New Zealand Adventure Tours – New Zealand Bike Tours – Hiking New Zealand Vacations
I would say it was a once in a lifetime trip,
but it was so good a person should not only experience it once.- Mike G., (USA) Aug 2009 Winter Rimu
"When you feel like the stresses of everyday life are about to envelop you, book a flight to New Zealand. My sabbatical from work was designed for just such a trip... a chance to clear your head, rejuvenate your soul, and refresh your body. There were times when you felt like you're the only person on the planet, and you appreciate that awareness so much more once you come home! "
Kate Bowden (Oregon, USA) October 2003 Rimu
Kate Bowden (Oregon, USA) October 2003 Rimu
MEET OUR GUIDES:
Gemma van Beek
"Excellent. She was wonderful. Very patient, kind, personable, great cook. One of the better guides I have had."
Ami Jampolis (California, USA) December 2009 Rimu
PHOTO OF THE MONTH:
Rimu Jan 2010
We love being based in Queenstown! It's the best playground in the world and there's always something new to try...
Kayaking Queen Charlotte Sound
The Marlborough Sounds is located at the 'top end' of the South Island and covers an area of 50 825 ha. Unlike many parks it is not a single unit but separated into 104 different reserves, allowing a wide range of social activities to occur within the many confines of its watery expanses. Reaching out into the Pacific Ocean like the fingers of a welcoming hand, the Marlborough Sounds is made up of three different sounds - the Queen Charlotte, Kenepuru and Pelorus Sounds. This collection of drowned river valleys is a natural wonder, created when the mountains sank in earth movements and the sea flooded into the valleys. Bordered by forested hills rising almost vertically from the water's edge, the sounds are a true scenic highlight. The water displays a thousand shades of colour ranging from the deepest green to the brightest turquoise. The backdrop is also a myriad of shades of green - a combination of overhanging native tree ferns, rata vines and beech trees. The wildlife is testimony to this magnificent environment with seals, dolphins and penguins a common sight. It is just waiting to be explored - there is no better way than by sea kayak. Our kayak trips specialize in venturing into remote and unspoiled areas of the stunning Marlborough Sounds. Experience is not necessary for our trips as we provide training for beginners & challenges for the experienced! Nothing beats cruising past wildlife with the silence of a sea kayak. The Sounds are home to a wide variety of bird and marine life, with a number of specific wildlife sanctuaries dotted throughout its waterways and inlets. Seabirds are in abundance and include species such as blue penguins, petrels, shags, gannets, terns and gulls. The local marine life is also varied with seals, dolphins and at times whales. Hectors dolphins are also to be found within the sheltered waterways of the Sounds. These gentle creatures are currently endangered and are endemic to New Zealand waters. Throughout the Sounds there are nature reserves that are open and accessible from the water. You can paddle your kayak up to one of these islands and go and explore the protected worlds they contain.
Return to the full Rimu itinerary.
