Tena koutou,
My name is Pete, myself, wife Takutai and son Tane run Myths & Legends Eco-Tours in the Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand. We are a Maori Family who operate personalized Eco-Tours on a 75 yr old Kauri planked classic launch called “Tutanekai” that has a character and charm that makes people feel comfortable and relaxed.

We visit remote bays & inlets far from the usual tourist beat, using local knowledge we visit dolphins, seals, bird colonies a shipwreck, Island bird Sanctuary, Wildlife Sanctuary, Derelict Whaling Station, Captain Cooks Monument, (the lonely Planet have stated that Ship cove is so beautiful that it is one of the 6 must see tourism destinations in the world) & Guided Bush walks through native forests.

Our cruise is very educational, an opportunity for tourists to interact with Maori, learn about our culture, our history, & learn about the Maori world view regarding the environment.
Our kaupapa is to keep the lost art of story telling alive, the old people say that stories stimulate dreams & if we lose the ability to dream our spirits will die. We connect with people at spirit level, one lady told us that our stories had left footprints on her heart !

We can introduce you to friends of ours that live in remote bays, it is often the meeting of these interesting characters that leave lasting memories.

Have a beachcomb, a paddle or swim at a secluded beach & relax & unwind. If you are travel weary Takutai will put soft cushions under you, wrap you in a warm duvet, and let the ocean waves rock you off to sleep. This is pure relaxation.

One of the great attributes of the Marlborough Sounds is that it is a sheltered inland waterway, so for those of you who worry about seasickness, Don’t. Nobody has ever been seasick on our trips inside the Sounds. If chilly,Takutai will serve up some homemade soup & make some hot Maori bread. If the tides are right,she will gather you some green lipped mussels off the rocks or get you to wade out and collect some cockles, which go down well with a bottle of Marlborough Wine.

Our favorite option is a 2 day overnight charter with an overnight stay at our friend Neville's Ruapara Turangawaewae Homestead on the remote and isolated Arapawa  Island, it is an ancestral home that shows the spiritual conection that Maori have with the land. The homestead has a warm inviting atmosphere with a character and charm not found anywhere else in NZ.
Neville is descended from a Rangatira, chiefly line, a man of quiet dignity, with a twinkle in his eye, his wife Gay is a wonderful hostess.

Don’t sit on a cruise with 50 or more people and be treated like sheep, experience our manakitanga (Maori hospitality, ) we often take charters for 2 people !
Conversely the Tutanekai is flush decked with wide walk around decks, bulwarks with safety rails, safe for children and young families. Takutai will tuck babies and older folk into a cosy bed for a sleep, with a hot water bottle if they are tired.

Our cruises are very personalized, our guests often say that they travel the whole country and see Maori people, but until they meet Takutai they never had a chance to talk with them, ask questions and learn first hand about our culture and history.

Our kaupapa ( ideals) are to foster kaitiakitanga, ( Guardianship of the environment, ) encouraging people to take ownership and responsibility for it, not just here but where ever you live & to regard yourselves as true "Citizens of The World."

Noho Ora Mai,

Pete, Takutai & Tane.

(See map of Marlborough Sounds)
Please browse this site and choose one of our many options.

Options: ½ day 1 day cruises 1 day exclusive charters 1 ½ day overnight charter 2 day overnight charter Cultural Indulgence Check availability and book Book now for Ecotours Hei konei Ra Pete & Takutai	Dolphin in Marlborough Sounds Kereru - native wood pigeon Spectacular scenery

“This was one of the many excursions we undertook during our wonderful three weeks in NZ. For interest once back in cold, dark Scotland we all voted for the best trip/outing we had and your trip on the 30th Dec was the only one given 10/10 by all four of us. This made it undoubtedly the highlight of our stay. Once again many thanks……..with every good wish yours sincerely.”

Ian, Margaret, Catherine and Linda (Scotland)

Pete & Takutai,

I just wanted to personally thank you for the tour of the sounds.  The scenery and wildlife of the sounds is simply stunning.  However, one expects to see these things.  What one does not expect is to get such a wonderful array of Maori, European and Ecological history and culture of the area set forward in such a personal way.

Takutai, your extra effort and interest in me personally and in my interest in Maori martial arts was the highlight of the trip.  Your generosity in setting me up with Reg was singular.

I really do miss you.

Pete, you and I will meet again and spend some more time together, perhaps over a cold one.

Let’s keep in touch, at least once in a while, and I’ll see you on my return.

Bob Charron