4WD D’Urville Island – Marlborough High Country Tag-along Tour

(4 Reviews)
Price
From$2,890
Price
From$2,890
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3574
5 Days
Availability : April 24-28 FULL SORRY
Blenheim Railway Station
Max People : 2 - 8
Tour Details

Bring your own 4WD to join an escorted tour over some iconic Marlborough high-country stations as well as D’Urville Island on this fabulous adventure. Two nights in the back country with great farm hospitality, and two nights on the island to enjoy island life at a resort. Drive from the mountain tops to the outer Marlborough Sounds with a barge ride to the island. Hear about the rich history and life on the island from our guide as you drive over this remote island. Enjoy a fishing trip to catch your own dinner!

An unforgettable trip from the mountains to the sea, great food, comprehensive commentary and great company.

Departure & Return Location

Blenheim Railway Station

Departure Time

8am

Price Includes

  • Accommodation
  • All meals
  • Fishing trip
  • Boat transfers
  • Barge transportation
  • Local guides
Vehicle Recommendations

4WD with a high and low ratio gearbox are preferred.

Ground clearance recommended of 225mm ground clearance both front and rear of vehicle.

Tyres ‘all terrain’ tyres with a good amount of tread on them are required.

Some SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) are suitable for this tour as long as they are 4WD capability and you can select different road conditions eg. shingle/gravel.

Please contact us if you are unsure if your vehicle would be suitable.

Vehicle must have a current registration and WOF.

You need to have a good knowledge of your vehicle and have some previous 4X4 off road driving experience.

Itinerary

Day 1Blenheim to Awatere Valley to Waihopai Valley

Meet at the Blenheim Railway Station. Follow your guide as we drive to a peak to overlook a large part of Marlborough and its coastline. Enjoy lunch in the homestead of a local grower, before proceeding to our station accommodation for the night in the upper reaches of the Waihopai Valley. We stay here for two nights in the family homestead (shared bathroom facilities) Your guide is getting the apron out to cook a BBQ dinner for you tonight.

Inclusions MT, L, D

Day 2Waihopai Valley Stations

Today we are driving on two different back country stations in the Waihopai Valley. Our first station visit is for morning tea, then we drive to the lookout via the station track to see the amazing scenery with views over their property which includes mountains and valleys. After a homestead lunch we drive over different terrain to a Musterers hut for a cuppa and tales and yarns of the land. Lots of amazing views today and farm hospitality, we return to the homestead for a traditional dinner with the owners.

Inclusions B, MT, L, AT, D

Day 3Waihopai Valley to French Pass to D’Urville Island

After a country breakfast, we drive down the valley, stopping at a café for morning tea before visiting an organic orchard to talk to the owner with the opportunity to purchase seasonal fruit. After we drive through ‘The Mussel Capital of the World’ we stop for lunch at a café set in native bush. We then drive to French Pass in the outer Marlborough Sounds to meet our barge to transport us to D’Urville Island. Catching the boat to the resort for our two-night stay; the accommodation is modern styled cabins with ensuite bathrooms. Enjoy the bar facilities and dinner the lodge overlooking the bay.

Inclusions B, L, D

Day 4D’Urville Island exploration

After breakfast we catch a boat to pick-up our vehicles and drive in convoy over D’Urville Island with our local guide, learn about the rich history and what it is like to live on this remote island. Enjoy morning tea with views of the coastline, and lunch at scenic spot overlooking a lagoon with native flora and fauna. Enjoy a fishing trip to catch your own dinner, which will be cooked for you tonight back at the resort.

Inclusions B, MT, L, D

Day 5D’Urville Island - Havelock to Blenheim

Boating back to the southern part of the island to meet the barge to transport our vehicles back to French Pass on the mainland. Enjoy the views of the outer Marlborough Sounds and across to the Abel Tasman and Golden Bay areas, we then drive back to Havelock for lunch, then on to Blenheim for our end of tour goodbyes.

Inclusions B, MT, L

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4 Reviews
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C Neal

Couple Traveller

Thank you so much for an enjoyable trip.
We had a great group and guides.
It was really nice having the commentary.
D’Urville Island and the farm tour were most probably our highlights. We love seeing different scenery and parts of the country

February 24, 2024

Liz Darlow

Group Traveller

The trip was super.
The driving was not quite as challenging as on Molesworth but definitely challenging enough! Each day was very interesting and enjoyable.
We loved the day on the two stations up the Waihopai Valley , the views on the drive to D’Urville were stunning and the stay on the Island was great fun. All in all another great trip.

March 31, 2023

Jan & Angus Smith

Couple Traveller

Everything lined up to make our trip with South Island Tours a very memorable one. Geoff as our leader, was very knowledgeable and entertaining whilst also thoughtful re the history and day to day running of the areas we visited. Loved our time in the Waihopai Valley. Our hosts Alison & Aiden shared their day to day operations and time amazingly. Being from the Waikato where there is an abundance of grass and for the most part the hills are rolling. Steep was a new word for us and your eyes are forever up. D’Urville Island was well worth the visit from the fishing to the amazing visuals. Cathy & Craig at the resort we stayed at gave us an insight into their way of life. All in all a very relaxed way to travel and great to be able to go into a different area. Many thanks Lee & Geoff for your time and effort into making this trip possible and awesome too the weather played a huge part. We look forward to going again somewhere different with you folk.

May 14, 2022

Mark Jenkins

Group Traveller

We thoroughly enjoyed our five day D’Urville Island and Marlborough High country tour. Chris was a great guide, made it all come alive for us. He was helpful and good company. We found each day was different and interesting. The food and catering was great and was plentiful. The host and hostesses were very welcoming and helpful.

May 9, 2022

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