Sea Kayaking in the Marlborough Sounds

The intricate waterways of the Marlborough Sounds create a wonderland for sea kayakers. The Marlborough Sounds consists of 1500km of New Zealand's coastline, so finding a corner to call your own in a sea kayak is not difficult. The water displays a thousand shades of colour ranging from the brightest turquoise to the deepest green. The backdrop is a myriad of shades of green from the overhanging native tree ferns, rata vines and beech trees. The wildlife is testimony to this magnificent environment with seals, dolphins and penguins a common sight. It is just waiting to be explored - there is no better way than by sea kayak.

Safety

We are founding members of SKOANZ (Sea Kayak Operators Associaton of New Zealand) and abide by a strict code of practice which ensures that your sea kayaking experience is enjoyed with the utmost safety and comfort in mind. We are the oldest sea kayaking company in the country (20 years) and we know the Sounds intimately. Our commitment to safety and outstanding service has been recognized by many awards, most recently the New Zealand Tourism Award for Leisure Activity.

Guided Trips

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Guided Seakayaking

Just as our kayaks were designed for journeying, so we try to create a sense of journey on our guided trips. These trips are purposely designed to maximise your experience in the Sounds, whether it be 3 hours or 3 days we make sure that you visit the most scenic areas of the sound in the timeframe that you have. We pay particular attention to the small things, such as; delicious meals, fun informative guides, quality equipment and itineraries that try to maximise your time on the water. If your time is limited, then a guided trip is the best option.

Independent Rental

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Picton Kayak Hire

If you have more time to spare and really want to explore the Sounds on your own (always with another paddling buddy, however, as we don't rent to solo paddlers), then independent rental is the ideal option for you. Our large, stable, purpose-built fibreglass doubles and plastic single kayaks are ideal for a multi-day kayak rental. They have large storage capacity and it is not a problem to pack a boat for 3 or 4 days and really get out into the Sounds to explore the maze of inlets, bays and coves.

With all our kayak rental, we provide a full safety briefing which takes up to 2 hours, and during that time we discuss with you itinerary planning, weather, paddling techniques, capsize and re-entry etc. If you are unsure whether your paddling experience is enough to take a rental for a few days, then we may suggest that you take our Beginners Package - which includes the guided day trip and then follows on with your multi-day rental.