The scenery of the Marlborough Sounds is spectacular, ranging from towering mountain-side forests, through tranquil bays and coves, to the rugged exposed shoreline of D'Urville Island. West of D'Urville is Tasman Bay, where golden beaches, warmer waters and the Able Tasman National Park Walkways await – all perfect cruising grounds.
Marlborough enjoys high sunshine hours and a temperate climate, with beautiful sandy bays, clear waters and a forested coastline where you can find many sheltered inlets to explore. Captain James Cook used the Sounds for shelter and food in the 1770s and discovered the plant known as Cook’s Scurvy Grass which is high in vitamin C to cure scurvy! Arrive by sea through the glorious maze of deep coves and bays that is Queen Charlotte Sound and spend some quiet time discovering the natural beauty of this area. You will enjoy seeing an abundance of wildlife too, including seals, penguins and dolphins who enjoy riding the bow wave! Head to the historical ship cove and enjoy a lovely gourmet picnic prepared by your attentive crew, followed by a gentle 20 minute walk to the nearby waterfall. One captain of a 90m super yacht comments that, in his opinion, New Zealand is the best cruising ground in the whole of the South Pacific, with his favourite place being Marlborough Sounds; ‘the beautiful deep waters of the Queen Charlotte Sound make for unforgettable cruising in beautiful, unspoilt surroundings’.
Take the tender inland and soak up the wild river scenery and magnificent crystal clear water of Pelorus Bridge. With its many bolder clad gorges it is famous for offering wonderful swimming, and is classified as one of the cleanest and purest water sources; grab a glass and try it for yourself! This area was also used to film one of The Hobbit movies.
Marlborough is well known for its wine making, as the largest wine growing region in New Zealand and producer of the best Sauvignon Blanc in the world. Take a trip to the Herzog Vineyard, origins of which are from Switzerland, where the family have been making wine since 1630. This family-owned vineyard has a passion for wine and food and with their award-winning restaurant your senses will be completely spoilt in this truly beautiful setting. After over-indulging, you will want to spend the evening in the onsite luxurious and secluded cottage from which you can enjoy panoramic views.
From Marlborough Sounds you can cruise around some real New Zealand gems. Explore the lagoons and islands of the vast Tasman Bay. Head to Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand’s finest coastal national park, which is famous for its golden beaches, turquoise waters, native bush walks and spectacular scenery. Tonga Island Marine Reserve is known as a seal hotspot and some great snorkelling can be found around the rocks between Tonga Quarry and Foul Point. Scuba divers should head for the reefs in the north of the reserve where the rocks are all covered in a pretty film of pink algae. Keep an eye out for the conger eels lurking in the dark!
Don’t forget to stop by Nelson with its sheltered harbour and long sunshine hours – this is an ideal yachting destination. Inspired by its exceptional beauty, many artists and craftspeople live in this region; take a private art tour to visit some local studios and pick up some unique pieces on your travels. Some of these very talented artists were recruited to produce props for the Lord of the Rings movies, including the ‘one ring’ crafted by a Nelson jeweller.
If you have the time to fit in a day’s pampering during your cruise around Tasman Bay, a visit to Split Apple Retreat is a fabulous treat for the soul. It is a quiet, luxurious retreat built high into a cliff face on the ocean’s edge above Tasman Bay. This award-winning spa has a salt-water infinity pool, private access to beaches, massages and meditation, plus a gourmet menu to further delight the senses. Whilst in the area, be sure to visit the actual Split Apple Rock, made of 120 million year old granite; it attracts many visitors due to its strange formation. It looks like a perfectly split apple. One theory is that the rock was split in half by the sword of Zeus whilst battling with Neptune for the hand of Dione. Geologists suggest it was split during an Ice Age when water seeped in and perfectly cracked the rock in half, but that theory is not as much as fun as Zeus’ sword fight!
