Kelsey, or James.

“It was very nice to combine the beauty of the Marlborough sounds with actual delivering mail to remote places where every delivery was accompanied by a nice chat with the inhabitant.”

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CRUISE SHIP DAY Marlborough Hop On Hop Off Wine Tours - Omaka’s cars, aircraft, and local heritage
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CRUISE SHIP DAY Marlborough Hop On Hop Off Wine Tours

12.CRUISE SHIP DAY Marlborough Hop On Hop Off Wine Tours

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 88 reviews · from $80

From Picton, ride air-conditioned buses through Marlborough’s wine region and choose your own stops. Taste at wineries such as Cloudy Bay, Spy Valley, Hunter’s, or Framingham, or visit Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, vintage cars, breweries, cafés, and Makana Chocolate. Tastings, meals, and museum admission cost extra.

“Better then expected - great service. We had a group of 10 from cruise and company owner ordered large buss to accommodate all of us. We were able to see what we wanted and test wine in 3 locations. We have enjoyed our tour and it is better organized then specified in some past reviews. You will NOT miss going back to your cruise - relax and enjoy”

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Picton Shore Excursion: Queen Charlotte Sounds Cruise - Wildlife, fish feeding, and realistic expectations
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Picton Shore Excursion: Queen Charlotte Sounds Cruise

13.Picton Shore Excursion: Queen Charlotte Sounds Cruise

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

From Picton’s waterfront, Beachcomber Cruises takes you into Queen Charlotte Sound / Tōtaranui for 90 minutes of scenic bays, forested hills, seabirds, and possible dolphins. An English-speaking skipper adds local stories, and you may feed fish from the boat. There is no port transfer.

“Very nice cruise around some of the bays near to Picton. The commentary was also interesting & informative.”

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3.5 Hour Marlborough Sounds Delivery Cruise - Leaving Picton for Queen Charlotte Sound
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3.5 Hour Marlborough Sounds Delivery Cruise

14.3.5 Hour Marlborough Sounds Delivery Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 55 reviews · from $68

Join Cougar Line in Picton for a 3.5-hour boat ride through Queen Charlotte Sound. Your skipper shares local stories as the vessel carries people and supplies to remote homes, resorts, and track access points. Look for dolphins, seals, penguins, stingrays, and sea birds while enjoying free tea and coffee.

“It was great To spend some relaxing time with our granddaughter. We never saw any sea animals and the trip was an our longer than planned which was nice for some but stressful for others who had other events planned.”

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Marlborough Sounds Greenshell Mussel Tasting Cruise - Queen Charlotte Sound from the water
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Marlborough Sounds Greenshell Mussel Tasting Cruise

15.Marlborough Sounds Greenshell Mussel Tasting Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 51 reviews · from $111

Set out from Picton Marina aboard a comfortable catamaran for three hours in Queen Charlotte Sound. Your skipper and crew serve steamed greenshell mussels and salmon while explaining mussel farming, marine life, and the bays. Outdoor seats offer the best views, but commentary can be hard to hear away from the main cabin.

“Excellent scenery, food and staff. Gorgeous day too. It was difficult to hear the captain if sitting outside the main cabin”

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New in Boat Tours in Picton

★ 5.0Queen Charlotte Track – Ultimate one Day Walk and CruiseFrom $2289 reviews
★ 5.0Exclusive Picton Wine & Scenic Adventure: VIP Cruise Experience6 reviews
★ 4.5Captain Cook and Dolphin CruiseFrom $10426 reviews
★ 5.0Pelorus Mail Boat Sunday Scenic Cruise – Full-Day from HavelockFrom $863 reviews
★ 4.2Queen Charlotte Sound Cruise with LunchFrom $9615 reviews
★ 4.4CRUISE SHIP DAYS – HOP ON HOP OFF – Wine, Beer, Food TourFrom $779 reviews

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