Boating New Zealand — January 2018

| subscribe | magstore.nz/boatingnewzealand Boating New Zealand 91

’ve seen Queen Charlotte

serene. I’ve seen it sour. But

either way, I love the place.

Because the area offers some

of the finest boating in the

South Island, if not the

country. Here, the boating, camping and fishing

are only part of the attraction; an added bonus

is the fascinating window into the history and

culture of New Zealand.

I’ve burnt a lot of fuel in these waters over

the past seven years but by no means consider

myself an expert boatie nor someone with special

knowledge of the area. But I’ve certainly taken the

time and effort to explore as much as I can within

the limitations of our 5.3m Fi-Glass Senator.

Picton Marina is a wonderful gateway to

Queen Charlotte; sheltered, roomy ramps,

floating jetties, ample parking and facilities.

Once you’ve launched it’s just a five-minute slow

cruise through the marina to Picton Bay and the

expanse beyond.

You can also launch at Waikawa Marina – just

five minutes along the road and, while smaller

than Picton, it still offers plenty of room and

first-class facilities. It also cuts 20 minutes off

your boat journey if you’re heading up the sound.

A smaller community-managed slipway at the far

end of Waikawa Bay offers a cheaper option to

launch but parking can be at a premium.

No matter where you launch, one thing is

perfectly clear once you clear of the marina –

you’ve got plenty of options. To port is Grove

Arm, and to starboard the sound itself. Grove

Arm is generally calmer, more sheltered and offers

waterskiing lanes at Ngakuta Bay, Davies Bay and

Bottle Bay. Grove Arm is also home to some very

attractive camping grounds popular with boaties.

In the sound itself, Kaumototo Bay, a

10-minute cruise to the other side of the sound,

also offers great waterskiing. But a word of

caution: the ski lane runs clockwise – contrary

to international convention and different to the

other ski lanes found in the Marlborough Sounds.

This is due to the topography of the shoreline.

The anomaly can create a bit of confusion, but

hey, you’re on holiday so take a deep breath and

relax. It’s a beautifully sheltered, sandy beach

that can be safely used at high or low tide. With

a sloping grassy picnic area and public toilets, it’s

always popular.

If you want to ski further up the sound, there

are lanes at Kaipakirikiri Bay and Cherry Bay

within the larger Ruakaka Bay.

CRUISING

If watersports aren’t your thing, just 15 minutes

from Picton is Lochmara Lodge, nestled in

Lochmara Bay and a neat spot for a coffee. It’s a

busy place but the staff are friendly and always

ready to help you moor at the jetty or ferry you

ashore from one of their moorings.

If you’re boating up the sound towards the

open sea one of the first major landmarks you’ll

come across is Dieffenbach Point where the inter-

island ferries turn sharply as they enter or exit

Tory Channel/Kura Te Au.

Obviously, boaties need to stay clear of the ferries

and from experience, it pays to keep even further

afield than what’s recommended, particularly

around this point. These large ferries can churn out

significant wake as they navigate this turn.

I once ventured a bit too close and wore a wall

of water over the bow and into the cockpit. A very

I

feature

Discovering

the Sounds

WORDS AND

PHOTOGRAPHY BY

TOM FRASER