OUTDOORS
boats doing water transfers in the sounds,”
Scott says. out and do a track walk and get out and enjoy
some of the sounds.”
The Queen Charlotte Track is also a huge
drawcard for visitors, and as part of the
celebration of its expansion, the company
is offering discounts to locals on their new
Cruise-Walk-Lunch or Cruise-Lunch packages. Marlborough is viewed internationally as a
tourism destination, with visitor numbers
swelling in during the summer.
“It’s about the international market but it’s
also about Nelson and Marlborough locals
going out in the sounds for the weekend,”
Scott says.
“A big part is going to be taking people out
to do a cruise, walk, lunch, or just direct to a
lodge for a cruise and lunch.”
As international visitor numbers drop
off throughout the cooler months, the
opportunity is there for locals to cash in on
the calm days so often gifted to the region
during autumn and winter, Scott says.
“Marlborough is awesome in the autumn and
winter, you get these beautiful clear days,
and we would like to see that Marlborough
people don’t hibernate.
“They can head to Picton, jump on a Cougar
Line Boat and the next thing you’re at
Furneaux Lodge or Punga Cove, or you can go
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“The market drops right away in winter, but it
really doesn’t need to, it’s still a good thing to
do right through the year,” Scott says.
“There’s extreme seasonality in Marlborough,
there always has been … places do close
up over the winter but we really do want
the region to be shown as being open for
business year-round.”
For those looking for more than just a day
cruise, there is the option of dinner and a
night or two at one of the lodges, returning
with the Cougar Line the following day.
The Queen Charlotte Track has long been a
drawcard for visitors, offering a challenge and
stunning scenery while promising the luxury
of world class lodges at the end of each day,
with the added bonus of bag transfer options.
“The Queen Charlotte Track is right on our
back door step,” Scott says.
“It’s one of the few walks where you don’t
have to carry your own pack, you can just
take a day back with your lunch and your bag
gets carried by boat to the next stop, and you
know there’s a nice lodge waiting for you.”
Scott encourages Marlburians to add a day
out in the Queen Charlotte Sound to their list
of ‘to-dos’ this winter.
“If any locals want a really good day out,
they really do need to go and try the pizzas
at Punga Cove … there’s craft beers, it’s a
cool little waterfront location, it’s one of the
absolute hidden gems on the track.”
The locals promotion will run throughout May
and June with enquiries to Cougar Line on
03 573 7925 or drop in to the Cougar Line
office on the Picton Waterfront.