Loop walks, camping and mountain biking are available through spectacular coastal trails. If mountain biking you will need to bring your own bike.

d’Urville Island Loop: Our water taxi will drop you off at Kapowai and pick you up at the end of the day at the Wilderness Café. Time 4 to 5 hrs. Once there you can do some short coastal walks to two small waterfalls, have a meal and a well-deserved cold drink, wine or beer.

d’Urville Island Greville Harbour: This new area has recently been opened up for public access offering outstanding coastal walks, sand dunes and rain forest. We recommend three nights. Our water taxi will drop you off at Kapowai where you walk to Greville Harbour and your campsite. The walk takes you through the Island scenic reserve and mineral belts before dropping down into Greville Harbour. Spend two days exploring the harbour and on the fourth day walk back over the Island into Catherine Cove. A restaurant, hot shower and cold drink await before returning to French Pass via the ‘Spirit of d’Urville’. We also offer a walk in fly out option.

d’Urville Island Overnight Camping: Enjoy a remote beach with fresh running stream. Simply board the ‘Spirit of d’Urville’ and be dropped effortlessly at your campsite door. You will be in paradise. Several beach sites to choose from.

French Pass / d’Urville Island / Titirangi Mountain bike loop:
Ride from Picton through the Nydia track and onto French Pass, take our water taxi across to d’Urville Island, one of the South islands top mountain bike rides then onto Titirangi before meeting up with the Queen Charlotte Track. This combination offers spectacular views and takes you through the waterways of the outer Marlborough Sounds. D’Urville Island is claimed to be one of NZ's top ten mountain bike rides. 

French Pass Reserve: Several short walks are available through the reserve to two lookouts and a small beach. One lookout overlooks the French Pass passage where it is possible to see little blue penguin in the turbulent currents of the passage; the other overlooks the home range of Pelorus Jack. From this spectacular vantage point you will often see dolphins and seabirds. The beach walk takes you to a small golden beach where you can swim, sunbath or fish.

French Pass Sunset: French Pass enjoys the morning sunrise. A short walk in the evening will take you to grassland where you can toast the sun as it sets over the bottom of d’Urville Island and Tasman Bay. Views at this time of evening are stunning with the warm glow of the golden hour and seascape making it ideal for photography. (Recommended with a blanket and  bottle of your favourite wine).

French Pass Lookout: Information panels tell the story of the Famous dolphin Pelorus Jack, Kaikai-a-waro, the discovery of French Pass by the French Explorer Dumont d’Urville and the French Pass Environment Zone. Today due to the efforts of local community the dawn chorus is alive and well in the tiny settlement.

Elaine Bay: A 35-minute drive will take you to Elaine Bay where there are two coastal walks and mountain biking tracks. A short two hour walk is the Piwakawaka (Fantail) Track. An easy, short walk through coastal vegetation. 2hrs return.

The second is the Archer Track, a scenic coastal walk 2 to 3hrs one-way. We can arrange a water taxi to drop you at Penzance in the beautiful Tennyson Inlet where you can start the walk back to Elaine Bay. 

Cissy Bay: A new track has been formed and starts at the end of the road through Cissy Bay. This short walking track takes you along the coast and through bush to a lookout which is dedicated to Peggy Young. Peggy was the community nurse for the French Pass area who retired in Cissy Bay. A delightful short walk with birds and expansive views of the bay.  

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