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Set in a tranquil cove with beautiful views of the Marlborough Sounds, the Bay of Many Coves is an exclusive retreat offering a uniquely New Zealand experience. 100% locally owned, our one, two and three-bedroom apartments, as well as our premium Kereru Suite, all have stunning views of the bay as well as space for private dining , while the resort’s fine-dining restaurant, The Foredeck, the Mirutu Day Spa, outdoor pool and cedar hot-tub all provide further comforts during your stay. When it is time to explore, the Bay of Many Coves offers year-round activities, including over 6 kilometres of private walking trails meandering through beautiful native bush that link to the internationally-renowned Queen Charlotte Track. Wander down one of the many forest tracks and discover the wonderful native birds that are always plentiful in the resort. Kayaks, dinghies and paddle-boards are available to discover the bays abundant marine life too. The Bay of Many Coves is surrounded by an eco-marine haven, way off the beaten track. Sit out on your private balcony, taking in the most glorious views of this natural paradise and you will understand why Captain Cook chose this area as his favoured anchorage while visiting New Zealand.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
The BoMC resort is truly in a fantastic location and is working hard to make themselves a 5 star resort. We stayed 3 nights in the Kereru suite which had a private deck with hot tub, included breakfast and dinner, and a welcome charcuterie board and nice champagne. Although expensive on a per night stay, we thought it was probably priced about right. What could have been improved was a bit of customer service attention to detail and a major improvement on the dining. My girlfriend booked a massage on our relaxation day and when she showed up at the spa they had no record of her massage and they were full. When she called and rebooked an appointment for later in the afternoon, they still never received the booking, but were able to squeeze her in. The only laundry facility on property was down for maintenance while we stayed there (in the middle of a 3 week NZL trip), but the staff recovered and finished our laundry in the staff laundry area.
My big gripe was the dining service. We stayed at BoMC during the prime holiday season where everyone brought their families. As an adult couple, I would have hoped that the 5 course dinner wouldn't have included 10-12 five year olds running around the dining area and making noise constantly. I don't have a problem with the resort hosting families, but they do have two dining rooms (one up and one down) and they could easily accommodate families in one and adults in another with minimal distractions. Easy fix. Please consider it for future guests.
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Date of stay: January 2025
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Absolutely an amazing place with outstanding service! The views are spectacular, the "taxi" arrangement flawless; the staff beyond friendly and a special thanks to the kitchen as they prepared some incredible dishes around our dietary restrictions.
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Date of stay: March 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Words don’t do justice to the quality of the experience you have, and we had, at BOMC From the outstanding E-Ko tour up the sounds en route to BOMC to the Cougarline transfer back to Picton 4 days later, everything is orchestrated to make your stay stress free and memorable. From the welcome from Dani on the jetty to the farewell from Rianne and Aaron there was never a time when a staff member was more than seconds away to be of assistance. Not overbearing, just always professional. The suites are relaxed and comfortable, housekeeping the invisible guests who had everything tidied and sorted, chocolates on the pillows, drapes drawn, whenever you left to go to dinner, breakfast or just relax in the sun. The 5 course degustation dinners are works of art, different every night, and explained to you in detail, using as many locally grown ingredients as the lodge location allows. Beverage selection either of your own choice or as recommended by the attentive staff. Breakfast, a 5 course meal also, from juice to pastries, muesli and fruit, and cooked options again showcasing the locality and its offerings. Coffee of course, lots of it. I could go on, but trust this review, and read the website for details of all the activities you can indulge in while at BOMC. The standout for us was the Miritu Day Spa where the massages are simply wonderful! A truly memorable trip - the memories will last a lifetime. Lester and Alison Smith
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Date of stay: January 2023
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Rianne Kuiper, General Manager at Bay Of Many Coves
Responded Feb 13, 2023
Thank you for your review. I'm glad to read about your first-class experience. From the welcome on the jetty, the guided walk trough, chocolates on the pillow and 5 course degustation dinners, we are moments away to be of assistance. You can now make a reservation for a massage with our spa therapist, for a day visit, if you'd like. Thank you for your stay and we hope to see you again.
