Sanctuary Visit, Dolphin Cruise
4 hours 30 minutes · E-Ko New Zealand Ltd
Small-group tour with tea, coffee and hot chocolate on the return.
from $100.08 per person Check availability →
Blumine Bird Watching Eco Tour
Bird Watching and Dolphin Eco-Tour to Blumine Island
from $128.84 per person
Check Price & Availability →Opens the live booking page with current dates. Book there; nothing is charged on this site. Free cancellation.
- Duration
- 3 to 4 hours
- Meeting point
- 1 Wellington Street
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation
- Run by
- E-Ko New Zealand Ltd
Overview
This half-day trip from Picton puts a marine biologist's eye to work for you. The crew of E-Ko New Zealand run the cruise, and their guides are used to reading Queen Charlotte Sound for signs of wildlife, from shags resting on the rocks to dolphins working the sheltered bays.
The boat heads out to Blumine Island in the outer Sound, a predator-free sanctuary where rare orange-fronted kakariki and king shags live. On the water you search for wild dolphins and seabirds, and on the island there is time to walk and look for endangered land birds in their natural habitat. Light refreshments are provided on board. Live commentary runs throughout, and national park fees are covered in the ticket.
The tour runs mornings or afternoons and lasts between three and four hours, ending back at the E-Ko Tours meeting point in Picton. Anyone who wants local knowledge rather than a plain sightseeing run will get the most out of it.
From$128.84 per person
Duration3 to 4 hours
Rating4.8 from 56 reviews
What's Included
Included
- Professional guide
- Live commentary on board
- National Park fees
- Light refreshments
Not Included
- Gratuities
- Transportation to/from attractions
Run byE-Ko New Zealand Ltd
Itinerary
- Check in at E-Ko ToursMeet at 1 Wellington Street, Picton, following the blue line from the Visitor Information Center with the sea on your left. Arrive 15 minutes before departure.
- Cruise Queen Charlotte SoundAbout 1 hour on the water heading for the outer Sound, with live commentary and wildlife spotting along the way.
- Blumine Island bird sanctuaryTime ashore on the predator-free island to look for kakariki, shags and other protected birds, with a guide leading the walk.
- Return to PictonThe trip ends back at the meeting point in Picton.
CommentaryIncluded
GuideIncluded
What To Expect From The Tour
A few practical points will help you get the most from the morning or afternoon on the water.
- Getting there. There is no hotel transport, so make your own way to the E-Ko Tours office on Wellington Street. Check-in closes 15 minutes before departure. One group that arrived late was still helped onto the trip, but do not count on that.
- Fitness and pace. The island walk climbs and reviewers describe the hill track as steep, with a viewpoint at the top. One traveller who found the pace too fast turned back to a spot on the trail called the bird bath, where saddlebacks, bellbirds and parakeets came close. Tell the guide if you want a slower option.
- Kids on board. One reviewer said the crew were very accommodating for her 3 and 5 year olds, who enjoyed a turn at the wheel and hot cocoa on the way back.
- Wildlife is wild. Dolphins are searched for in the sheltered waters, and one reviewer described a Hector's dolphin pod around the boat for about 20 minutes. They are never promised. On a wet, windy day one group saw no dolphins at all, though fur seals, penguins and sea birds still showed up.
- Sanctuary Visit, Dolphin Cruise$100.08
- Blumine Bird Watching Eco Tour (this tour)$128.84
- Small-Group Wild Dolphin Swim$128.84
- Food and drink. Light refreshments are included on board, and reviewers with young children mentioned hot cocoa being served on the return leg. Anything beyond that is up to you.
- Group size. The tour carries a maximum of 30 travellers. Reviews describe a friendly, local company feel, with crew making a real effort to find wildlife for the group.
Common issues. The trip needs a minimum number of travellers to run, and if that minimum is not met it can be cancelled, with a different date or a full refund offered. One reviewer had a wet, windy day with no dolphins. Changes and cancellations inside 24 hours of departure get no refund.
Common Questions
What Is Included In The Price?
A professional guide, live commentary on board, national park fees and light refreshments are all included. Gratuities and transportation to and from the attractions are not.
Where Does The Tour Start?
At the E-Ko Tours office, 1 Wellington Street, Picton. Follow the blue line from the Visitor Information Center with the sea on your left, and check in 15 minutes before departure. The trip ends back at the same point.
How Long Is The Tour?
It runs 3 to 4 hours, in either a morning or an afternoon departure. About 1 hour is spent in Queen Charlotte Sound, with time on Blumine Island making up the other main part of the trip.
Is It Suitable For Children And People With Limited Mobility?
Most travellers can participate and families with young children have enjoyed it.
What Is The Cancellation Policy?
Cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside 24 hours there is no refund and changes are not accepted. If the operator cancels because the minimum traveller number is not met, you get a different date, a different experience, or a full refund.
Will We Definitely See Dolphins?
No sighting is promised. The tour searches sheltered waters for wild dolphins, and reviewers have also reported fur seals, penguins, gannets and several kinds of shag. The crew actively search for wildlife, but wind and weather can change what appears on the day.
Check Live Dates And Prices
Live dates, times and prices are on the booking page.
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