RELAX-REvitalise-EXPLORE

The Marlborough Sounds is a paradise offering the opportunity to partake in so many enjoyable activities. Every day indulge in a favourite pastime or new diversion!

cruising

R & R Cruises - Exclusive to the Bay of Many Coves Resort

Lady Karen a 43’ Kauri twin engine launch, built in 1957. Cruise the beautiful bays of the Marlborough Sounds, perhaps drop a line down and try your luck for a tasty blue cod, visit historic Captain Cook’s Monument at Ship Cove, be amazed by the cheeky robins on Motuara Island or just simply put the anchor down and soak up the Sounds experience. Take one or two on board kayaks and visit the shore.

Half day charters $450 max 8 persons - 4 hours
Full day charters $690 max 8 persons - 8 hours
Skeet shooting $2 per shot.
Complimentary Morning and Afternoon Tea Provided

Faith

One of the last of the golden era of pleasure motor yachts, Faith has been meticulously maintained and carefully upgraded to combine the best of modern facilities with craftsmanship and materials unavailable to any modern vessel. Her facilities comfortably cater for up to 20 people for day and evening cruises. Designed and built for the Mediterranean, she is a capable and comfortable sea boat – perfect for exploring the bys and inlets and coves within the Marlborough Sounds.

Rates; for the first hour, $200, each hour thereafter is $100.

sailing

Beviamo Yacht Charters Ltd   www.beviamo.co.nz

Take the helm for yourself or relax and enjoy the ride. Rates are for up to 10 people.

fishing

Fishing charters can be arranged through the resort, from inner sounds fishing excursions (catch and release blue cod) to extreme outer Sounds fishing expeditions. 3 hour, 5 hour and 8 hour options.

Eco-cruising

Half Day Marine Wildlife and Eco Tour
Motuara Island Guided Tour offered October - April

Learn about marine wildlife from qualified marine biologists - hope to see fur seal, dolphins and orca.
Motuara Island Eco Tour departs the Resort at 8.30am on the Cougar Line Water Taxi and is $80per person. You are collected off the island at 11am. From then the returning options to the Resort are;

1/ Cruise back to the resort via Ship’s Cove and Endeavour inlet, arriving approx midday 

2/   Cruise to a lunch stop at Ship’s cove (take a picnic) and explore the area, you are collected around 2.30pm or lunch at either of the resorts, Punga Cove or Furneaux Lodge  OR

3/  Alternatively, transfer to Resolution Bay and walk to Furneaux Lodge (10.5kms, allow up to 3 hrs) for a 3pm transfer back to resort.

Myths & Legends Tour
Experience cultural tourism at its best and learn about the environment, wildlife and our history.
Bay of Mystery - Spiritual Heartland of Totaranui, hear the untold stories that you won't find in English  history books, visit island bird sanctuary called Oruawairua, which means to strike a balance between your physical, mental and spiritual elements, (Harmony )
Visit Betty Rowe’s Arapawa Island wildlife sanctuary or an old Maori Turangawaewae homestead ( Ancestral Land ). Pete, Tane & Takutai are knowledgeable locals and their passion is story-telling !

Half Day Swim With Dolphins

Minimum age is 3 years old to view, 8 years old to swim.

Price on application

Bush Walking

This stunning coastal track winds through 72km of towering native forest and regenerating bush, over ridges and into beautiful coves. Venture from the Bay of Many Coves Resort for a round-trip walk or allow us to arrange a boat pick up service from any of the several entry and exit points for longer excursions. Both freedom and guided walking options are available.

One Day Guided Queen Charlotte Track

Boat cruise to Ship Cove, Guided walk to Furneaux lodge (14km) $165 per person (min. 2 persons)

Includes lunch, boat cruise, and guiding services.

Cruise and Walk

Cruise the Queen Charlotte Sound with the Cougar Line water transport and walk all or part of the famous Queen Charlotte Track. Walks from 2.5 hours to 5.5 hours. Easy to Experienced.

OPTION 1; Departing 08.30am ($68per person with Cougarline)    15kms; The walk Ship’s Cove to Endeavour inlet (Furneaux Lodge) is highly recommended – note the first half an hour is steep – the walk should take between three and a quarter hours for the fittest and up to four and three quarter hours for those who wish to take it at a more leisurely pace. The boat returning to the Resort departs Furneaux at 3pm, arriving approx. 3.45pm.