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From the moment we got off the water taxi at Bay of Many Coves we knew we’d found somewhere special. The staff greeted us by name and then took us on a tour of this secluded slice of paradise! The rooms are large and well stocked and have views out over the cove and the location is secluded. Be aware that when they say ‘not accessible by road’ they really mention it. We were told even the food deliveries come in via the water taxi! This also means that you have to use the, admittedly excellent, restaurant on site and dining options there were generally limited to the (again, very good) degustation menu so it’s important to let them know not just of food allergies but of anything you don’t like before you visit.
We took advantage of the free watersports equipment (even though it was only warm enough on one day to use it) and we’re able to navigate the calm waters off the jettys, and tried the walking tracks. Unfortunately it had been raining in the days before and the tracks are real bushwalks so couldn’t get as far as we would have liked.
The staff are the real gems of the place though. Nothing was too much trouble and they seemed to know what we wanted before we asked. There’s always someone around to ask, but it didn’t feel like they were hovering, just going about their daily day.
One tip, and it’s not about the hotel. If you’re travelling to meet the ferry in Picton give yourself lots of time on the water taxi. It made a few extra stops on the way back that we weren’t expecting and we only just made it with the help of the iSite staff!
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:. If you’re travelling to meet the ferry in Picton give yourself lots of time on the water taxi!...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Rianne Kuiper, General Manager at Bay Of Many Coves
Responded Dec 25, 2023
Thank you for your time to share your positive feedback. We are indeed very fortunate to have this property nestled in the heart of the Sounds. Most of our guest and freight is coming in via boat from Picton, trough the Queen Charlotte sound and that's why we would appreciate to receive preferences and dietary's before arrival. It would be a long way back if we get it wrong! :) There is a lot to do in the sounds, from marine and wildlife tours to private fishing charters and even scenic helicopter flights, sometimes the best thing to do is to take in the views from your private deck and enjoy some of our local collection of wines, spirits or non-alcoholic beverages. We always go that extra mile for our guests and want to give everyone the best experience! Thank you I-site for your contribution
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You can’t beat a decent cove. As in English slang for a good guy. I’ve met a few decent coves in my time and Graeme Smith is one such fellow. An old work acquaintance, Graeme and recently reconnected on social media and he waxed lyrical on the place he manages, the Bay of Many Coves, a high end resort in the Marlborough Sounds. Indeed the place sounded so idyllic I resolved to take my wife there as a special treat on our recent South Island sojourn and booked it as a treat for her.
On alighting from our water taxi, Graeme and his staff were there to greet us and our bags were whisked away to our suite whilst Graeme gave us a quick tour. First impression, wow, what a place! Nestled snuggly into one of the many coves in the bay, each luxuriously appointed standalone suite has a million-dollar water view.
The rooms are finished to a high standard with a top spec bathroom and both lounge and bedroom overlooking the cove. Little details are not overlooked, with binoculars provided to check out the scenery, torches should one want to visit the glow worms at night and a tempting minibar.
Having only the one night booked, Trina and I opted to do as much as we could starting with the half hour waterfall walk before returning for dips in the temperate pool and hot tub. The waterfall track is a loop and a decent way to work up a dinner appetite. And you need to, because the food is first rate.
We enjoyed a pre-dinner bottle of the excellent Hans Herzog Montepulciano that Graeme recommended, then the three course a la carte dinner in the Foredeck restaurant. Of course it, like the rooms, commands stunning water views. I do have to add that the restaurant staff were great. In these Covid times the BOMC has kept very high standards, kudos to them.
I opted for a ribeye steak, cooked to perfection and Trina the chicken which she pronounced to be up to her high GF standards. Then, unusually for us, we tucked into the delicious desserts offered. We couldn’t resist them, you see and we HAD done that pre-dinner walk. Food and service couldn’t be faulted and we found the the same at breakfast downstairs the next morning, while we awaited our return water taxi to Picton.
The BOMC visit was the highlight of a really great holiday and if we had to find any fault, it was a wee wasp sting I received on our walk. Even Graeme couldn’t prevent that and it was a small price to pay for such a neat experience.
