The Pelorus Mail Boat doesn’t just deliver mail – we deliver passengers and their gear too.
Whether you are heading out to a lodge, holiday home, track or sea kayaking location in Pelorus Sound/Te Hoiere, the Pelorus Mail Boat can take you there and pick you up when you’re done.
Whether you are heading out to a lodge, holiday home, track or sea kayaking location in Pelorus Sound/Te Hoiere, the Pelorus Mail Boat can take you there and pick you up when you’re done.
If you’re headed out on an adventure, we can also transport your gear – such as bikes and kayaks – to your destination, including the Nydia Track.
Adult: $55 one way
Child: $27.50 one way
Infants: Free (under 5 years) when accompanied by an adult
Transfers operate on the below schedule:
Monday
Whatanihi, Inner Pelorus Sound, South East bay, Wilsons bay, Te Rawa Lodge, Beatrix bay, Hopai, Elie bay, Crail bay
Wednesday
Nydia bay, Inner Pelorus Sound, North West bay, Miro bay, Wilsons bay, Te Rawa Lodge, Maud Island, Brightlands bay
Friday
Inner Pelorus Sound, Te Rawa Lodge, Pohuenui Island, Wakatahuri, Forsyth Island, Port Ligar, Te Kopi, Bulwer, Waitata,
Departs Havelock 10am (check-in 9.30am)
Returns Havelock 4.30pm
Regular Mail Boat service. Bookings on the day welcome.
All passengers can take one bag (20kg max) free of charge.
The Marlborough Sounds is a very sheltered area so it is rare for the Pelorus Mail Boat not to operate.
You are welcome to phone us for a skipper’s weather report, which is the most accurate local weather information you will get for our trip.
If the weather is not to your liking, you're welcome to change your booking to another date up to 24 hours prior to your sailing departure time.
On the very rare occasion that we cancel a sailing due to bad weather, you will be offered the option of an alternate date or full refund.
Yes - Visa, Mastercard are welcomed, and we also accept debit card transactions.
Yes - there are two toilets onboard.
Havelock Marina, where we are based, has a pay and display parking area. We suggest leaving plenty of time for car parking during busy summer months before your check-in time.
Yes, we can carry kayaks, bikes and dogs. However, we do have limited space at certain times of year so please contact us with your specific requirements. Dogs are not permitted on the mailrun, only on transfers.
Yes – check our Transfers page and map for more information.
Yes we do - you can purchase a voucher here.
Talk to us and we’ll help you find it. The maze of bays and inlets that makes up the Marlborough Sounds can be a confusing place for first-time visitors. Our local staff have many years of in-depth local knowledge to help pinpoint your holiday home location before you go – please ask us when you book.
All passengers can take one bag (20kg maximum) for free but there is a charge for additional bags.
A charge may also be applied for extra freight other than general luggage and groceries, e.g. lawnmowers, boat motors etc. These are loaded at the discretion of the skipper and due to loadings on the boat on the day.
We strongly recommend that all luggage should have a waterproof liner and contents in plastic bags, so your belongings are protected in case of a heavy rainfall when bags are being transferred from our boat to jetties.
Yes we do, when space is available. We advise passengers to book earlier than their day of travel to avoid disappointment.
All passengers need to check in at 9.30am for our 10am departure time. This is to allow enough time for boarding and for the day's mail deliveries to get away on time.
