What To Expect

What‘s Included

Reviews

• Gentle enjoyable experience with friendly crew and opportunity to take photos

  needles66,Mar 26, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  We loved the mail boat cruise and the concept of picking up bags that tourists wanted moving from one area to another to facilitate their hiking. The crew were friendly and the check in staff were excellent too. We had come in on a cruise ship and the whole thing dovetailed perfectly. We saw seals at the king salmon farm and took some great scenery photos.

• Comfortable transport and...

  Tracy P,Mar 26, 2026

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  Comfortable transport and excellent commentary by skipper. Fantastic scenery and experience. Plenty of space for all on board. We stayed on the top deck all trip with warm clothes for a brisk breeze

• Very good apart from the on/off access.

  shirleyfT2983NR,Mar 18, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  4.00

  It was a very enjoyable cruise. However they need better access on and off the launch, as for elderly people (I am 84) it was very difficult getting on and off as there is quite a big gap to step across.

• A const-effective way of seeing the Sound.

  G9567DSbarbaras,Mar 14, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  4.00

  A beautiful afternoon of sun and sparkling sea and therefore a good cruise, goign onto some small and outlying bays. This added to the atmosphere. The commentary was generally good, if a bit lackng in interesting detail, and easy to hear even on the upper deck. The pilot was interesting to talk to one to one. some of what he told us that way would have made interesting commentary. I saw a square brown disk being handed over at each landing stage and thought it was a 'we have deleveredd' token of some sort - till the thrid one was given direct to the ubiquitous dog - and he ate it. The mail boat pilot as kindly distributing dog biscuits!

• Queen Charlotte Track 4 day walk on the mail boat.

  Airsails,Mar 9, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Once again we walked the track, not the full track but had 4 great days. Easy 12-16kms each day using the mail boat to get to and from Picton each day. Stayed in a lovely apartment on the waterfront each night with the pub and restaurants right on your door. Beachcomber were great, allowing us to swap days around to suit our pace and weather and even a 10% discount for a multi day booking. We highly recommend this way of doing the Queen Charlotte Track, very relaxed and enjoyable. The afternoons waiting for the boat back to Picton are especially nice at Punga Cove and Furneux Lodge, cafe and bar at both.

  

  

  

• Mail boat run

  435jeanettew,Mar 9, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  This was a great trip, the commentary was informative, we saw dolphins, rays and seals. We got off at a memorial for captain cook at the start of the Queen Charlotte Walk. Only thing we didn’t know you had to have your own cup if you wanted a hot drink.

  

• You've Got Mail!

  Breda J,Mar 8, 2026

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  This was a wonderful experience. Great way to see the beauty & remoteness of the Sound. The additional quirkiness of the mail delivery made it a unique trip. Would highly recommend.

• Sound day on the Sound!

  BredaJ12,Mar 8, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  We really enjoyed our cruise on the Mail Boat yesterday. The sun shone & it was wonderful to experience the Sound from the water, to see the remote dwellings & to experience the quirkiness of the postal service. Our Skipper was both entertaining & knowledgeable. We loved it & would certainly recommend.

• Great afternoon experience

  607sharlenev,Mar 1, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  We did the afternoon Mail Boat Cruise. Even though the interislander ferries were cancelled due to the weather in Cooks Strait, the Marlborough Sounds were calm and pleasant for a cruise in and out of the inlets. The boat offers seating inside or on the deck, providing great views. The captain was informative with a good sense of humour. It was a great few hours meeting the residents and dogs of the sounds. Thank you Beachcomber Cruises.

• What a lovely way to spend the afternoon!

  A7273GOrichardw,Feb 28, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  So interesting - 4 hours spent exploring the Sound - with excellent commentary from the Skipper, whose extensive local knowledge made the trip so enjoyable! We delivered the mail and all the local dogs, waiting on the jetties, knew that the post was coming…as they all got a biscuit from our Captain as we pulled in! The beautiful, calm, weather helped!

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