New Zealand - South Island 
Cruise 
9 days 
Nelson 
Blenheim 9-Day Top of the South Cruise | 18-Guest Yacht | Helicopter & Coach Transfer | Kayaking, Walking & Beach Time | Abel Tasman National Park, d’Urville Island, Pelorus Sound & Queen Charlotte Sound | Wildlife, History and Local Cuisine Included
Join us on this unforgettable Top of the South cruise, a 9-day voyage exploring hidden coves, gold sand beaches and tranquil waterways. It’s the most complete way to experience the top of New Zealand’s South Island.
This Top of the South cruise aboard an 18-guest expedition yacht sails from Nelson through Abel Tasman National Park, d’Urville Island, Pelorus Sound and Queen Charlotte Sound. We pair onboard comfort with kayaking, guided walks and beach time. Expert Kiwi naturalist guides join you throughout. If you’d prefer a shorter voyage focused solely on the Sounds, our 7-Day Marlborough Sounds Cruise covers Queen Charlotte Sound and French Pass alone.
Beaches, Bush and a National Park Named for a Dutch Explorer
Abel Tasman National Park is New Zealand’s smallest national park. It’s a wilderness reserve where hills cloaked in regenerating native forest meet golden sand beaches. Crystalline streams cascade through mossy valleys to the sea. The park takes its name from Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, officially recognised as the first European to discover New Zealand in 1642. It’s home to a stretch of sand now known as “New Zealand Beach” at Awaroa Bay. New Zealanders famously banded together to buy the beach through a crowdfunding campaign, then gifted it to the park in 2016.
Several sustainability initiatives are working to restore the park’s native plants, birds and wildlife. These include Project Janszoon, a privately funded trust aiming to complete its restoration work by the park’s 100th anniversary in 2042.
Sounds Carved by Ice and Discovered by Cook
A system of submerged valleys formed the Marlborough Sounds, carved out following the last ice age around 10,000 years ago. They encompass some 1,500 kilometres of forested coastline, sheltered inlets and bays, many only accessible by sea. Three main bodies of water make up the Sounds: Queen Charlotte, Kenepuru and Pelorus. Together they hold more than 50 Department of Conservation managed reserves and several predator-free wildlife sanctuaries.
Just 500 treacherous metres from the mainland, d’Urville Island takes its name from French admiral Dumont d’Urville. He nearly lost his ship navigating the infamous French Pass in 1827. Now a conservation reserve, the island is one of the last strongholds of the critically endangered Long-tailed Bat. It also provides refuge for the King Shag, the world’s rarest shag. Queen Charlotte Sound, meanwhile, served as Captain James Cook’s New Zealand base during his five visits between 1770 and 1777. It remains rich with early settler and whaling history today.
If you’d prefer to explore other parts of New Zealand’s coastline, please take a look at all our New Zealand cruises below.
- 10-Day Fiordland Expedition Cruise – All the Fiords
- 7-Day Marlborough Sounds Cruise: Explore New Zealand’s Sounds Up Close
- Fiordland Explored: 5-Day Cruise of Doubtful Sound & Dusky Sound
- 13-Day Expedition Cruise Around the New Zealand Coast
- 7-Day Northern Fiords Cruise: Expedition Through Fiordland’s North
- 7-Day Southern Fiords Discovery: A Deep Exploration of Fiordland’s Southern Fiords
- 9-Day Top of the South Cruise: Explore Beyond Marlborough Sounds
- 5-Day Dusky Sound Cruise: Explore Remote Fiordland
- 6-Day Fiordland & Stewart Island Explored
- 5-Day Queen Charlotte Sound Cruise: Walking & Sailing Tour
- 8-Day Stewart Island Cruise: Wilderness and Wildlife Adventure
You can experience this firsthand on any of the following upcoming voyages:
4 Nov 2026, 12 Nov 2026
1 May 2027, 9 May 2027, 3 Nov 2027, 30 Nov 2027
Tour Photo Gallery
Tour Information, Departure Dates & Price
Transportation
- Cruise, Helicopter & Coach
Tour Departures
- Please review the cruise departure options below
Airport Transfers
- N/A
Pricing
-
from NZD6,741
Meals
- Check the meal details in the itinerary
Accommodation
- Yacht Cabins
Cities/Regions Visited
-
Abel Tasman National Park – d’Urville Island – Pelorus Sound – Queen Charlotte Sound – Picton – Blenheim
Group Size
- 18-Guest Yacht
Tour Code
- HE16082026
Pre & Post Accommodation
- Available
9-Day Top of the South Cruise Days
Make your way to the designated meeting point in Nelson for your transfer to the expedition yacht (times and meeting point will be confirmed with your voyage documents). The Captain and Expedition Team will be waiting to welcome you aboard and show you to your cabin. Once you have settled in, join fellow travellers on deck as we set sail toward Abel Tasman National Park this afternoon.
Note: Some voyages will operate the itinerary in reverse.
