Durville Island and the Sounds
Durville Island and the Sounds
Tour Date: Nov 24th to Nov 30th -One space . Dec 2nd to Dec 8th Fully booked. Late April 2025 Bookings now open.
DEPOSIT - $300.00 NZD
Single - $4,585.00
Twin Share - $3,885.00
Please note this is a cash or cheque price. Credit cards will incur a 2% fee.
*Itinerary and costs subject to change, airline and fuel charges and currency fluctuations prior to final payment.
This 7-day tour includes three nights on the remote D’Urville island, a unique opportunity to stay and explore this wonderful place.
There is time for sightseeing by van and a boat tour around the island, fishing for Blue Cod for our dinner; the wilderness lodge will cook it for us.
We start in Blenheim, enjoy a visit to the Air Force Museum at Omaka, and spend two nights at the Mussell capital Of New Zealand Havelock, joining a postal boat tour of Pelorus Sound.
Relaxing boat tours (most are optional) ,tranquil bays and fresh seafood just some of the highlights of this tour.
Group Size
Group Size
Personalized small group tour of 5 to 9 people
Location & Duration
Location & Duration
Blenheim - Durville Island -Havelock - Sounds -Picton. Starts Blenheim. Finishes Blenheim. 7 Days - 6 nights.
Highlights Will Include
Highlights Will Include
• Omaka Museum
• Pelorus Bridge and Rai Valley
• Drive to French Pass
• Three nights on D’Urville at the Wilderness Lodge
• Fishing out from the island
• Boat and van tour of D’Urville island
• Pelorus Sound mail boat cruise
• Drive and Explore Queen Charlotte Sound
• Shopping in Picton.
• Lunch at a Blenheim Vineyard
Inclusions
Inclusions
- Seven days transport, 10 or 12 seat vehicles
- Your own experienced driver / guide for eight days
• Entry to Museums
• Barge and Water Taxis on Durville
• 2 hour Fishing tour
• Pelorus mail boat tour
• 6 nights accommodation
• 6 dinners, 7 lunches,6 breakfasts
Exclusions
Exclusions
- Flights - if you would rather, I am happy to book flights and any extra accommodation at the start or finish of the tour. I do not have large enough groups to be able to get travel discounts and some people may be better off using credits or air points. Please let me know if you would like me to book though and I can just add to the tour cost for you.
- Items of a personal nature
Booking Conditions
Booking Conditions
A non-refundable deposit of $300 per person is required to secure your place on the tour. Payment can be made to this account number.
Full payment is due one month prior to tour start.
Bookings made after 30 Oct 2024 – full payment at time of booking.
Cancellations
Cancellations
- Deposit – nonrefundable
- If this tour is cancelled due to Covid 19 government travel restrictions, a refund is available, or we will endeavour to reschedule. Alps 2 Ocean Ltd reserves the right in addition to any supplier-imposed amendment and cancellation fees, to charge a service and administrative fee of $100 per person.
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Tour Travel Itinerary
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Day 1
Meet in Blenheim-
Omaka Museum – Blenheim HighlightsLUNCH DINNER
After meeting in the mid-morning, we will enjoy a picnic lunch and a relaxed start to the tour with a visit to the Air Force Museum at Omaka as well as a scenic drive around to view other highlights of the town, with short walk options before our first night’s stay and Dinner in Blenheim.
