Pelorus Sound (Te Hoiere), Kenepuru Sound, and Mahau Sound together make up the western half of the Marlborough Sounds — quieter and less visited than Queen Charlotte Sound. Pelorus is the largest of the Marlborough Sounds at about 55 km long with 380 km of shoreline; Kenepuru is a 25 km arm branching off Pelorus and is the shallowest and smallest of the main sounds; Mahau is a small arm near Havelock. They’re all reached from Havelock or via Queen Charlotte Drive from Picton.
Key Facts
| Pelorus Sound / Te Hoiere | Largest of the Marlborough Sounds — ~55 km from Cook Strait to Havelock, 380 km of shoreline |
| Kenepuru Sound | 25 km arm of Pelorus — shallowest and smallest of the main Marlborough Sounds |
| Mahau Sound | Small arm near Havelock — just minutes from Havelock by boat, ~1 hour by car |
| Main access town | Havelock (~35 km from Blenheim via SH6) |
| From Picton | Queen Charlotte Drive — long, sealed, winding |
| Pelorus access by water | Pelorus Mail Boat — the long-running rural delivery + tourism service |
| Camping (Kenepuru) | Cowshed Bay DOC campsite (booking required Dec-Feb) |
| Activities | Boating, fishing, mussel farming overview, scenic drives, Queen Charlotte Track (Kenepuru section) |
About the Western Sounds
The Marlborough Sounds are a network of drowned river valleys at the top of the South Island. There are three main sounds: Queen Charlotte Sound/Tōtaranui (easternmost — see separate guide), Kenepuru Sound, and Pelorus Sound/Te Hoiere. Mahau Sound is a small additional arm near Havelock. Several minor sounds, inlets and bays make up the rest of the system.
Pelorus Sound/Te Hoiere is the largest of the three main sounds — about 55 km from Cook Strait inland to Havelock, with around 380 km of shoreline. It’s deep and broad, with multiple branches and a long fetch. Kenepuru Sound branches off Pelorus to the south-east and runs for around 25 km, and is the shallowest and smallest of the three main sounds. Mahau Sound is a small branch near Havelock — only minutes by boat from town but considerably longer by road because of the winding Kenepuru Road network.
How to See Them in a Day
For a Blenheim-based day trip, Havelock is the natural starting point — about 35 km from Blenheim via State Highway 6. From Havelock you can: take the Pelorus Mail Boat (a long-running combined rural delivery and tourism cruise that runs into Pelorus Sound and around the mussel farms); take a shorter scenic boat trip; or drive part of the Kenepuru Sound road if you want to see the inner waters by car.
The Queen Charlotte Drive between Havelock and Picton is one of the most scenic drives in the country — sealed throughout but narrow and winding, giving views into the smaller inlets along the way. Allow much more time than the straight-line distance suggests.
Mussel Farming
The Marlborough Sounds are New Zealand’s major green-lipped mussel growing region — most of the country’s commercial mussel production happens here, particularly in Pelorus Sound. The long lines of floating mussel-farm buoys are a defining feature of the inner sounds and are visible on most boat trips. Pelorus Mail Boat tours often include commentary on the industry.
Where to Learn More
DOC — Pelorus and Kenepuru Sounds area — official Department of Conservation overview, with tracks, campsites, marine reserves and current alerts for the western Sounds.
Pelorus Mail Boat — the long-running combined rural mail and tourism cruise into Pelorus Sound, with current schedules and route detail.
Marlborough NZ — Havelock and Te Hoiere/Pelorus Sound — regional tourism overview of Havelock and the western Sounds with accommodation, activities and access information.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is Pelorus Sound?
About 55 km from Cook Strait inland to Havelock, with around 380 km of shoreline — the largest of the Marlborough Sounds.
What is Kenepuru Sound?
A 25 km arm of Pelorus Sound — the shallowest and smallest of the three main Marlborough Sounds.
Where is Mahau Sound?
A small arm of the western Sounds, just minutes from Havelock by boat but around an hour by road via the winding Kenepuru Road.
How far is Havelock from Blenheim?
About 35 km via State Highway 6.
Can you do the Pelorus Mail Boat as a day trip?
Yes — it operates from Havelock and runs full-day combined rural-delivery + tourism trips into Pelorus Sound. Booking is required.
Is there a campsite in Kenepuru Sound?
Cowshed Bay DOC campsite — bookings required December to February, accessible by road from Linkwater via Kenepuru Road.
What is the green-lipped mussel industry visible in the Sounds?
The Marlborough Sounds are NZ’s major green-lipped mussel growing region. The long lines of floating mussel-farm buoys are visible from most boat trips, especially in Pelorus Sound.
For specific Sounds sites see Cowshed Bay in Kenepuru, Okiwi Bay at the outer western coast, and the Queen Charlotte Sound guide for the eastern Sound.
