Marlborough Sounds · Top of the South
Boat hire in the Marlborough Sounds
Explore a thousand kilometres of sheltered coastline, from Queen Charlotte Sound to Pelorus. Charter the Sounds' private vessels with verified skippers, split payments and private messaging built in.
Why charter with BoardYourBoat
Book now, pay later — together
Split the charter across your whole group at checkout. No chasing friends for their share, no one person carrying the full amount.
Private by design
Message your captain or host through our masked relay. Your contact details stay private until your booking is confirmed.
Verified local operators
Every Marlborough vessel is listed by a verified owner, skipper or charter company. Real boats, real people, real availability.
Every occasion on the water
Corporate days, milestone birthdays, hens and stags, sunset cruises, fishing trips — and discreet memorial charters handled with care.
The Marlborough fleet
24 private charter vessels across Picton, Havelock and the outer Sounds.
- Motor LaunchNZ only
Houseboat · Marlborough Sounds · ByB-9426
Marlborough Sounds·New listingUp to 10 guests50 ftNo reviews yetView boatPrice from $890 per day, or split from $223 per day across 4 guests.
- Motor LaunchNZ only Captained
Motor Launch · Marlborough Sounds · ByB-9439
Marlborough Sounds, Havelock·New listingUp to 40 guests56 ftNo reviews yetView boatPrice from $195 per day, or split from $49 per day across 4 guests.
- CatamaranNZ only Captained
Sailing Catamaran · Marlborough Sounds · ByB-3932
Picton Marina, Marlborough Sounds (cruising Queen Charlotte Sound/Totaranui and Tory Channel/Kura te Au)·New listingUp to 110 guests22m (72ft)No reviews yetView boatOn request
Enquire for dates and pricing - Fishing CharterNZ only Captained
Fishing Charter · Marlborough Sounds · ByB-2798
Kaikoura, Marlborough·New listingNo reviews yetView boatOn request
Enquire for dates and pricing - Fishing CharterNZ only Captained
Fishing Charter · Marlborough Sounds · ByB-7645
Port Waikawa, Marlborough·New listing8mNo reviews yetView boatOn request
Enquire for dates and pricing - Motor YachtNZ only Captained
Motor Yacht · Marlborough Sounds · ByB-3570
Waikawa, Marlborough·New listingNo reviews yetView boatOn request
Enquire for dates and pricing - Motor YachtNZ only Captained
Motor Yacht · Marlborough Sounds · ByB-4021
Picton, Marlborough·New listingNo reviews yetView boatOn request
Enquire for dates and pricing - Motor LaunchNZ only Captained
Motor Launch · Marlborough Sounds · ByB-2146
Picton, Marlborough·New listingNo reviews yetView boatOn request
Enquire for dates and pricing - Motor LaunchNZ only Captained
Motor Launch · Marlborough Sounds · ByB-5384
Marlborough Sounds, Marlborough·New listingNo reviews yetView boatOn request
Enquire for dates and pricing - Fishing CharterNZ only Captained
Fishing Charter · Marlborough Sounds · ByB-9936
Havelock, Marlborough·New listingNo reviews yetView boatOn request
Enquire for dates and pricing - Motor YachtNZ only Captained
Explorer Yacht · Marlborough Sounds · ByB-5314
Hawkes Bay, Marlborough·New listingNo reviews yetView boatOn request
Enquire for dates and pricing - Fishing CharterNZ only Captained
Fishing Charter · Marlborough Sounds · ByB-7676
Kaikoura, Marlborough·New listingNo reviews yetView boatOn request
Enquire for dates and pricing
Where the fleet berths
General areas shown — the exact berth is shared once your booking is confirmed.
Chartering a boat in the Marlborough Sounds
The Marlborough Sounds are a network of drowned river valleys at the top of the South Island, with more than a fifth of New Zealand's coastline packed into calm, bush-clad waterways. Charters leave Picton for Queen Charlotte Sound and Havelock for Pelorus Sound.
Days on the water take in dolphin and seabird watching, green-lipped mussel farms, blue cod fishing and lodge-to-lodge cruising along the Queen Charlotte Track.
BoardYourBoat brings these vessels together in one place. Message the skipper privately through our masked relay, split the cost across your group with book-now-pay-later split payments, and keep someone ashore informed with our safety check-in.