Note:
If you fly into Blenheim the day before, I will be there as well and am happy
to meet for dinner that night if you like.Dinner Dolce Restaurant
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Day 2
Blenheim -Pelorus Bridge-French Pass -Durville Island
BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER
We leave Blenheim at about 830 am with a stop at the
lovely Pelorus Bridge then morning tea at Okiwi Bay before a lunch stop at French Pass near the Pelorus Jack memorial. Our Barge leaves at 130 pm to take us to Kopowai on the Island. We leave our van there and then Craig from the Wilderness Resort will meet us and take us for a boat taxi tour through the actual French Pass and spend a short time fishing for Cod for our dinner. If you catch it the resort will cook it for you!If not they have a range of meals on the menu.We stay at the Wilderness Resort for 3 nights
“The Sounds Best Kept Secret”, truly describes the D’Urville Island Wilderness Resort, located in the
beautiful Catherine Cove on D’Urville Island NZ.The Resort is a sanctuary in today’s hustle and bustle, it offers a bar, restaurant, accommodation, walking
trails and fishing charters. Set in over 200 hectares of regenerated bushland it is the ideal place for the adventurous or those who just want to get away from it all for a while. -
Day 3
Explore the Durville Island by vehicle
BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER
After a leisurely breakfast at the Resort, we take a
short trip on the resort boat back to Kapowai (10 mins ) where the van was left.
We drive to the Western side of the island to a scenic harbour. There is a walk option at a wetland there and time for a picnic lunch -and a visit to the local
hall, which has wonderful views of Chetwood Islands. With time we can explore more of the island before driving back to Kapowai to meet Craig and the Resort taxiWe return to the resort and relax before dinner at 7 pm
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Day 4
Scenic boat tour of
Durville IslandBREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER
This is a day where you will see the full island from the water on the Resorts water taxi with owner Craig. A local chap, Terry, who has lived there 40 years, will give us a guided tour. Terry is self-sufficient on the island. We also have the unique opportunity to see Stephens Island however we cannot land on the island as it is home to the Tuatara.
If the weather is not suitable or you would prefer to stay on land we will explore the remainder of the island by van ,meet some locals and take some of the walks that are available .
Dinner at the resort
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Day 5
Durville Island -Barge
over French Pass -HavelockBREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER
This morning is a free time to explore
the walking tracks, fish off a dinghy, view a waterfall or just relax for the morning at the resort. We then take the resort taxi back to Kopowai and then the 1pm barge to French Pass. This gives us an afternoon of exploring our way through the sounds, with great views of Golden Bay and Abel Tasman out West before
arriving at the Mussel Capital of NZ- Havelock with its excellent little museum and art galleries and cafes.Dinner at a local restaurant
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Day 6
Pelorus Mail Boat Cruise
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BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER
After breakfast, we depart on the Pelorus Sound mail boat cruise. You will enjoy a good part of the day on the water, meet the locals, see some amazing scenery, and hear stories of life and the history of people in the Sounds before heading back to Havelock around Mid-afternoon. Wayne can then take you for a short drive to explore or take a walk in the lovely Wakamarina Valley and Canvastown. Keep an eye out for gold in those hills!
Dinner at a local seafood restaurant
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Day 7
Havelock– Picton -Marlborough Winery
This morning is a chance for us to enjoy the scenic drive around Queen Charlotte Sound and its many bays and bush-clad valleys.
We visit Picton and there is time to walk and look around the shops and waterfront. Our final meal is an afternoon lunch to finish the tour at a Marlborough winery, before being dropped off at Blenheim or the airport around 3 pm
Frequently Asked Questions
What level of fitness do I need?
No matter what your fitness level, you can choose the activity level you feel appropriate for you, provide alternative options for the varied fitness levels, with a small group it is easy to personalize this.
What if I want to change some of the travel plans?
Sometimes our travellers like to visit relatives while on the journey. The tour travel times each day are arranged to give time for you to meet others, or if we are stopping for a walk nearby, Wayne can arrange that you spend your time differently. If you are thinking you would like to visit someplace that is not listed in the itinerary, we can sometimes build this in. It is worth
having a chat to Wayne to see what is possible
What about cancellations or interruptions due to level changes?
We do ask for a small non-refundable deposit to begin the booking process; however, all other expenses are fully refundable if we did need to cancel. In most instances we would look to reschedule and will be in touch with you if this arises. If in the event the level changes were imminent while we were travelling, we would look to get you quickly and safely back to a destination you could travel home from e.g., Queenstown or Christchurch.