marlborough sounds

Day 1 | Tuesday 31 March
Arrival in Nelson
Our journey begins in Nelson, one of New Zealand’s oldest settlements and today a thriving centre of arts and crafts. Founded in 1841 as part of the New Zealand Company’s ambitious colonial project, Nelson quickly developed a strong cultural identity that endures in its lively galleries and artisan studios. After settling into our hotel, there is time to refresh before gathering for introductions followed by a welcome dinner. Overnight Nelson (D)

Day 2 | Wednesday 1 April
Mapua and Motueka
Today begins with a short drive to the coastal village of Mapua, once a modest port and today known for its creative community. Painters set up along the wharf, with tidal estuaries and fishing boats offering varied compositions. Those not painting can enjoy time at leisure to to wander the village’s galleries, boutiques and cafés along the waterfront.After a break for lunch, we continue to Motueka, a town that prospered in the 19th century through hops and tobacco cultivation. Our afternoon plein-air sessions will focus on rural vistas, orchards and rustic sheds, while non-painters can explore the historic high street, lined with early colonial buildings and later Art Deco façades. On return to our hotel in Nelson, the evening is at leisure. Overnight Nelson (B)

Day 3 | Thursday 2 April
Cable Bay
This morning we depart for Cable Bay, where dramatic cliffs and rocky outcrops bear witness to New Zealand’s geological past. Named after the telegraph cable laid here in 1876 that first connected the country to the wider world, the Bay is a place of striking contrasts – rugged headlands, sheltered coves and luminous waters shifting with the light. We spend the morning painting and sketching the interplay of sea, sky and rocky shoreline, capturing the ever-changing atmosphere of this remarkable setting. By midday, we return towards Nelson for a leisurely winery lunch at Moutere Hills Restaurant & Cellar Door, nestled among rolling vineyards in the picturesque Moutere Valley. Here we enjoy seasonal dishes paired with the estate’s cool-climate wines, taking in views across the vines to the distant ranges. On return to our hotel, the remainder of the day is at leisure. Overnight Nelson (B, L)

Day 4 | Friday 3 April
Abel Tasman National Park
We dedicate today to the natural splendour of Abel Tasman National Park. Named after the Dutch explorer who first sighted New Zealand in 1642, the park is celebrated for its golden beaches, native bush and sculpted granite headlands. Painters will set up along the shoreline today, capturing the shifting colours of sea and forest, while others may embark on self-guided walks that trace the stories of Māori settlement and later European arrivals. Returning to Nelson in the late afternoon, there is time to relax or stroll through the town’s art galleries and boutiques before we gather for dinner at Eight Plates restaurant, one of Nelson’s leading dining venues known for its fresh, locally sourced ingredients and contemporary New Zealand flavours. Overnight Nelson (B, D)

Day 5 | Saturday 4 April
Across to Queen Charlotte Sound
Before departing Nelson today, there is time to explore the lively markets, a Saturday institution showcasing the region’s produce, crafts and creative community. Late morning we transfer by coach to Picton, the small port town that serves as gateway to the Marlborough Sounds. Here, where land and sea intertwine, Māori once launched waka on long voyages and 19th-century European settlers established whaling stations and trading posts. Following time at leisure for lunch, we board the ferry and travel deep into Queen Charlotte Sound, arriving at Furneaux Lodge – an historic retreat built in 1904 as a private homestead for one of the pioneering settler families. Set amid native bush and accessible only by boat, the lodge provides a tranquil base for the days ahead. This evening we gather for dinner in the lodge’s dining room, surrounded by the quiet beauty of the Sounds. Overnight Furneaux (B, D)

Day 6 | Sunday 5 April
Furneaux Lodge
Our day is devoted to the remote surrounds of Furneaux Lodge, nestled at the head of Endeavour Inlet. Painters can set up their easels on the lawns and jetties, capturing the shifting play of light across the sheltered bay and surrounding forested hillsides. For those not painting, there are opportunities to walk sections of the Queen Charlotte Track – historic paths once used by Māori for seasonal food gathering and later by European settlers who established farms and timber mills here – or to join a boat excursion deeper into the Sounds. These waterways are rich in stories: Captain James Cook anchored nearby during his 18th-century voyages, charting the coast and replenishing supplies, while in the 19th century whaling stations operated along the shore. A picnic hamper lunch allows time to pause and absorb the natural beauty before an unhurried afternoon of further painting or exploration. As evening falls, we gather for dinner in the lodge’s restaurant. Overnight Furneaux (B, L, D)

Day 7 | Monday 6 April
Another Day in the Sounds
Today we again immerse ourselves in the peaceful surroundings of Furneaux Lodge, with further opportunities to paint and sketch from new vantage points around the inlet. The changing light across the water and forested slopes offers fresh inspiration, while those who prefer to walk may explore additional stretches of the Queen Charlotte Track or take shorter bush trails that reveal native flora and birdlife. A picnic hamper lunch is enjoyed at leisure, allowing for unhurried time outdoors before the afternoon is given over to continued painting or relaxation. In the evening we regroup for a farewell dinner at the lodge, sharing impressions of this remarkable setting that has shaped our final days together. Overnight Furneaux (B, L, D)

Day 8 | Tuesday 7 April
Return to Nelson & Depart
This morning we take an early private launch across
Queen Charlotte Sound to Picton, enjoying a last glimpse of the bays and bush that have framed our time in the Sounds. From Picton we continue by coach to Nelson Airport, where the tour concludes in time to meet early afternoon flights. (B)