If you have ever wondered what a sea kayaking trip would be like in the outer-Queen Charlotte Sound, then check out this blog post by one of our guides Christina Chowaniec. Enjoy!
Posts Tagged ‘activities’
Sea Kayaking in the outer-Queen Charlotte Sound
Friday, February 15th, 2013Frosty start to the day in Picton
Thursday, May 17th, 2012Whoa – chilly start to the morning in Picton with our first frost of the winter. However we always know that that means a beautiful sunny day which is exactly what we have for our sea kayakers as they head out for a 2 day paddle today. Cleaning muddy mountain bikes is another seasonal activity as you can see!
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- Cleaning bikes, getting ready for a couple of day’s sea kayaing – all on an early-winter day.
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- Setting off for a couple of day’s sea kayaking this morning
Winter walking and biking specials on Queen Charlotte Track
Tuesday, May 8th, 2012Oh how we love this time of the year. After a busy summer, we now have time to catch our breath, sleep in a little longer each day and go home a little earlier! Just as the weather changes, so do our activities for the winter, as we focus on “winter versions” for sea kayaking, walking and biking Queen Charlotte Track.
You may well ask why would you want to come to the Sounds in the winter, but a typical winter day in the Sounds is not to be missed! Cool evenings, frosty mornings and calm, clear days are the typical weather in the Sounds for the next few months. Perfect for walking and biking on the Queen Charlotte Track – so we have dusted off our winter walk and bike packages again. The hotels are ready and waiting to greet you each day after your walk or bike ride with toasty hotel rooms and delicious simple dinners with a glass of wine each night.
The packages are excellent value for money and a perfect opportunity to escape for a few days from the winter hum drum.
Our Australian friends can enjoy an excellent deal, flying right into Marlborough but you need to be in quick as they are only avaialble for another week on http://www.airnewzealand.com.au/cheap-flights-new-zealand
For sea kayakers, winter can be a stunning time to be out paddling – the wildlife is prolific and you can have the whole place to yourself – a paddlers dream.
We look forward to seeing you here sometime soon and just remember “there is no such thing as bad weather, just a bad choice of clothing”!
From London’s Olympic Village to the Marlborough Sounds
Wednesday, February 29th, 2012-
- Jeremy (right) and friend Roberto – building the Orbit Tower outside the Olympic Stadium, London UK
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- Cole & Jeremy (right) enjoying a cuppa in the Marlborough Sounds
It’s great to be back! After 3 years of guiding in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, and the wilderness of Fiordland, completing a carpentry course at polytech in Christchurch and labouring on construction sites in London, I’ve now had 3 weeks to renew my friendship with the beautiful Marlborough Sounds.
It’s nearly 15 years since I arrived at the Portage Hotel in Kenepuru Sound looking for some work for a few months which ended up being two years. Then another six years as a guide for Sara and Dave at MSAC. Now I live in London but it is great to be back for a short visit. There’s a new office, a brilliant new bunch of staff, the buildings on the Picton foreshore are a couple of stories higher, the old-timers who I used to serve Marlborough Draft at the Portage are slowly drifting away, I’m wearing yet another MSAC uniform and the packed lunches are a bit posher, but some things haven’t changed. The seals still loiter with intent at the salmon farm, the school boat still takes the kids to school in Waitaria Bay, the lush Sounds bush still looks Jurassic compared to the stark, barren Scottish coast, the water is still a different shade of green every day, the fishing still “isn’t what it used to be” and Lulu the MSAC dog is still in charge of the office.
It’s hard to believe I was pouring concrete at the Olympic site only 3 weeks ago. And as I commute home this evening on the water taxi it’ll be even harder to believe I’ll be back sitting on the Tube in a couple of weeks. It’s made me realise what an utterly wonderful place this is. And I can thoroughly recommend to anyone gettimg stuck in the Sounds for a while!