Marlborough Sounds - Furneaux Lodge Eco Resort

One of my favorite things to do when visiting New Zealand is crossing the Cook Strait on the Interislander Ferry from Wellington to Picton, which sits on the top of the South Island. The actual crossing over open ocean is probably only 45 minutes before you enter the magnificent Marlborough Sounds. In the past I had always bypassed this region as a place to stay (probably due to the fact that Picton as a town is considered a point of entry) and the anxiety to head deep into the South Island or head further on to Nelson and Golden Bay.

The great thing about this region is once you arrive to Picton, you can chose from a vast variety of accommodation nestled in the sound along the famous Queen Charlotte Track. And whilst some are accessible by car, the draw card for me was staying at an eco lodge only accessible by either water taxi, or for the adventurous, bike or foot.

The water taxi definitely gave a much more intimate traveling experience to the huge passenger ferry coming into Picton. Our boat had maybe a dozen or so passengers, ranging from mountain bikers and hikers, being dropped of a certain points along the Queen Charlotte Track to passengers being dropped of at various lodges in the inlets of the sound. Being dropped of last was a bonus, as we had the chance to stop in at all the other lodges for a little sneak peak.

Furneax Lodge, where we stayed, is nestled in the bush in Endeavor Bay and is surrounded by virgin forest including Rimu trees nearly 2000 years old. The lodge, built in the early 1900’s, was a holiday home built by a pioneering family. It remained a homestead until 1970 when it was turned into a holiday resort.

The accommodations range from luxury suites, which were the chalets, such as the one we stayed in, and some had grass-covered roofs. The resort is unpretentious and doesn’t come off as a swanky eco spa, it is just eco. With its famous Furneaux Bar, which is an icon in the region bringing together locals, boaters and hikers who stop along the Queen Charlotte Track to The Howden Room (located next door) which is an award winning restaurant serving the finest cuisine from the region, including the famous Marlborough wines and green shelled mussels famous worldwide and fresh from the surrounding inlets.

Literally, the lodge sits right on the famous Queen Charlotte Track, which is 45 miles in length. Highlights are the fact that 5 minutes walk from the chalet is a glow worm grotto which is amazing to see after dark, and not too daunting walking to in the dark, being so close to the resort. It’s literally behind it. Waterfall walk is a 1 hour walk and fairly easy and spectacular. If you like sea kayaking, diving, fishing, then you are pretty much taken care of at the lodge too.

Furnwaux Lodge, Rural Bag 381, Picton, Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand. +64 3 579 8259; www.furneaux.co.nz

Transport between Wellington and Picton

Interislander Ferry, www.interislander.co.nz

Sounds Air, www.soundsair.com

Water Taxis in Marlborough Sounds

Endevour Express Ltd, www.boatrides.co.nz

Cougar Line Ltd, www.cougarlinecruises.co.nz

Other eco resorts on Queen Charlotte Track’s Endeavour Inlet

Punga Cove Resort, www.pungacove.co.nz
Lochmara Lodge Eco Retreat, www.lochmaralodge.co.nz
Mahana Homestead, www.mahanahomestead.com