Our adventure combos are without a doubt the best way to experience the Marlborough Sounds if you only have a few days - with either our 1 Day Kayak & Walk or the 1 Day Kayak & Bike, you can experience all the iconic activities of this spectacular spot in just one day!
Of course, we'd love you to stay longer - and you really should to truly experience the Marlborough Sounds - but if a day is all you have, then our adventure combos are the trips for you. These unique day trips combine the best of sea kayaking with walking or mountain biking on the popular Queen Charlotte Track - all completed at day's end with a boat ride back to Picton. Awesome! NB. Of the two adventure combos, the mountain biking option is the more adventurous of the two and is more suited to people who have done some biking before.
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Itinerary
Meet at our centrally located office at the Picton Railway Station at 8.30am, time for a spot of paperwork and then we depart for our launch point at Ngakuta Bay, just 20 minutes scenic drive from Picton. We prefer to take you away from the harbour environs to the truly spectacular western end of the Sound where there is less boat traffic and many beautiful bays and coves to explore as well as wildlife to see.
After a detailed safety briefing (we've been told by guests ours is one of the best in New Zealand!), it is time to set off on a great day's adventure. Your combo begins with a guided sea kayak tour in what is truly some of the best paddling in the Sounds in the western arm of Queen Charlotte Sound. Within a short time you are exploring the shoreline, spotting rays and sea birds and learning about the lush native bush near the water's edge.
Your kayak tour concludes a few hours later at Anakiwa. Here you collect your mountain bike, get some instruction for the ride ahead and then depart on your independent bike of the Queen Charlotte Track from Anakiwa to Mistletoe Bay. This section of the track passes through some of the nicest bush of the whole 71km walk and is an exhilarating ride of around 2-3 hours (11km). Views, bush, beaches - this section of the track has it all!
At the conclusion of the Queen Charlotte Track, you ride down to Mistletoe Bay in time for collection by a water taxi at 4pm to return to Picton. It's a great way to finish - a thrilling boat ride with fantastic views back towards where you've been. Your return time to Picton is around 4.30/5pm.
We supply good quality double kayaks for the guided kayak trip (singles available for more experienced paddlers), PFDs (lifejackets), splash jackets, booties, spraydecks and dry bags (including for your camera) plus lunch for you to take with you on your bike ride. Our mountain bikes are quality, 27 speed mountain bikes (Kona Blast) with front suspension and disc brakes - just the thing for this sort of trail!
What Do You Need To Bring?
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Extra warm clothing - shorts and t-shirt are fine to wear over the summer months; polypropylene is great for cooler days!
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Sunhat & sunscreen
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Water bottle
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Camera (optional - dry bags available)
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Soft soled shoes that you don't mind getting wet - booties are also available. Or, paddle barefoot!
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Shoes for biking in
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Day pack
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Raincoat
- Any special dietary items or medication
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A sense of fun and adventure!
