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Abel Tasman & Nelson Explore New Zealand, Australia & Fiji!
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Join the award-winning team at E-ko Tours on their signature Marlborough Sounds dolphin & wildlife cruise!
Join the award-winning team at E-ko Tours on their signature Marlborough Sounds dolphin & wildlife cruise!
Highlights
- Fully guided Dolphin & wildlife tour
- Dolphin watching – 90% encounter rate!
- See NZ Fur Seals & multiple bird species
- 1-hour nature lover’s walk on Motuara Island
- FREE wine sample
Embark on an unforgettable conservation focused journey through one of New Zealand’s abundant wildlife havens.
This breathtaking Dolphin & wildlife cruise is the ultimate way to get up close and personal to resident Dolphins, Seals & Birdlife!
We have a 90% Dolphin encounter rate as we cruise the crystal clear waters of the Marlborough Sounds to Motuara Island. The Dolphins are very curious and love to show off with flips and summersaults! Keep an eye out for the cheeky NZ Fur Seals - they often make an appearance on our tours too!
Once we have reached the Island we’ll head out on a relaxed pace 1-hour nature lover’s walk where you’ll learn all about the history of this iconic Island, including, the native flora & fauna, and of course, see, hear, and encounter the Island birds.
When our time on the Island is done, we’ll head back to the boat where you’ll be offered a free sample of award-winning local wine (or hot drink and cookies!)
On our way back to base we will stop and view any additional wildlife spotted, otherwise, it’s the perfect way to wind down after an unforgettable tour - simply sit back, relax and take in the stunning surrounds as we cruise back to shore.
Departure Point: We are located conveniently on Picton’s main waterfront with car parking close by and only a 1-minute walk from the main street.
Authenticated Reviews & PhotosAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme
Queen Charlotte Sound
David from
Germany
Awesome experience dolphin and wildlife tour
Rowena from
NZ
Awesome experience dolphin and wildlife tour
Rowena from
NZ
Awesome experience dolphin and wildlife tour
Rowena from
NZ
Informative and well done
ajoyd from
NZ
Informative and well done
ajoyd from
NZ
Informative and well done
ajoyd from
NZ
Fantastic day!
Stuart Gradwell from
United Kingdom
Highlight of our holiday
haym from
NZ
Highlight of our holiday
haym from
NZ
Amazing Experience - DO NOT MISS
Katie from
NZ
Amazing Experience - DO NOT MISS
Katie from
NZ
Amazing Experience - DO NOT MISS
Katie from
NZ
epic trip
darrenh1 from
NZ
Nice Experience
Joanallie from
Philippines
Nice Experience
Joanallie from
Philippines
Nice Experience
Joanallie from
Philippines
Short and sweet
Portia Harrison from
NZ
Short and sweet
Portia Harrison from
NZ
We love this trip!
Wilhelmus from
Netherlands
La relève est prête !
danielb4 from
France
Amazing trip
Jenny Hastings from
United Kingdom
Great way to see the sounds and its wildlife
Zoe leonard from
Australia
Great way to see the sounds and its wildlife
Zoe leonard from
Australia
Awesome day out
Jacki Lenton from
NZ
Awesome day out
Jacki Lenton from
NZ
Most amazing day of my life!!
Jessica Cheney from
United States
Amazing
Lenka from
Czech Republic
Amazing
Lenka from
Czech Republic
Amazing
Lenka from
Czech Republic
Wonderful experience!
edgarw1 from
Germany
Wonderful experience!
edgarw1 from
Germany
Wonderful experience!
edgarw1 from
Germany
Amazing experience seeing the beautiful sounds
Jessica Gatward from
NZ
Amazing experience seeing the beautiful sounds
Jessica Gatward from
NZ
Nice experience
Jiwoo from
South Korea
Authenticated Reviews & PhotosAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme
Showing all 148 authenticated Bookme reviews
From Motuara Island Sanctuary and Dolphin Watching Tour Ex Picton
Kia Ora, we are sorry the dolphins did not want to interact, they are wild and free which we love but sometimes this of course affects the viewings. Every day is a different day, sometimes they love to perform for us and other times they just want to swim by. We are sorry that the children were upset by this. We keep in contact with the other boats because we try not to hassle the dolphins as they are endangered and we try to do our upmost to protect the species. We are glad that you enjoyed Motuara Island and its amazing wildlife. Thank you for choosing our tour company.
