Motuara Island Sanctuary and Dolphin Watching Tour
Wild Dolphins, Rare Birds, Calm Waters – Discover Motuara Island
Cruise through the calm waters of the Marlborough Sounds, watch dolphins play in the wild, then step ashore on one of New Zealand’s most successful predator-free island sanctuaries – alive with birdsong and bursting with life.
An unforgettable half-day wildlife adventure, perfect for families, couples, and nature lovers.
Why You’ll Love This Tour:
- 🐬 Dolphins up close – Hector’s, Bottlenose, Dusky Dolphins!
- 🦜 Endangered Species – rare native birds on Motuara Island
- 🌊 No Seasickness Guarantee – calm, sheltered waters
- 👨🏫 Passionate Local Guides – fun, knowledgeable, and full of stories
- 💚 Travel with Purpose – your booking supports local conservation
Tour info in brief
| 4 hours | |
| Daily Departures: |
8.00 AM, 1.30 PM |
| Pricing: | Adult: $168 (16+ years) Child: $84 (5 – 15 years) Infant: $42 (0 – 4 years) |
| Location: | 1 Wellington Street Picton |
| Briefing: | 7.45 AM, 1.15 PM |
No Seasickness Guarantee
Relax in the knowledge that you’ll be with the only NZ operator that guarantees you will not get seasick.
HELP Save Endangered Species (Taonga)
How your booking gets used for local conservation
About the Tour
The Ultimate Dolphin Watching and Wildlife Experience.
Marlborough Sounds is home to five dolphin species – Dusky, Bottlenose, Common, Orca, and the rare Hector’s dolphin. Watching them play in the wild is an unforgettable experience – whether cruising peacefully beside the boat or leaping high in the air during social bouts.
We also see NZ fur seals and numerous seabirds as we cruise the peaceful waters of the Marlborough Sounds
But that’s only half the adventure.
This experience also includes a guided walk on Motuara Island, a 100% predator-free wildlife sanctuary where rare native birds thrive. It’s the perfect combination of marine magic and natural wonder – and it’s only available on this E-Ko tour.
Dolphin Watching Tours with Birds Included: It’s a Double Whammy
If you take one of our dolphin watching tours to Motuara Island you will get the best of both worlds, marine life and birdlife.
Departing from Picton, you will take a wonderful boat trip through the Marlborough Sounds, where dolphins frolic in their inimitable way, and you will be on board a smooth, stable vessel on calm water where seasickness is unknown, so anyone wary of boats need to have no fear.
After the dolphin-watching it’s on to Motuara. The special thing about this island is that it is 100% predator-free, which makes it perfect for a bird sanctuary. All manner of birds live here and our guides will give you a running commentary on what is around, perhaps spotting fascinating characters that would go undetected by the untrained eye.
There are blue penguins, rare saddlebacks and the yellow-crowned parakeet, to name but a few. The sounds on this dolphin watching and wildlife eco tour are as remarkable as the sights because there is nothing quite as joyous as the singing of birds such as the bellbird. On the visual front, there are also beautiful robins and native pigeons to look at.
A Fabulous Tour for Nature Lovers
Everyday life can be a humdrum affair, but wherever you live, you will feel a million miles away and a thousand times more relaxed as you cruise past the dolphins and furry seals with the marine birds crying overhead. From Motuara on a clear day, you can make out the North Island – and wait till you see the view from the Cook Strait lookout.
Sense the History
This is a historic part of New Zealand, and many people get a real feeling of prehistory here because it is easy to get the sense of being the only person who has ever been here. More recently, there is the Captain Cook connection, and our experienced E-Ko Tour guides will give you all the info you need about such things.
All in all, this is an incredible experience for all the family, dolphin-watching and taking a guided wildlife ramble. Parents love to see their children having fun in the fresh air and learning, rather than huddled over a phone in their room.
For adults, there is no better way to shake off the cares of the world by being in a part of it where nature rules. Traffic? Noise? Stress? Not around here. It makes you glad to be alive.
Our nature tours in NZ are also popular with couples of all ages. What could be more romantic than sharing such a wonderful experience with someone you love? If you would like to get up close and personal with the dolphins check out our dolphin swimming tours.
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What to expect
Meet the Dolphins!
We’ll be searching for Dusky, Bottlenose, Common, Orca, and the rare Hector’s dolphins that call the Marlborough Sounds home. Whether they’re quietly cruising alongside the boat or performing high leaps and playful somersaults, these dolphins are always a magnificent sight.
Our Department of Conservation (DOC) permit allows us to respectfully seek out and interact with all species of marine mammals in this region. Our experienced crew will guide you through every encounter, ensuring it’s safe, educational, and unforgettable – for both you and the dolphins.
Step Into a Living Sanctuary – Welcome to Motuara Island
Motuara Island is an official Department of Conservation wildlife sanctuary and one of New Zealand’s great conservation success stories. Declared predator-free in 1991, it now provides a safe haven for rare native birds including the yellow-crowned kākāriki and South Island saddleback.
Wander the island with our knowledgeable guide to spot blue penguins, bellbirds, cheeky robins, kererū, and other fearless native birds that thrive here.
On a clear day, enjoy breathtaking views across the Marlborough Sounds – you can even see the North Island from the Cook Strait lookout.
Friendly Birds
The birds on this predator-free island are fearless, plentiful and very vocal. It’s not unusual for you to be able to get very close to these amazing creatures – there’ll be plenty of photo opportunities. Our expert guides will be with you all the way – our team are passionate about the local environment and love to share its unique aspects with our small groups.
Historical Significance
Motuara Island was significant for Maori. At the southern tip of Motuara Island is smaller Hippa Island which was the site of a pre-European Maori Pa. The adjacent Ship Cove, Meretoto, was where Maori first met pakeha on a sustained basis – our guides will show you exactly where. Motuara Island was the location where, in 1770, Captain Cook proclaimed British sovereignty over the South Island.
Refreshments on the way home
After returning to the boat, sit back and relax with a hot drink and cookies before making our way back to Picton and stopping to check out any extra species we discover.
Tour Times ⏰
- Briefing: 7.45 AM, 1:15 PM
- Departure: 8.00 AM, 1:30 PM
- Duration: 4 hours
What to bring
- Sunhat
- Sunblock
- Good walking shoes
- Water
- Raincoat
Where are we?
We are located conveniently on Picton’s main waterfront with car parking close by and only a 1-minute walk from the main street.
Just look for the Dusky Dolphin outside our shop.
Before your tour starts feel free to take a seat inside the shop or outside on our sun drenched deck and enjoy the stunning views.
Customers can also get online with our free WiFi, and purchase a tea or coffee to enjoy on the deck.
You will Never Miss your Ferry
Our tour schedules are integrated with the Interislander – so there is no chance that you’ll miss your ferry.