New Zealand’s smallest national park is a wilderness reserve where hills cloaked in regenerating native forest, flanked by impressive granite formations, meet sandy beaches and crystalline streams. Depending on the weather, there will be opportunities to kayak secluded inlets and shores, walk among the forest, swim and explore beaches, taking in the maritime landscape that is home to New Zealand Fur Seals and Little Blue Penguins.
Depending on weather and tides, we venture to the seldom visited northern coast of d’Urville Island, either through French Pass or via Stephens Island. The outermost island in the Marlborough Sounds, d’Urville Island features imposing sea cliffs along its west coast, a high mountainous backbone and the fastest moving tidal flows in New Zealand.
Dolphins and New Zealand Fur Seals are frequently seen in the waters surrounding the island. It was here that Pelorus Jack, the endearing Risso’s Dolphin who famously stole the nation’s heart, guided ships through these waters between 1888 and 1912.
The largest of the Marlborough Sounds, Pelorus Sound’s main channel winds some 55 picturesque kilometres south between steep, verdant hills from Cook Strait to Havelock. With 380 kilometres of shoreline, its endless bays and sheltered coves are perfect for exploration.
Venturing into Pelorus Sound, we head to Ngawhakawhiti Bay, where it’s possible to glimpse what the sounds would have looked like before the native forest was cleared. The more active can enjoy the walking section of the Nydia Track before we explore Nydia Bay.
First sighted in 1642 by Abel Tasman while seeking shelter from a storm near d’Urville Island, it was Captain James Cook who later set foot here aboard the Endeavour during his five visits to Ship Cove, his New Zealand base between 1770 and 1777, in what he named Queen Charlotte Sound.
We spend two full days exploring the waterways and islands of this scenic sound, with opportunities to go ashore and walk a section of the Queen Charlotte Track as well as search for birdlife on predator-free islands. A visit to Tory Channel brings the whaling history of the Perano Whalers to life, and we plan to visit Ship Cove to learn its history and explore Captain Cook’s memorial, inaugurated in 1913.
Sailing into Picton this morning, we enjoy a final breakfast and farewells before being transferred to a central Blenheim drop-off point or the airport. In case of unexpected delays, we ask that you not book any onward travel from Blenheim until after midday today.
Note: Some voyages will operate the itinerary in reverse. During the voyage, circumstances may require deviations from the planned itinerary, including poor weather or opportunities for unplanned excursions. Your Expedition Leader will keep you fully informed. Voyages are planned and scheduled pending final regulatory approval.
Inclusions & Highlights
Cruise Highlights:
- Explore the golden sand beaches and granite coastline of Abel Tasman National Park
- Navigate the iconic French Pass and remote d’Urville Island
- Sail the tranquil waterways of Pelorus and Queen Charlotte Sounds
- Walk sections of the Queen Charlotte Track and the Nydia Track
- Learn the whaling and early settler history of Tory Channel and Ship Cove
- Look for dolphins, New Zealand Fur Seals and Little Blue Penguins
Includes: Landing fees, pre and post cruise transfers, all onboard ship accommodation with meals, all shore excursions and activities, GST, house drinks and expert onboard naturalist guides.
Excludes: All personal items, laundry, domestic flights, extensions and travel insurance.
Tour Departure Dates
- 4 Nov 2026
- 12 Nov 2026
- 1 May 2027
- 9 May 2027
- 3 Nov 2027
- 30 Nov 2027
Accommodation
All lodging is on board the ship, and meals are included throughout your stay.
About the Expedition 18-Guest Yacht
Setting a new standard for discovery travel in New Zealand, our yacht combines the ultimate in comfort with unique itineraries and a personalized experience for a maximum of just 18 guests on board.
The expedition yacht is a 30-meter, 4-deck, New Zealand-flagged vessel built in 2004 by the renowned wooden boat-building family at Carey’s Boatyard in Picton. It features a contemporary wood-finished interior, 10 well-appointed cabins across three decks, a dining room boasting spectacular 180-degree panoramas and theater capabilities, a lounge and bar featuring a complimentary selection of regional New Zealand wines and beers, and a well-stocked library.
Outside, guests can enjoy plenty of covered space on the Bridge Deck — perfect for wildlife spotting, watching sunrises and sunsets, or simply taking in the voyage as it unfolds. Kayaks and fishing equipment are available for use throughout the voyage, while two tenders allow for deeper exploration and unforgettable wildlife encounters.
As with our other vessels, the yacht operates an open bridge policy and features a full commercial kitchen helmed by a talented chef who focuses on showcasing local produce and any guest catches of the day. Guests are also accompanied by an enthusiastic and passionate expedition team, with the vessel crewed by a New Zealand captain and crew.
The expedition yacht features state-of-the-art technology to ensure a comfortable voyage, including high-performance dual Scania 653-horsepower engines, bow thrusters, fin stabilizers, full air conditioning, sound-attenuated twin generators, and a hydraulic aft ramp. A comprehensive navigation package rounds out the vessel’s capabilities, ensuring the ultimate Kiwi adventure awaits every guest.
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