Queen Charlotte Sound by Water

You can explore the Queen Charlotte Sounds at the top of the South Island of New Zealand by foot, by mountain bike or by boat.

Photo: Tina Troup

Queen Charlotte Walkway is famous Stretching between the Queen Charlotte and Keneperu Sound. A 70km track renowned for its stunning views and contrasting landscape, historical landmarks and wonderful variety of native bush and wildlife.

Last month we got to explore it by boat…

Leaving from the waterfront in Picton we spent a fabulous day with Dolphin Watch Nature Tours.

Cheeky Robins

True to their name we had some stunning encounters with the local Dusky Dolphins, but our aim this day was bird watching.

We stopped off at Motuara Island Bird Sanctuary where we soon had robins hopping around the path, saw blue penguins in their nesting boxes, and heard the burgeoning sound of birdsong returning to these islands now that they are rid of their pests.

Watched by the seals

Along the way we visited the King Shag colony on White Rock in the outer Queen Charlotte Sound – one of the rare breeds found here.

Seals basked in the sun and we walked in the footsteps of Captain Cook when we landed at Ships Cove.

A fabulous day out – highly recommmended