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OutDOOrS
Locals Only:
Marlborough TOur Company Offers Full Sounds Experience
StOry By Kat Duggan Supplied
As an autumnal serenity falls upon Marlborough, one tourism company is urging locals to get out amongst the crown jewel that is the Marlborough Sounds.
Marlborough Tour Company, which has long operated transport and tour services in Marlborough, recently purchased two Queen Charlotte Sound lodges, Furneaux Lodge and Punga Cove Resort. Just last month, the company purchased Cougar Line, adding ‘water taxi’ to its repertoire of services. Marlborough Tour Company general manager Scott McKenzie says the purchase of the three companies has allowed them to expand their tour and transport offerings. “Marlborough Tour Company is [traditionally] what we have got here; the buses and the vehicles, we’ve got the wine touring and scenic touring, and we’ve got four boats which have been predominantly seafood related cruises, offering lunch cruises and dinner cruises,” he says. With a predominantly international market currently, Marlborough Tour Company hopes the move will enable them to help more local visitors to explore the Marlborough Sounds. “Both of those lodges attract a lot of day visitors and there’s nothing better than sitting at the waterfront and having a nice lunch [and] purchasing Cougar Line gives us five more
