Top Picton activities
Top Picton landmarks
Beyond Picton
Picton trip ideas
Queen Charlotte Sound Mail Boat Cruise
Badge of ExcellencePicton, New Zealand
- 4 hours
- Offered in: English
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
Take in a slice of rustic Marlborough living on this mail boat cruise of Tōtaranui / Queen Charlotte Sound. Life in the sounds is remote, and this tour offers the chance to share in the excitement of mail day. Enjoy a free morning in Picton before spending your afternoon cruising past isolated bays, with a unique route on offer each day. Ask your skipper about the history of the Queen Charlotte Sound, and benefit from their help spotting the wildlife that frequent these waterways.
- Traverse the Queen Charlotte coastline without a 4-day hike
- Visit bays and coves that you can’t reach by car
- If time allows, stretch your legs with a stop along the journey
- Purchase an eco-friendly keep cup to enjoy complimentary refreshments onboard
What's Included
- Commentary on board
- Restroom on board
- Food
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 1 London Quay, Picton 7220, New Zealand
Please meet us at the Beachcomber Cruises Office on the waterfront - the Corner of Wellington Street and London Quay, we are a black building with Blue Signage.
Start time
01:30 PM
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
Queen Charlotte Sound (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Guests are welcome to bring their own food and drinks to consume on board
- Closed-toe walking shoes suitable for walking are recommended
- Please Note: The stop at Ship Cove only occurs during Summer months of 1st Oct to 30th April
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
See more
Reviews
4.5
240 reviews
Jane_T, Mar 2024
This was a really fun and interesting adventure for 4 hours or so. The boat holds quite a few people (30+) between the top and bottom areas. but everyone moves around to get good pictures. The driver goes from cove to cove to deliver mail and packages to residents and resorts in these areas. The boat is met at the dock by the owners and sometimes their dogs too. For the most part the driver does not provide much commentary and even if he does, it was difficult to hear with all the people. That was fine--I did not take this tour for the commentary anyway. It's a great way to see the bay and how people live and would totally recommend this low key tour.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Hello Jane_T
Thank you for your review, we are really pleased to hear that you enjoyed the tour with us - the Mailrun certainly is a fun unique tour!
DeborahAnn_A, Mar 2024
Packed a cooler with some wine and cheese and crackers, dressed in layers, then sat back and watched the beautiful scenery. Very cool to be able to get into the bays and see the isolated homes of the people who live there. The dogs coming down for their treats were so entertaining!
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for your review! We are really happy to hear you enjoyed the Mail boat with us, great idea to bring some nice snacks on board with you ;)
Bree_M, Mar 2024
Plenty of seating on the top deck! Great views and excellent commentary along the way of the area history. Syopping in various island ports to drop mail and supplies a treat. Highly recommend!!
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Hi Bree_M
Thank you for your review, great to hear that you enjoyed the tour with us!
Roberrt_R, Mar 2024
Boat trip was excelent way to see the sound and the picturesque coves visited as the mail was delivered
However the promised coffe did not appear and therewas no tie to buy one ay the only stop where we could disembark.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for your review, great to hear you enjoyed the tour with us! We do have tea and coffee on our large vessels with the purchase of a re usable keep cup, im sorry that this was not announced - we will remind our skippers to let passengers know.
MARIA_L, Mar 2024
Bring a hat and sunscreen. Windburn
Lovely ladies at the office.
Beautiful day Beds to have snacks onboard to buy
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for your review, we are happy to hear you enjoyed the tour with us!
Donna_R, Mar 2024
Beautiful views of mountains and pristine sound , enjoyed the mail deliveries. Very enjoyable afternoon.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for your review, we are really pleased to hear that you enjoyed the Mail Boat with us
Zinovy_D, Feb 2024
Special experiences:
A) Cruising among dozens of islands.
B) Blue cod feeding.
Our guide/skipper Jason was very knowledgeable.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for your review, we are happy to hear you enjoyed the mailboat with our team. Thankyou for choosing to travel with us!
Graeme_H, Feb 2024
A fantastic day out on Queen Charlotte Sound seeing all the remoter bays and houses. This was made better by the commentary from the skipper Jason
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for your review, we are happy to hear that you enjoyed your tour out on the MailBoat with our team. Thank you for choosing to travel with us!
Sharon_M, Feb 2024
This trip was everything I hoped for. Jason ( skipper) is clearly very very committed to his land and sea . Rightfully proud and worried for its future, he educated all of us on the work that's been done, and to be done in the future. It was a beautiful day and I loved the peace and solace I felt being out on the water. We delivered mail to the remotest of areas in the Sound and dropped off a few residents along the way. The uniqueness of the job Jason has is wonderful. A man of many talents!It was truly wonderful and a day I won't forget. Picton is a beautiful little town and the waters and scenery spectacular. I will return one day . Highly recommended trip.!Thank you!
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for your review, sounds like you had an excellent time in our hometown!
Stephanie_W, Jan 2024
I find it hard to remember someone who has impressed me so much as Jason who skippered the boat. His attention to detail, knowledge of Māori culture and local history was exceptional. His dedication to restoring the native fauna and flora was inspirational and the way in which he delivered his narrative would impressed David Attenborough.. A seriously fantastic afternoon and a pleasure to meet him.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you very much for your wonderful review, we are really pleased to hear that you enjoyed the tour with Jason!
...
From $68.03
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Queen Charlotte Sound Mail Boat Cruise
240
4 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$68.03
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
- Catamaran Cruises
- Water Tours
- Historical Tours
- Half-day Tours
- Cruises & Sailing
- Cultural Tours
- Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises
- Picton
- Catamaran Cruises - South Island
- Water Tours - South Island
- Historical Tours - South Island
- Half-day Tours - South Island
- Catamaran Cruises - Wellington
- Water Tours - Wellington
- Historical Tours - Wellington
- Half-day Tours - Wellington
- Catamaran Cruises - Tongariro National Park
- Water Tours - Tongariro National Park
- Historical Tours - Tongariro National Park
- Half-day Tours - Tongariro National Park
© 1997-2024 Viator, Inc.