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Five-star Marlborough Sounds, 30 minutes by boat from Picton, Marlborough

Bay of Many Coves

Eleven suites and apartments above Queen Charlotte Sound, each with a balcony over the water. There is no road: guests come by water taxi from Picton, by helicopter or on foot along the Queen Charlotte Track.

Book with the hotel for Bay of Many Coves (opens in a new tab) Fly to Marlborough

Opens the hotel's own website. We have no arrangement with the hotel.

Suites
11 suites and apartments
Access
By boat, helicopter or on foot only
From Picton
About 30 minutes by water taxi
Dinner
Five-course degustation each evening

The hotel

A family retreat on the Sound.

The bay began as a family escape from city life. Robert and Colleen Gilkison moved in for good in the early 1960s. There is still no road in. The land runs up from the shore into native and regenerating bush, and its boundary meets the Queen Charlotte Track. Today the house has grown into a resort of eleven suites and apartments looking over Queen Charlotte Sound, about thirty minutes by water taxi from Picton.

The owners have planted some 13,000 native trees here. The resort is owned and run by New Zealanders, and it uses the bush as its setting: kayaks and paddle boards go out from the jetty, glow worms light the banks after dark, and boats leave for swimming with dolphins and Motuara Island. Nine private moorings take visiting yachts, which can call the resort on VHF channel 63.

  • Arrive by water A water taxi from Picton takes about half an hour and ties up at the private jetty. A helicopter from Wellington or Blenheim takes about twenty minutes.
  • The Track The Queen Charlotte Track borders the property. Walkers on the Track reach the resort in about two hours; the access path is steep and best avoided after heavy rain.
  • Pool and spa A heated outdoor pool, a cedar hot tub for up to six, and the Miritu Day Spa with New Zealand botanicals.

Rooms & suites

A balcony over Queen Charlotte Sound.

There are eleven units in all, from a two-bedroom suite to apartments of one, two and three bedrooms, each with its own balcony.

  • Suite Kereru Suite Two bedrooms with en-suite showers, a lounge with a fireplace, a wide balcony and a spa deck sheltered by kōwhai trees.
  • Apartments One and Two Bedroom Apartments King beds and a private balcony looking across the Sound.
  • Families Three Bedroom Apartment Three bedrooms with king beds that can be split into singles, two bathrooms and an unbroken view of the Sounds.

Dining

Marlborough on the plate and in the glass.

Venues as listed by the resort. Shown for information.

  • The Foredeck Five-course degustation Every evening, with Marlborough produce and a sommelier
  • The Kumatage Breakfast, brunch and lunch Cooked to order, lunch running into the afternoon
  • The Quarterdeck Guest lounge For residents only, with Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and the late sun

Good to know

Before you go.

  • Arrival Check-in from 2 pm, check-out by 10 am. Luggage can be stored for early arrivals and late departures.
  • Children Welcome at any age, with cots, high chairs and baby monitors. Young children must be supervised at the pool, the hot tub and the waterfront.
  • Water taxi Cougar Line runs scheduled crossings from Picton, two or three a day depending on the season, with an extra evening boat on Fridays.
  • Holidays A two-night minimum stay applies over Christmas and New Year.

Getting there

Flying to Marlborough.

Air New Zealand flies into Blenheim, and Picton is about thirty minutes from there by road; Sounds Air also flies from Wellington to Picton in about twenty-five minutes. Private jets land at Woodbourne, the Blenheim airport. From Picton the water taxi takes about thirty minutes, or a helicopter can fly straight to the resort.

Business & First Class Scheduled flights Air New Zealand and Sounds Air fly into Blenheim. Picton is about thirty minutes by car, and Sounds Air also flies from Wellington straight to Picton. Request a fare Private Jet Private jets Private jets land at Woodbourne, open from six in the morning to nine at night, on a runway of about 1,425 metres. There is no customs, so flights from abroad clear in elsewhere in New Zealand first. Request a jet
Approximate flying time by midsize jet to Marlborough
  • Wellington 25 min
  • Christchurch 40 min
  • Auckland 1 h 00
  • Queenstown 1 h 05
  • Sydney 3 h 10

Questions

What guests ask first.

Can you drive to Bay of Many Coves?
No. There is no road. Guests come by water taxi from Picton in about thirty minutes, by helicopter, by private boat or on foot from the Queen Charlotte Track.
Which airport is closest to Bay of Many Coves?
Marlborough Airport at Blenheim, about thirty minutes by road from Picton, for both scheduled flights and private jets. Sounds Air also lands in Picton from Wellington.
Are children welcome at Bay of Many Coves?
Yes, at any age. The resort has cots, high chairs and baby monitors, and room service for families who prefer to eat in.
Can SkyCourtage arrange the flight to Marlborough?
Yes. We arrange Business and First Class seats on scheduled airlines and private jet charter to Marlborough, with one final price, our margin included. The hotel is booked with the hotel or through our booking partner.

Also in Marlborough

Other hotels worth the trip.

All of Marlborough

Staying at Bay of Many Coves?

Book the room, then the flight.

Rates and availability come from the hotel itself. For the journey to Marlborough, a Business or First Class seat or an aircraft of your own: tell us the date and we come back with one final price, our margin included.

Book with the hotel for Bay of Many Coves (opens in a new tab)
Business & First Private Jet

Opens the hotel's own website. We have no arrangement with the hotel.