Kayak Queen Charlotte Sound

Enjoy a sea-level perspective of Queen Charlotte Sound by kayaking the pristine waterway while watching for marine creatures such as dolphins and fur seals.

After departing from the pier, you will enjoy a brief but immensely scenic drive through Whenuanui Bay Scenic Reserve, a large natural wonderland that juts into Queen Charlotte Sound. Upon reaching sheltered Ngakuta Bay, you will receive a safety briefing and learn how to make the most of your kayaking experience and then it’s time to paddle off in your two-person kayak.

During the next three hours, you will skirt along the shore of Grove Arm, admiring the stunning natural beauty. You could more or less have the bay to yourself, as the surrounding sounds are so extensive that they contain one-fifth of the coastline in New Zealand. There is plenty of pristine shoreline and secluded coves to explore at an easy pace.

Marine life flourishes in these waters. You may spot frolicking dolphins, fur seals basking in the sun and blue penguins, the world’s smallest species of penguin. They tend to congregate on the water’s surface in small groups called rafts and then dive to feed on fish and squid.

Other avian species are also abundant, so look skyward for King Shags and Fluttering Shearwaters. Named for their distinctive flight, these ubiquitous seabirds fly low and fast with bursts of rapid wing beating known as fluttering.