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Queen Charlotte Mail Boat Cruise: Experience Authentic New Zealand Post Delivery Service
4.7
243 Ratings
Picton
Experience the authentic New Zealand post delivery service on the Queen Charlotte Mail Boat Cruise. Join us as we deliver mail, groceries, and freight to the residents of Queen Charlotte Sound. Don’t miss this unique tour!
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Queen Charlotte Sound - Cruise through the tranquil waterways of the Queen Charlotte Sound, see wildlife and native flora and fauna along the way
What's Included
- Commentary on board
- On-board restrooms
What's Not Included
- Food
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Information
For more than 150 years, mail has been transported via boat in the Queen Charlotte Sounds, a service we are proud to be the sole officially sanctioned New Zealand Post Rural Delivery Service by water in the Queen Charlotte Sound, rendering this tour truly unparalleled!
Join us on the Mail Boat Cruise to partake in the thrilling routine of Mail Day, as the captain distributes rural postal bags, groceries, and freight to the inhabitants of the Queen Charlotte Sound waterways.
Given ample time, the Mail Boat Cruise may briefly halt at a breathtaking location within the Queen Charlotte waterways, and chart your route to be revealed at the time of check-in.
Beachcomber Cruises keep cups are offered for purchase at $6 in the office prior to your departure. As a part of our environmental efforts, we abstain from using single-use cups on our vessels. Whenever you purchase a Beachcomber Cruises keep cup, you’re entitled to complimentary tea and coffee onboard throughout the tour.
- Guests are welcome to bring their own food and drinks to consume on board
- Closed-toe walking shoes suitable for walking are recommended
- Not accessible for motorized wheelchairs
- Please Note: The stop at Ship Cove only occurs during Summer months of 1st Oct to 30th April
- We are not able to pick up / drop off at the Cruise Ship Terminal - you must make your way to our booking office
- Please note that this tour departs sharply on schedule at 1:30pm
- The boat used for the tour can vary from a smaller 9 seater to a 99 seater catamaran and is not guaranteed
Location
1 London Quay
London Quay
Please meet us at the Beachcomber Cruises Office on the waterfront - the Corner of Wellington Street and London Quay, we are a black building with Blue Signage.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(243 Ratings)
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Brendajulie
Jul 17, 2024
The sounds mail delivery run - Greg our captain gave a great commentary of the sounds as he delivered supplies and mail all the way to Furneaux lodge and back, we saw lots of dolphins, seals and blue penguins as well as the lovely landscape. A very interesting trip, well worth doing and enjoyed by ourselves and friends that we travelled with
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Discover62977272803
Jul 8, 2024
MAGIC Mail Boat Cruise - the best adventure in all of Picton! - The cruise of our DREAMS! Stunning views, small tour size, friendly and informative staff. We were greeted at the counter and shown a map of the Queen Charlotte Sounds, boarded the boat and took off. We saw dolphins, seals and Blue Cod! The sun went down on the trip back. A perfect afternoon!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Departure00096900417
Apr 20, 2024
Fabulous cruise around the Sound - A very beautiful and interesting trip. Well worth doing to see this incredible scenery and to see the beautiful remote places where people live in the Sound
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Wayne
Apr 15, 2024
Unique Experience - Great experience on the water on a working mail delivery boat. Greg the skipper was a local fisherman who was an excellent guide with plenty of local knowledge and experience. The boat is dry, comfortable and safe. We saw some great out of the way places and people, all excited to be receiving the mail. Highly recommend.
Ps. Office staff were a delight to talk to, also very knowledgeable
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jane_t
Mar 28, 2024
Great way to spend a few hours in Picton. - This was a really fun and interesting adventure for 4 hours or so. The boat holds quite a few people (30+) between the top and bottom areas. but everyone moves around to get good pictures. The driver goes from cove to cove to deliver mail and packages to residents and resorts in these areas. The boat is met at the dock by the owners and sometimes their dogs too. For the most part the driver does not provide much commentary and even if he does, it was difficult to hear with all the people. That was fine--I did not take this tour for the commentary anyway. It's a great way to see the bay and how people live and would totally recommend this low key tour.
Review provided by Viator
Robynf888
Mar 24, 2024
Fabulous - I went out on the Friday’s 1.30pm Mail boat delivering Mail to the most off the grid, eclectic places and seeing the amazing Kiwis who live there
Such a fabulous 4 hours following the Wellington bound Interislander ferry up the Tory channel, seeing the Salmon farms, Mussel farms and the old whaling station.
Picked up some Queen Charlotte Track walkers on the way back at the Fumeaux Lodge then back down Endeavour Inlet.
It’s Autumn, so I left Picton in a T shirt, then a jacket and then scarf and gloves.
Such a beautiful place, both on land and sea.
The staff were great also.
Nothing was too much trouble for them
A must for everyone to experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bree_m
Mar 23, 2024
Beaitiful Afternoon of Memories - Plenty of seating on the top deck! Great views and excellent commentary along the way of the area history. Syopping in various island ports to drop mail and supplies a treat. Highly recommend!!
Review provided by Viator
Philiplo8061jr
Apr 21, 2024
Great scenery and great to visit all the bays - Had a great day out. The weather was perfect. Saw lots of new country. The staff were very friendly and informative. Well worth doing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Deborahann_a
Mar 25, 2024
Great afternoon on the open top deck - Packed a cooler with some wine and cheese and crackers, dressed in layers, then sat back and watched the beautiful scenery. Very cool to be able to get into the bays and see the isolated homes of the people who live there. The dogs coming down for their treats were so entertaining!
Review provided by Viator
Roberrt_r
Mar 23, 2024
Good trip, no refreshents on 5 hour cruise - Boat trip was excelent way to see the sound and the picturesque coves visited as the mail was delivered
However the promised coffe did not appear and therewas no tie to buy one ay the only stop where we could disembark.
Review provided by Viator
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