David from Germany wrote on 11 January 2020
Nette Bootstour mit kleiner Wanderung
Die Tour war total in Ordnung. Wir hatten nicht das beste Wetter, haben zwei Hektordelphine gesehen (für ca. 1/10 Sekunde, sind unter dem Boot durchgetaucht) und zwei Seelöwen. Da wir mit zwei kleinen Kindern unterwegs waren lag für diese der Fokus natürlich bei den Delphinen. Sie waren daher sehr enttäuscht. Der Kapitän hat wirklich versucht Delphine zu spotten und stand auch mit anderen Booten in Kontakt aber es hat nicht sollen sein. Unsere Tourguidein war ebenfalls total nett und erzählte uns alles mögliche über den Sound und dessen Flora und Fauna. Sehr informativ. Aber halt nicht so für Kinder. Drei Sterne nur wegen der Benennung der Tour. Diese suggeriert das das Hauptaugenmerk ebenfalls auf Delphinspotting liegt, eigentlich ist es aber eine Tour nach Motuara Island auf welcher man mit Glück Delphine sehen kann. Trotzdem Danke an die Crew die stets bemüht war alle bei Laune zu halten.
From Motuara Island Sanctuary and Dolphin Watching Tour Ex Picton
Kia Ora, we are so sorry the dolphins did not want to interact this day and that the children were unable to see them. We hope you enjoyed the views of the Marlborough Sounds and the other spectacular wildlife on our tour. Thank you
felixw from Germany wrote on 15 December 2019
Motuara Island and Dolphin Watching Tour
Sehr schöner Ausflug. Die kostenlose Wein-und Muschelverkostung war zwar nicht dabei, dafür ein Heißgetränk und Cookies. Ansonsten ist die wirklich zu empfehlen. Man sieht mehrere Delfinarten und wenn man Glück hat Seehunde. Die Wanderung auf der Motoura Insel ist fast für jedermann, also nicht zu anstrengend. Danke für dieses Erlebnis!
From Motuara Island Sanctuary and Dolphin Watching Tour Ex Picton
Kia Ora, we offer the wine and mussels in the afternoon tour! Sorry you were not able to experience them. Glad you enjoyed Motuara Island and the wildlife too, Thank you.
Julia from Germany wrote on 05 October 2019
Wunderbare Tour
Die Tour hat sich absolut gelohnt. Es war eine sehr kleine Gruppe.Die Guides undcder Kapitän haben viele Informationen weitergegeben. Es war sehr nett. Wir hatten zudem Glück mit dem Wetter und den Sichtungen. Wir haben eine große Gruppe Dusky und Hector Dolphins gesehen. Auch sonst kann ich die Tour nur empfehlen, da viel auf die Natur und die Tiere geachtet wird und die Landschaft einfach wunderschön ist.
From Motuara Island Sanctuary and Dolphin Watching Tour Ex Picton
Kia Ora Julia, you are right, the scenery on it's own is worth the trip! the added bonus is all the wildlife that is on our doorstep. So glad you enjoyed the tour
annep from Germany wrote on 04 June 2019
Wunderbar und interessant
Die Fahrt war toll, man wird wirklich nicht seekrank und bei Tiersichtungen wird gestoppt und man kann an Deck gehen und Fotos machen. Unsere Gruppe war nicht allzu groß und alle sind mit zur Wanderung gekommen. Wir haben Delfine, fur seals und etliche Vogelarten gesehen, die Informationen, die die Crew geliefert hat waren sehr interessant und mir z.T. noch unbekannt (gerade bei den Vögeln). Toller Ausflug.
From Motuara Island Sanctuary and Dolphin Watching Tour Ex Picton
Hi Anne, people are always amazed that we 100% guarantee no sea-sickness - so much so that we offer a full refund if anyone gets sea-sick!! The waters in the Queen Charlotte Sound are protected and calm and offer the wildlife and visitors (in our boats) a calm and relaxing day on the water. Look forward to you visiting us again.
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Kerstin from Germany wrote on 17 January 2020
Leider sehr enttäuscht
Im Titel der Veranstaltung steht Dolphin Tour..und das war einer der Gründe, warum wir diese Tour gebucht haben. Unsere Töchter haben sich so darauf gefreut. Der Skipper war sehr oberflächlich fast unfreundlich. Die Dame wusste super viel zu erzählen über Flora und Fauna. Ein Delfin wurde kurz gesichtet, dann haben wir kurz gewartet und sind weg gefahren um auf der Rückfahrt wiederzukommen...nachdem wir Sanctuary Island sehr interessant bewandert haben, sind wir zurück gefahren. Nachdem ich dann nachgefragt habe ob wir denn nicht mehr zur Delfinstelle fahren wurde das nur verneint, weil anscheinend ein anderes Boot auch keine mehr dirt gesehen hat. Das war alles...die bootstour an sich war interessant aber für den Preis hatten wir und vor allem die kinder mehr erwartet. Es gab auch keine Muscheln wie im Angebot angekündigt, sondern Kaffee und Kakao und spärliche Biscuits. Ich empfehle die Beschreibung DOLPHIN TOUR nicht so dominant in den Titel zu schreiben wenn die Bemühungen, tatsächlich Delfine zu sehen, so gering sind...wir waren sehr enttäuscht, dem Skipper war das total egal. Schade!!!