Marlborough Sounds

The Marlborough Sounds are located in the south island of New Zealand. They include the Queen Charlotte, Kenepuru, Pelorus and Mahau Sounds and Port Underwood. Covering some 4,000 km² of sounds, islands, and peninsulas, the Marlborough Sounds lie at the South Island's north-easternmost point, between Tasman Bay in the west and Cloudy Bay in the south-east.

The steep, wooded hills and small quiet bays of the sounds are sparsely populated, as access is difficult. Many of the small settlements and isolated houses are only accessible by boat. The main large port is Picton on the mainland, at the head of Queen Charlotte Sound.

Things to See and Do

* Dolphin & seal watching
* Picton
* Queen Charlotte Sound
* Wineries
* Fishing

General information

Cruise Season – Jan - Dec
Currency - New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Language – English, Maori
Land Area – 4,000 km²
Population – 43,500 approx (Marlborough Region)
Electricity – 2 round pins European style, two parallel flat pins Japanese style
Time - GMT plus 12 hours
International Country Telephone Code – + 64

Port Location – The main large port is Picton on the mainland, at the head of Queen Charlotte Sound. The main small boat port is at Waikawa.

Transport Links – Almost every exploration of the Marlborough Sounds will begin in Picton, Havelock or Rai Valley, all on the southern side of the Marlborough Sounds. Picton is the northern most point of State Highway 1 in the [South Island], the northern terminal of the Tranzcoastal train and is the South Island port of ferries from Wellington. Havelock and Rai Valley are on State Highway 6 between Blenheim and Nelson.