Wildlife, Beach and Wine Cruise
Wildlife, beach, native bush and wine in one short Picton cruise
This tour is designed for visitors who want a real Marlborough Sounds experience without needing a full day. Depart from Picton, cruise the sheltered waters of Queen Charlotte Sound, look for wildlife with your local guide, then step ashore at Kumutoto Bay.
At Kumutoto Bay you can enjoy the beach, take photos, swim in suitable conditions, or choose a short native bush walk. On the return cruise, relax with a local Marlborough wine sample on board.
Why Youโll Love This Tour:
- Cruise Calm Sheltered Waters of Queen Charlotte Sound
- Wildlife search with local skipper and guide
- Personalised Small Fully Guided Group Tour (1-15 ratio)
- FREE use of Binoculars and Species ID Cards
- Dolphins, fur seals, penguins and seabirds may be seen
- FREE High-Quality Wildlife Photos available on request
- Family friendly 2-hour format
- Complimentary Local Wine Sample
- Supports E-Ko conservation work
- Kumutoto Beach, Bay and Bush
Tour info in brief
| 2 Hours | |
| Daily Departures: |
Departs Hourly |
| Pricing: | Adult: $99 (16+ years) Child: $48 (5 – 15 years) Infant: $25 (0 – 4 years) |
| Location: | 1 Wellington Street, Picton |
| Briefing: | 30 mins before departure |
No Seasickness Guarantee
Relax in the knowledge that youโll be with the only NZ operator that guarantees you will not get seasick.
HELP Save the Endangered Species (Taonga)
See how your money gets used for Local Conservation
About the Tour
Wildlife, Beach and Wine Cruise is a compact 2-hour Marlborough Sounds experience from Picton. Cruise the sheltered waters of Queen Charlotte Sound with your skipper and local guide while searching for dolphins, fur seals, little blue penguins, King shags, seabirds and other wildlife.
Step ashore at Kumutoto Bay for beach time, photos, swimming if conditions suit, or a short walk through regenerating native bush. On the return cruise, relax with a local Marlborough wine sample on board.
This is a strong option for visitors who want wildlife, scenery, beach access and a real Sounds experience without needing a full day tour.
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What to expect
What to expect on the Wildlife, Beach and Wine Cruise
This 2-hour Picton cruise combines wildlife viewing, calm Queen Charlotte Sound scenery, Kumutoto Bay, beach time, native bush and a relaxed local Marlborough wine sample.
1. Cruise the sheltered waters of Queen Charlotte Sound
Depart from Picton and cruise through the calm, sheltered waters of Queen Charlotte Sound with your skipper and local guide. This is a short-format Marlborough Sounds cruise designed for visitors who want a real nature experience without needing a full day tour.
2. Search for wildlife
Your crew will look for wildlife during the cruise. Species may include dolphins, New Zealand fur seals, little blue penguins, King shags, pied shags, fluttering shearwaters, gannets and other seabirds. Wildlife is wild, so sightings change by day.
Learn more about species seen on E-Ko tours:
- Hectorโs Dolphin
- Bottlenose Dolphin
- Dusky Dolphin
- King Shag
- Pied Shag
- Fluttering Shearwater
- Australasian Gannet
3. Step ashore at Kumutoto Bay
Kumutoto Bay is the shore highlight of this cruise. Step ashore to enjoy the beach, clear water, native bush and photo opportunities. You can relax on the beach, swim if conditions suit, or take a short walk through regenerating native bush.
4. Enjoy a local Marlborough wine sample
On the return cruise, enjoy a relaxed local Marlborough wine sample on board. This is not a full wine tour. It is a wildlife and nature cruise with a local wine sample included as part of the experience.
5. Free wildlife learning resources
Before or after your cruise, you can explore E-Koโs free wildlife learning resources:
Note: Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed. The value of this cruise is the full experience: guided wildlife search, calm Sounds cruising, Kumutoto Bay, beach or bush time, and a local Marlborough wine sample.
What to bring
- Camera
- Comfortable wlking shoes
- Swimming clothes and Towel
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Light jacket if overcast
Where are we?
We are located conveniently on Pictonโs main waterfront with car parking close by and only a 1-minute walk from the main street.
Just look for the Dusky Dolphin outside our shop.
Before your tour starts feel free to take a seat inside the shop or outside on our sun drenched deck and enjoy the stunning views.
Customers can also get online with our free WiFi, and purchase a tea or coffee to enjoy on the deck.
You will Never Miss your Ferry
Our tour schedules are integrated with the Interislander – so there is no chance that you’ll miss your ferry.