In a nutshell
- The Marlborough Sounds are a stunning fjord landscape in the north of New Zealand’s South Island — and seriously one of the most beautiful regions in the country.
- Top things to do include hiking the Queen Charlotte Track, kayaking, swimming with dolphins, and visiting wineries.
- We share our personal top 5 highlights and tell you exactly which experiences are worth your time — and which you can skip.
- We’ll also tell you the best places to stay in the Marlborough Sounds, with specific hotel picks for both Picton and Blenheim.
What you need to know about the Marlborough Sounds
The Marlborough Sounds are a region in the north of New Zealand’s South Island and a true natural wonder — a labyrinth of inlets, peninsulas, and small islands.
At first glance, the Marlborough Sounds look a lot like the fjords at Milford Sound in New Zealand or the Lofoten Islands in Norway.
One thing to know upfront: the region is very sparsely populated. Apart from the towns of Picton, Havelock, and Blenheim, there’s a whole lot of nothing — and the road network is seriously limited.
The best way to explore the Marlborough Sounds is therefore by boat or on foot — but more on that when we get to the highlights.
Heads up: The stretch between Picton and Linkwater is very winding and rocks frequently end up on the road due to landslides. Allow significantly more time for this road than Google Maps suggests.
Where are the Marlborough Sounds located?
The Marlborough Sounds sit at the very north of the South Island.
If you’re doing a New Zealand road trip across both islands, you can easily combine them with the ferry crossing between Picton and Wellington. Picton is right around the corner.
To help you get your bearings, here’s a map of the area.
Our top things to do in the Marlborough Sounds
Here are the five experiences in the Marlborough Sounds that you absolutely shouldn’t miss — even if you only have a few days. Let’s go!
The Queen Charlotte Track
For many visitors to the Marlborough Sounds, the Queen Charlotte Track is the main reason for their trip — and honestly, it’s easy to see why.
It’s a 70-kilometer trail that winds through beautiful rainforest and secluded bays. The full track takes between three and five days, and there are lovely accommodations along the way to break it up.
Not a hiker? You can also ride the Queen Charlotte Track by mountain bike.
And don’t worry — you don’t have to do the whole thing. You can walk just a portion and book a water taxi to pick you up at the end so you don’t have to retrace your steps.
There are also combo tours that pair a hike on the Queen Charlotte Track with a boat trip, which is a great way to see more of the Sounds in one go.
We walked part of it ourselves and the viewpoints were truly spectacular. With a bit of luck, you can even spot dolphins from the track.
From Picton: Hiking and Boat Tour to the Queen Charlotte Track
Going on a kayak tour
On our kayak tour through the Marlborough Sounds, we paddled from Anakiwa to Lochmara Lodge.
The lodge is like a little hippie oasis in the middle of nature. Pigs and all kinds of other animals are kept here in a genuinely species-appropriate way — and yet everything is beautifully and stylishly designed. You can eat really well and stay overnight too.
The big advantage of kayaking over hiking is that you get an even better chance of spotting marine life up close. We came across huge starfish, seals, and cormorants — and dolphins and even orcas sometimes show up too.
We did our tour with Aaron and Lea from Seakayak Adventures and were really happy with it. The two of them know an incredible amount about the nature and history of the Marlborough Sounds. We can’t recommend it highly enough.
You don’t need to be super fit either. The tours can easily be adapted to your fitness level.
Book a stay at Lochmara Lodge
Book the full-day kayak tour in the Marlborough Sounds
Swimming with dolphins
Seeing dolphins is already pretty cool. But visiting the Marlborough Sounds also means you can book tours where you actually swim with dolphins. There are watching-only tours too, if you’d prefer to stay dry.
New Zealanders take their connection to nature seriously, so the tours are designed to make sure the animals are never forced into anything — it’s all very animal-friendly.
The best time to swim with dolphins is from June through November, when the most dolphins are present in the Sounds.
Our tip: If you normally avoid boat tours because you get seasick easily, the Marlborough Sounds are perfect for you. The water is much calmer than the open ocean, so you’re very unlikely to feel queasy.
Book your dolphin tour in the Marlborough Sounds here
Going wine tasting
The Marlborough region has over 40 wineries — and at many of them you can do tastings and enjoy a seriously good meal.
Obviously, we don’t want you getting behind the wheel after a wine tasting. So here are three tours that let you explore the Marlborough wineries without any hassle.
If you want maximum independence, rent bikes and ride from winery to winery. They’re usually just a few kilometers apart, and the tour includes a map with all the key stops.
Self-guided bike wine tour in Marlborough
Not into cycling? Join a bus tour instead. You’ll travel by minibus to several wineries and a chocolate factory, and the bus drops you right at your hotel afterward.
Guided small-group wine tour in Marlborough
And if you want to splash out a little for a truly special experience, we’d suggest the private bike tour. You’ll have your own guide who takes you to the best wineries in the region.
Private wine tour in Marlborough with your own guide
Boat ride on the mail boat
In the Marlborough Sounds there are houses so remote that the only way to reach them is by boat.
But those people still need their mail. So instead of a bicycle, the mail carrier here simply comes by boat. Pretty wild, right?
What makes this so special is that you can actually ride along on the mail boats. You get to see a huge amount of the scenery and pick up some genuinely cool insider knowledge along the way — your boat captain knows these waters inside and out.
There’s no fixed route, since it depends on where deliveries need to go that day, which makes every trip a little different.
Honestly, the mail boat tours are one of the most unique things to do in the Marlborough Sounds — a super cool change of pace from the typical tourist boat trips.
Mail boat tour in the Marlborough Sounds from Picton
Where to stay in the Marlborough Sounds
There are three towns in the Marlborough Sounds: Picton, Blenheim, and Havelock. Havelock is quite small and doesn’t have a great selection of hotels, so we’d steer you toward the other two.
The nicest place to stay in the Marlborough Sounds is definitely Picton. You’re right on the water, with lovely cafés, restaurants, and a few boutiques within easy reach.
Blenheim honestly isn’t all that attractive — lots of industrial buildings, no sea, and not much greenery. That said, almost all the wineries are clustered around Blenheim, so staying here is practical if you plan to rent bikes and cycle between tastings without needing a car.
Our hotel recommendations for Picton:
Our hotel recommendations for Blenheim:
