Queen Charlotte Track Day Walk: Motuara Island & Kupe's Trail | E-Ko Tours | Shaara Deals

For a full day out from Picton that combines a wildlife cruise, a bird sanctuary landing and a genuine walk on the Queen Charlotte Track, E-Ko Tours' Ultimate 1 Day Walk covers all three. Shaara Deals has this 9-hour experience listed from $386, including a guided visit to Motuara Island Bird Sanctuary and the best 5km stretch of the track — Kupe's Trail.

How the day unfolds

The day starts with a cruise across the majestic Marlborough Sounds, with outstanding commentary and viewing areas for playful Hector's, bottlenose and dusky dolphins, along with New Zealand fur seals and numerous seabirds. You'll land on Motuara Island, New Zealand's highest-producing predator-free bird sanctuary, for a fully guided one-hour nature walk among 1,500-year-old trees, including totara, kahikatea and matai. From there, the tour continues to the gorgeous Ship Cove Scenic Reserve, where you can see, touch and drink from the Captain Cook Waterfall — only a 25-minute walk — and touch the trees within the predator-free trapping zone before walking Kupe's Trail, the best 5km stretch of the Queen Charlotte Track, up to the Queen Charlotte Lookout for the best view in the Sounds.

What's included

• A full guided experience on Motuara Island's premier wildlife sanctuary

• Onboard binoculars for wildlife viewing

• Walking Kupe's Trail, the best 5km of the Queen Charlotte Track

• A visit to Captain Cook Waterfall

• Kids' toys, books and drawing boards onboard

• Free professional wildlife photos, downloadable from E-Ko's website

• Tea, coffee or hot chocolate and biscuits on the return journey

Tour Details

• Price: from $386 per person

• Duration: approximately 9 hours

• Location: departing Picton, Marlborough Sounds

• Operator: E-Ko Tours

• Product code: KUPE

• Arrive 7:30am for a 7:45am briefing, departing 8:00am daily

Good to know before you book

Bring your own food and drink — you can eat lunch on the grass at Ship Cove where New Zealand's first vegetable garden was planted, or use the custom-made seats to relax and take in the history of Meretoto. If you hire a wetsuit and mask, you can snorkel to see eagle rays and fish. This is the most involved of E-Ko's three tours on Shaara Deals — for a shorter cruise-and-landing option, see the Captain Cook Cruise to Ship Cove, or the Swim with Wild Dolphins tour if getting in the water is the priority.

FAQ

• How does this differ from the Captain Cook Cruise? This is a longer, more involved day (9 hours vs 4) that adds Motuara Island Bird Sanctuary and a genuine walk on Kupe's Trail, rather than just the cruise and Ship Cove landing.

• Is food included? No — bring your own food and drink; tea, coffee and biscuits are provided on the return journey.

• Can I snorkel? Yes, if you hire a wetsuit and mask, you can snorkel near Ship Cove to see eagle rays and fish.

• What time does the tour start? Arrive 7:30am for briefing at 7:45am, with departure at 8:00am daily.

Walk the best of the Queen Charlotte Track and visit a predator-free bird sanctuary in one day. Book with E-Ko Tours through Shaara Deals now: https://shaaradeals.co.nz/deal/6a9519bd3ffea9345163e421