Ōkārito Boat Eco Tours
Daily Tours
We’ll show you as much as we can on our popular 2-hour Eco Tour via the Explorer Douglas – this flat bottomed open air boat was custom built for the lagoon – we cruise along at slow speeds and often drift alongside feeding white herons, godwits, oystercatchers and dotterels.
Ōkārito Eco Tour
Duration: 2 hours
Departure: 9:00am daily
Optional 11:30am departure: Peak demand only, minimum 4 guests – please contact us for availability.
Our most popular experience, the 2-hour Eco Tour is conducted aboard Explorer Douglas, a custom-built, flat-bottomed open-air boat designed specifically for the lagoon. We travel slowly and often drift quietly alongside feeding birds, allowing time to observe behaviour and capture photographs.
Departing from the historic Ōkārito Wharf, we follow the main lagoon channel before entering sheltered rainforest waterways. Along the way, we share insights into wetland ecology, birdlife, predator control and local restoration efforts. The tour includes a relaxed break for a warm drink and snack, with time for questions, reflection and simply being present in this remarkable place.
Discover Ōkārito Tour
Duration: 4–4.5 hours
In partnership with Glacier Valley Eco Tours
Discover Ōkārito offers a deeper, collaborative experience combining water, forest and restoration.
The tour begins with our 2-hour Eco Boat Tour, exploring the lagoon and waterways as described above. On return to the wharf, guests are welcomed by our partners at Glacier Valley Eco Tours, who lead a guided rainforest walk through the Ōkārito forest.
This walk includes the opportunity to visit the Ōkārito Native Plants Trust Nursery — home to locally eco-sourced plants — and, when conditions allow, to plant a native tree along our restoration walkway as part of the award-winning Ōkārito Plant Project. Extra snacks are provided (not lunch).
This experience connects visitors directly with the ongoing regeneration of the landscape and the community-led efforts behind it.
Private Charters
Private charters are available, offering flexibility in departure times and a more personalised experience. Early morning and afternoon departures are popular for photography and quieter conditions.
Charters allow us to travel at your pace — whether you wish to linger with wildlife, wait for changing light, or simply enjoy the stillness of the lagoon.
Photography Charters & Groups
Ōkārito is a sought-after destination for wildlife and landscape photographers, particularly in late summer and autumn. We regularly host photography clubs, workshops and private groups, and have chartered for leading New Zealand photographers. Contact us for rates and more information can be found here: https://www.okaritoboattours.co.nz/photography-tours.html.
Regenerative Tourism & the Ōkārito Plant Project
Our tours are closely connected to the Ōkārito Plant Project — a business-led, community-driven restoration initiative co-founded by Ōkārito Boat Eco Tours and Glacier Valley Eco Tours. The project focuses on restoring waterways and wetlands through native planting, working alongside landowners, local businesses and conservation partners.
Predator control efforts through ZIP South Westland and restoration through the Plant Project work hand-in-hand, strengthening habitat and supporting the return of birdlife. For us, regenerative tourism means caring for the place that sustains our business and our community — not as an add-on, but as a responsibility.
Learn more about the Ōkārito Plant Project:
Seasonal Information
- Eco Tours operate daily at 9:00am
- Optional 11:30am departure during peak demand only
- June–July: Private charters available by arrangement
- Winter 2026 closure: 15 July – 15 October
