The Marlborough Sounds is possibly one of the most beautiful places on earth. We have been working here at Furneaux Lodge since January, so we have had plenty of time to explore and figure out what there is to do in this remote part of the country.
The Marlborough Sounds are located in the northeast corner of the South Island in New Zealand. When you Google the Marlborough Sounds, the words “sea drowned valley” come up quite a lot, and it is an accurate description. These Sounds are made up of four main Sounds, namely Queen Charlotte, Kenepuru, Pelorus, and Mahau. We are living in the Endeavour Inlet in the Queen Charlotte Sound. If you are looking for a relaxed getaway in a beautiful spot, then definitely come here. The weather is also usually good here- geographically the Sounds are close to Blenheim which is supposedly New Zealand’s’ sunniest place (our experience of Bleinheim was windy and rainy so we are still skeptical…).
Getting Here
Getting to the Sounds is easy enough- our journey saw us travel to Picton via car and then we were booked onto the Cougar Line water taxi to get to Furneaux Lodge. The other company you could use is Beachcomber.
Things to Do in The Marlborough Sounds
So, what is there to do in such a remote location I hear you ask? Surprisingly, quite a lot! And this article is not all about recommending expensive activities… Some of the best things here, in our opinion, are actually quite cheap.
The Marlborough Sounds Adventure Company and the Wilderness Guides both offer an array of packages which cover hiking, biking, kayaking and more! We have good relations with many of the guides as they frequently stop for the night at Furneaux Lodge with their groups, so can assure you that the staff at both companies are absolutely lovely. The guided tours of the Queen Charlotte Track are popular with people of all ages and fitness abilities. If you are looking for a guided trip, then we certainly recommend these companies!
Hiking (or Tramping!)
The Queen Charlotte Track is the most popular multi-day hike in the area. It takes you through some incredible native forest and over ridges that give epic views of the Sounds. It usually takes 4 days and is about 70km in total. The walking stints are split up nicely, with the largest being 21km in one go (this does also depend on where you choose to stay). We have only walked 12.5km of it, from Punga Cove to Furneaux Lodge, and the views were incredible. You can also cycle the track providing a much different experience, subject to bike hire and cycling ability, of course. The track is open to cyclists from the 1st March to the 30th November.
Another cool hiking activity which you are near to in the Marlborough Sounds is Mount Stokes. We attempted the walk but sadly had to turn back. The path is actually really uneven and slippery (due to the weather) when you actually start the ascent. Keep an eye on the Department of Conservation website and the weather if you want to do this hike, just in case!
Another spot to visit is the Ancient Rimu Tree. At over 1,000 years old, this is one of the oldest trees in New Zealand! And, it is only half a kilometre away from Furneaux Lodge.
Stargazing
Whether you are a star person or not, watching the stars on a clear night out here is absolutely magnificent. Jess and I have never seen stars like it as the light pollution is at a minimum. We’ve spent countless evenings sat on the jetty after work with a glass or wine just gazing. Now, we know that there are other places that we haven’t explored yet that may be better to see stars, but the stars here are definitely the best we’ve ever seen! It was such a novel moment when we looked at each other and said “we are looking at these amazing stars in the Marlborough Sounds, in New Zealand!” (whilst drinking a glass of local wine). We have also loved using the Sky Guide app (free Apple version) while sitting outside in these moments. Keep an eye out for the international space station as it can be very visible at night!
Kayaking and Paddle Boarding
Hiring a paddle board or a kayak is definitely something you can do to waste a lazy afternoon on the water. As staff at Furneaux Lodge we do get use of the paddle boards and kayaks for free, but it is certainly not an expensive activity depending on where you rent them from. Check out the short video below to see the beautiful scenery!
Wildlife and Sea-life Spotting
The wildlife we have seen has been awesome! Sting rays, seals, bioluminescence, thousand year old trees, and plenty of fish that I do not know the name of. We went to the jetty and jumped in while the bioluminescence was out and it was amazing! Unfortunately, my GoPro couldn’t capture any footage of the bioluminescence as it was just too dark.
We have definitely not yet explored or done everything these beautiful Sounds have to offer, but we will update this page when we have more to share!