THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Board the Pelorus Mail Boat for a six-hour mail-boat cruise from Havelock into the Marlborough Sounds, including a 45-minute native-bush walk, farm visit at Hopai Bay and optional Te Rawa Lodge lunch and wine tasting. A hands-on day that blends coastal landscapes, local stories and practical outdoor time.
Board the Pelorus Mail Boat for a six-hour mail-boat cruise from Havelock into the Marlborough Sounds, including a 45-minute native-bush walk, farm visit at Hopai Bay and optional Te Rawa Lodge lunch and wine tasting. A hands-on day that blends coastal landscapes, local stories and practical outdoor time.
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Book directly with Pelorus Mail Boat for the best rates and real-time scheduling.
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Operated by Pelorus Mail Boat · Havelock, Marlborough
The Pelorus Mail Boat eases away from Pier B, Havelock, and the town’s red-roofed sheds shrink into a map of pontoons and river flats. Salt air threads through pōhutukawa branches as the skipper picks a steady course into a knuckled coastline of coves and headlands. Forty-five minutes into the run you step off for a short bush walk through Dillon Bell Reserve — a moss-soft path under rimu and kanuka where the forest seems to breathe, and the sound of the tide at the inlet dares you to look up from the ferns.
easy.
6 hours.
Suitable for people with basic mobility; expect short sections of uneven terrain and boat boarding.
The tour runs approximately six hours, returning to Pier B in Havelock.
You can purchase lunch at Te Rawa Lodge or bring your own picnic to enjoy at Hopai Bay Farm—both options can't be combined.
Swimming may be possible at some stops but you must review and acknowledge the operator's swimming waiver before travel.
Yes—the 45-minute Dillon Bell Reserve walk is family-friendly, though parents should expect uneven, sometimes muddy terrain.
The Pelorus Mail Boat is equipped for day cruises, including onboard facilities; also plan for limited services at remote landings.
Wine tasting is an optional add-on available for an extra charge, payable on the day (typically around $20).
The mail-boat service evolved as the principal link for scattered Sound communities; many farms and gardens grew around these seasonal connections between Māori and European settlers.
The Marlborough Sounds are ecologically sensitive—stick to tracks, take rubbish with you and respect shellfish gathering regulations to protect foreshore habitats.
Pelorus Mail Boat operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
Book with Pelorus Mail Boat
Book directly with Pelorus Mail Boat for the best rates and real-time scheduling.
Reserve Now