We invite you to come and visit Okarito on one of our boat tours and experience the magic of this small village with the big landscapes - and New Zealand's largest unmodified wetlands - over 3000 hectares, only a 25-minute drive from Franz Josef Glacier.
​Yes! there are white herons here year round, as well as royal spoonbills - plenty of birdlife and so much more to see!

The surrounding landscape is simply stunning - on a clear day we'll see Mount Cook and Tasman, Franz Josef Glacier - an amazing backdrop to the ancient kahikatea forest and wetland rushes in the foreground.  Plenty of opportunity for photos of birds and landscapes. 

​We'll show you as much as we can on our popular 2-hour EcoTour 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. 

We are a partner team - Swade and Paula - and we'll tell you the stories of past and present that intertwine the history of this place with life in Okarito today.  Through the waterways that make up the West Coast - from gold seekers of the 1860's to flax milling and timber harvesting to the conservation work being undertaken today.  We are so fortunate to call this magnificent place home - literally untouched by time.  We hope you'll take the step off the beaten path to visit Okarito.

For the keen photographers out there!    Yes, we do charter trips and also offer photography workshops in conjunction with both Rina Sjardin- Thompson of Picture This Weekends and Andris Apse.  Check out our Photography Workshops page for more information.

Where to stay in Okarito? New for 2021!  We are very excited to be teaming up with friends and colleagues to bring new experiences and opportunities to our guests.  We now have two options for you here in beautiful Okarito! 

Choose from Summit Lodge - this is a "semi-hosted" stay, with local photographer Rina Sjardin Thompson on-site.  You will have two private en-suite rooms plus shared (with Rina only, when she is not traveling/working) kitchen & lounge.  Rina will help with any questions you may have and can direct you to some of the best of the best of the area. 

For a fully self- contained option we have the lovely quaint and quirky "Royal Hutel" - perfect for a single or couple.  Both options are completely separate but near to each other so could also be hired together for a group of up to 6 or 7 people.   We are just about 25 minutes to Franz Josef and 45 minutes to Fox Glacier - so there is a lot to see and do!

Whatever your interest, we think you are going to love Okarito!

Book your tour online or email us directly at okaritoboattours@gmail.com for more information on best times. 

Covid-19 update

We are looking forward to showing you this special place in NZ.   We are following all updates and advice issued by the Ministry of Health and while we are at Level 1 we do encourage you to sign in/scan the Covid QR code inside our office at check in.  We have hand sanitizer available - from where else, but the Reefton Distillery (who make a lovely gin by the way! "Little Biddy")  For more information on Covid updates and information please visit the Ministry of Health's Covid page.     We are now on our winter hours with one tour running daily from 10 AM - Noon most days.  Please check our booking page for availability.