THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
A single-day wildlife cruise and guided walk combining Motuara Island’s predator-free birdlife with a scenic loop on the Queen Charlotte Track. Expect dolphin sightings, historical Ship Cove viewpoints, and a compact 5km walk on mixed terrain.
A single-day wildlife cruise and guided walk combining Motuara Island’s predator-free birdlife with a scenic loop on the Queen Charlotte Track. Expect dolphin sightings, historical Ship Cove viewpoints, and a compact 5km walk on mixed terrain.
Book with E-Ko New Zealand Ltd
Book directly with E-Ko New Zealand Ltd for the best rates and real-time scheduling.
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Operated by E-Ko New Zealand Ltd · Picton, Marlborough
The morning starts on glass-smooth water under a low southern sky as the boat slips from Picton into the sheltered arms of Queen Charlotte Sound. Binoculars at the ready, you’ll watch Hector’s dolphins ride the bow wake and seabirds quarter the surface while the shoreline pulls into sharper relief — steep forested ridges, rocky coves and the open blue of Cook Strait on the horizon.
moderate.
9–10 hours.
Moderate fitness required: capable of 5 km on uneven trails with short steep sections and getting on/off a boat.
The guided day includes approximately 5 km on mixed coastal track (loop section at Ship Cove), with other short walks on Motuara Island — total on-foot time around 1–2 hours.
Dolphins (including Hector’s) are frequently seen on these cruises; operators report a very high encounter rate but wildlife sightings can’t be guaranteed.
The itinerary notes infants and small children can use prams for some parts and the island walk is family-friendly, but some boardings and uneven ground limit stroller access on trails.
Tours may cancel for poor weather or unsafe sea conditions; check the 24-hour cancellation policy and dress in layers to handle wind, sun or rain.
Meretoto/Ship Cove was a favoured base for Captain James Cook during his Pacific voyages and has longstanding significance for local iwi; the bay became a focal point for early European–Māori contact.
Motuara is managed as a predator-free island sanctuary under DOC oversight; visitors are asked to follow biosecurity protocols to protect vulnerable bird populations.
E-Ko New Zealand Ltd operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
Book with E-Ko New Zealand Ltd
Book directly with E-Ko New Zealand Ltd for the best rates and real-time scheduling.
Reserve Now