Yachts
Hanse 315 to Beneteau 44 · 4 to 8 people
Yachts
Your own floating home for a few days. Choose a different anchorage each evening and wake up to the Sounds dawn chorus.
From $975 per day, shoulder season
See the yachts
Waikawa Marina · Picton
Discover the Sounds on your own boat
Self-drive and skippered yachts, launches and runabouts. Stay on board, or stay ashore and explore each day at your own pace.
2026–27 season: 1 November to 31 May
Your floating holiday
Nothing beats the sound of water lapping on the hull
Waking up to the Sounds dawn chorus. That first morning coffee in the cockpit, looking out at the water before everyone gets up. Maybe a morning dip?
We're here to help you plan your trip: when to come, what to bring, what you don't need to bring, and the toys to play with while you're here. Choose a self-drive (bareboat) charter and explore at your own pace, or a skippered charter where our professional skippers guide you around these magical waterways.
“With almost 1500 km of deep-water coastline to explore, it is a cruising area that just has to be experienced.”
- Fleet
- 12 boats
- Base
- Waikawa Marina
- Charters
- Self-drive or skippered
- Minimum
- 3 days (5 in peak)
Choose your boat
Yachts, launches and runabouts
Every boat is fully equipped and well maintained. Not sure which suits your group? Call or email and we'll help you choose.
Merry Fisher 795 to Grand Banks 42 · 2 to 6 people
Launches
A great way to get out into the Sounds quickly, so you have more time to tie up, relax, fish, dive and explore.
From $1,045 per day, shoulder season
See the launches
5.4m to 7.5m · 4 to 7 people
Runabouts
Stay at a bach and head out each day: fishing, diving, walking, or coffee and lunch at one of the resorts.
From $530 per day, shoulder season
See the runaboutsPrefer someone else at the helm? Voila, our Beneteau 54, is skippered only, with skipper and one crew included. Day trips from $3,440 and overnight from $4,485.
About Voila
Life on the water
Do as much or as little as you want
Discover
Explore at your own pace, on your own floating home, in this cruising paradise.
Relax
Kick back, escape the daily grind and do as much or as little as you want.
Play
Fishing, diving, kayaks and paddle boards. The options are endless, so come and meet the locals.
Catch up
Time with friends and family. Reconnect with those who matter most.
Where you'll go
Queen Charlotte Sound is on your doorstep
The Sounds are a network of deep-water drowned river valleys, islands and tranquil, sheltered bays. Queen Charlotte Sound has the most developed infrastructure, while Kenepuru Sound is more secluded and remote, and the cruising area reaches as far as D'Urville Island and the Abel Tasman.
We have a network of moorings throughout the Sounds for our charterers to use, or you can head to one of the Sounds resorts.
- Ship Cove
- Endeavour Inlet
- Punga Cove
- Lochmara Lodge
- Anakiwa
- Pelorus Sound
- Kenepuru Sound
How booking works
Three simple steps
Ask about dates
Call or email us to check availability and costs, or send a booking request. It doesn't commit you to anything.
Tell us about your skipper
For self-drive charters the skipper fills in their boating experience. Not enough experience? We'll talk you through skippered options.
Secure it with a deposit
Pay a 50% deposit by link or bank transfer, and we email your booking confirmation.
| Shoulder | 1–30 Nov and 1 Mar–31 May | 3 day min. |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | 1–23 Dec and 15 Jan–end of Feb | 3 day min. |
| Peak | 24 Dec–14 Jan | 5 day min. |
From our guests
What guests say
“Thank you very much, we really enjoyed our trip and are telling our friends and family that Compass Charters are a good company to deal with and offer great holiday opportunities.”
“Thanks to you and the Compass Charter team for the great day we had in the amazing beautiful Marlborough Sounds. Would love to come back within 12 months although not sure if I will be able to manage that. For sure I will connect again when ever I will be in New Zealand.”
“Thank you! We had a wonderful time and are already planning a return visit!”
Ways to save
The longer you charter, the more you save
Up to 21%
Multi-day discount
From 6% off for 4 days to 21% for 9 days or more. Full payment at booking. Not available in peak season.
5%
Early booking
Confirm your charter six months or more ahead and save 5% on the daily rate, even in peak season.
10%
Return guests
Come back within 12 months for 10% off the day rate, or within 10 years for 5%.
It's not too late to book for the 2026–27 season
The boats are serviced, cleaned and ready from 1 November. Get in touch and we'll help you plan.
Free phone in NZ: 0800 101 332