Overview
Suitable for all ages
You don’t need to be staying at this Ecolodge to enjoy all the activities it has to offer. Just a 15 minute water taxi ride from the wharf in Picton, take a picnic and swimming togs and be prepared to spend the whole day.
Free activities once you’ve paid to get there include the safe swimming and beach area at the bay with beach toys, hammocks and free use of kayaks if you want. Watching the animals being fed (kakariki, kune kune and sting ray amongst others). You could also bring shoes to walk along the art and nature trails (the Queen Charlotte Track is accessible from Lochmara).
Paid activities include guided tours in the underwater observatory where you’ll see marine life swimming by (Adults $15/ Kids $10/ Family Pass $45). There’s an 80 metre flying fox for $5/person.
If you don’t bring your own picnic, you can eat at the onsite cafe, although it closes each year for the winter season (reopens 27th September 2017). When open, it serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with a kids’ menu. Examples of all menus can be viewed here.
Related tags
Marlborough, Outside, PictonContact Information
Tel: 03 573 4554
Web: http://www.lochmara.co.nz
Address: Lochmara Bay, Queen Charlotte Sound
Open: all year for day visitors but the cafe is only open from end of September and accommodation is only available from Labour Weekend (4th weekend in October) to Easter Monday (varies each year but usually in April).
Boats operate all year at 9am, 12.15pm & 3.15pm from Picton, returning from Lochmara at 11am, 2.45pm & 4pm (in winter / and 5pm in the summer). Booking is essential and you need to arrive 10 minutes before departure.
Price: Boat travel is Adults $30/oneway and Kids (aged 5-15 years old) $15/oneway. Boats leave from the wharf near the corner of Wellington street and London Quay. If you visit without booking the boat, entry prices for access to all the activities are Adults $10 Kids $5.
