It’s been a couple of years since we’ve had the chance to enjoy early summer in one of NZ’s favourite coastal areas. ‘The Sounds’ are home to several exclusive lodges and resorts. Names such as The Portage and Furneaux Lodge conjure up images of water’s-edged retreats nestled in bush-clad corners that lead down to a beautiful sandy beach and a jetty for the boat. Day 1: We begin our journey heading south where we’ll reach Wellington in time to catch our afternoon ferry across Cook Strait. Tonight, we stay in Blenheim at the luxurious Chateau Marlborough Hotel.
Day 2: This morning you’ll have free time to explore Picton before we take the first of what will be a number of water taxi trips and say goodbye to our coach for a few days. At the outer reaches of the Queen Charlotte Sound lies Endeavour Inlet and, nestled at the end of the inlet sits Furneaux Lodge, our home for the next two nights.
Day 3: Today is a FREE DAY to relax or explore around the Lodge. We’ll reconvene over dinner to swap stories of the day.
Day 4: After a slow ‘Sounds time’ start we depart on the water taxi heading back along Queen Charlotte Sound towards Torea Bay. Here we’ll be met by staff of our next destination, The Portage, who will transport us over the hill to the resort based in Kenepuru Sound. This afternoon there’s time to explore our new surroundings before dinner in their highly acclaimed restaurant.
Day 5: Again, let the tranquil tides of the Sounds help you relax here at The Portage today. Enjoy a game of croquet on the lawn, try snorkelling in the crystal-clear waters of the Sound or simply relax in the library with a good book as we have only one activity planned for today. A cruise into the remote Kenepuru Sound with local boat guide, Adrian and we’ll also harvest mussels straight from the pristine waters. They don’t get any fresher than that!
Day 6: Another superbly slow start to today as, mid-morning, we say farewell to Kenepuru Sound and The Portage and head back to ‘the mainland’. After lunch in Picton, trundle down the road to Blenheim, with time this afternoon to explore this town at the centre of New Zealand’s largest wine region. Here we enjoy another tranquil night at Chateau Marlborough Hotel.
Day 7: This morning we cross Cook Strait again and head homeward with many memories of a wonderful week together in ‘the Sounds’.
It’s in summer that we find the Marlborough Sounds at their sparkling best, when the water glistens and the sun warms the bush. Come and let the locals show you around whilst enjoying the relaxed luxury of these hideaway lodges.