OPTION 2; Departing 10.15am ($68per person with Cougarline)   10.5kms; The walk Resolution Bay to Endeavour inlet (Furneaux Lodge) should take between two and three hours. The boat returning to the Resort departs Furneaux at 3pm, arriving approx. 3.45pm.

Guided hiking also available.

Glow worms

can be found on damp sheltered banks, caves etc. in many places in New Zealand. There are glow worms in the natural bush surrounding the resort which are readily accessible for guests to visit and enjoy. Our friendly staff will escort you to experience the visual magic provided by these special creatures. The Maori have named these insects 'titiwai' meaning 'projected over water', which describes their general habitat along streams.

The name 'pura toke' is also used, meaning 'one eyed worm' or 'blind worm'

The brightness of the lights can vary; when the insect is hungry it will generally glow more brightly. Females in the pupa can glow very brightly, and also female adults, in both cases to attract mates. Occasionally two larvae will fight over space, and will glow very brightly in an attempt to assert their dominance.
The light emitted by the insect is bioluminencence, the result of a chemical reaction that involves several components- luciferin a waste product, luciferase an enzyme that acts on luciferin, and ATP (adenosine triphosphate), an energy molecule, and oxygen. These combined form an electronically excited product capable of emitting light.

wine tours

Allow us to arrange a personalised tour of Marlborough’s leading vineyards and wineries. Replenish your cellar, taste, explore and enjoy.

Marlborough Icons Tour, Full Day Tour ;

The three Icons of Marlborough - Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, the Marlborough Sounds and Marlborough Greenshell Mussels. Experience all three in a single day. Enjoy the fine wines of Marlborough in the morning and the stunning Kenepuru Sound in the afternoon.
Departs Resort at 9.15am and returns at 6.30pm.

Personal Wine Tour ;

You decide your own desired vineyard tour. Our resort staff are on hand to assist you with local wine knowledge.

Kayaks

Ask at our reception and we will arrange for
Kayak hire from our own ‘fleet’ of top quality sea kayaks. A great way to explore the sheltered bays and beautiful Soundscoastline. Guided options can include a day paddle to visit the Salmon Farm in neighbouring Ruaka Bay with lunch at Ratimera Beach. Itineraries can be tailored to suit fitness and experience levels of guests.

One Day Guided Sea Kayakto secluded bays near the Resort (weather dependent) includes a visit to the salmon farm in nearby Ruakaka Bay.

Includes lunch, all equipment and guiding services.

Mountain Bike Rides

Hire a mountain bike for a day or two and enjoy the thrill of one of New Zealand's best single track rides - the Queen Charlotte Track.  This 71km walking track has been purposely built to cater to both walkers and bikers. The Queen Charlotte Track is a narrow single track ride with a variety of terrain. It is a clay based track therefore slippery when wet, but hard and fast in dry conditions. Recommended for intermediate level bikers!

The track is open all year, although the section from Ship Cove to Punga Cove is closed to bikers from 1 December to 28 February each year.

scenic flights

The Marlborough Sounds is a labyrinth of waterways with fascinating coves, bays and inlets and is best appreciated from the air!

Helicopter scenic flights are available, please contact reception.

Floatplane. Scenic flights from the Resort; price on application
20 min  - view from the air Ship Cove/ Queen Charlotte Track/  Tory Channel; 40 min – fly over French Pass/ Durville Island/ Pelorus  Sound;
Lunch excursions out to Durville Island or across to Abel Tasman National Park are also available by floatplane.

dive

Go Dive operates from Picton and will collect you from the Resort for a day out diving in the Marlborough Sounds. The most famous excursion would have to be the wreck dive in Port Gore around Cape Jackson – the Mikhail Lermontov – the jewel of New Zealand ship wrecks and one of the biggest diveable ship wrecks in the world. Other options include a one day guided dive in the Outer Sounds; the Double Cove Fish Feeding Snorkel tour and scuba diving courses are also on offer.

in the saddle

Horse Trekking: Depart the lodge at 10.30 returning at 3.45pm for this half day horse trek experience. The Bridevale Trek will have you atop your sure footed and good natured steed for approximately two and a half hours. Your hosts will provide some snacks to be washed down with a bottle of local wine, a very civilized way to soak up the scenery of the Sounds.