Give your special person a treat and take them to the Bay of Many Coves. They won’t be disappointed.
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Date of stay: February 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Graeme Smith, General Manager at Bay Of Many Coves
Responded Mar 15, 2022
Wow that’s a great review Rod. I really do appreciate it and it was a pleasure to have you and Trina visiting us here at the Bay of Many Coves. Unfortunately you were only here for one night, when the real experience is gained when staying for at least three - but I’m thrilled that you both got the opportunity to see the Bay of Many Coves it is very best and experience that which many of our guests enjoy. It was great to catch up with you after so long and certainly look forward to catching up again in the near future
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Wow when we came into the bay and I saw our stunning resort I was breathless! Our location was mind blowing from the beautiful gardens, plentiful bird life, clear blue water, and fresh clean air, so tranquil. Our rooms were very clean and tidy well presented and extremely comfortable. The staff were super friendly and throughout our stay went above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed what was on offer. We were part of a large group and took advantage of a half day charted fishing trip during our stay. This was a huge highlight and we were extremely spoilt with great weather and huge blue cod. Absolutely magic time, unfortunately we were very disappointed with the extremely rude head chef who was not very willing to cook the fresh filleted fish. We were shocked at how he treated his fellow staff in front of guests and his unwilling attitude to please .It was embarrassing and uncomfortable and we felt for Rianne and Aaron who had been outstanding representation of what Bay of Many Coves Resort is advertise to offer, they tried their best to compensate for his lack of effort and poor attitude. I definitely agree with previous review in that the food was mainly of a high standard but a change of menu over a three day stay would have been expected. We would love to come back but would enquire as to what changes have been made in the kitchen first.
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Date of stay: May 2022
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Rianne Kuiper, General Manager at Bay Of Many Coves
Responded May 15, 2022
Hi Janine, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are so glad you found the Bay of many Coves stunning and breathless. Our dedicated team always aims to give the best experience to our guests and it is rewarding to read that you had enjoyed your stay with us. Your positive feedback inspires us to continue to maintain the high standards of service we set ourselves. On your comments about food and services, we have brought this up again to our culinary team for improvement. We hope to welcome you back. Kind regards, Rianne Kuiper
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I don’t know what I was expecting from the Bay of Many Coves; the truth is that I hadn’t really focused on this part of our tour around the South Island. What we got was the most fabulous couple of days in a stunning hotel nestled at the end of a bay teeming with wildlife and views that defy belief. Each morning, because I was awake before dawn, I made my way to the jetty to watch the sunrise and the birds skim and dart around, including swimming around the dock chasing fish.
The room (we were in room 101) was great. It had everything you could want, from a large comfy bed and great sitting area to sumptuous views over the water. The laundry room, free for guests to use, was a great touch, particularly for people who are on long trips.
The food was delicious - both breakfast and dinner - but the real winner was the staff. They were all extremely welcoming and attentive and willing to chat to guests. Special mention has to go to Meghan, Sam and James who were all really lovely and genuine.
As we left on the boat, I tried to fix the view back to the hotel in my mind. I don’t know when I’ll be back, but certainly it can’t be soon enough.
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Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Rianne Kuiper, General Manager at Bay Of Many Coves
Responded Nov 11, 2023
Wow, thank you so much for your amazing and detailed review. I'm glad you had a fantastic time with us, and we were able to meet above your expectations! We hope you'll come and see us again soon.
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It's a beautiful, secluded and unique location, far from the noise of the city and surrounded by lush forest, exotic birds (including a cormoran colony) and sea life. The rooms are very comfortable and very well appointed, and each have a fantastic view of the bay. The breakfast is varied and fresh with many hot selections. The only slight disappointment is the menu in the main evening dining room, which is quite limited and could be improved. But otherwise, this is paradise in Bay of Many Coves!
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Date of stay: January 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Rianne Kuiper, General Manager at Bay Of Many Coves
Responded Feb 17, 2024
It was a pleasure to have your as our guests. Thank you for the comment you made about the dinner menu and take this on board. Our menu changes frequently, it'll be a different experience on your next visit.
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We live in Blenheim so the Marlborough Sounds is not new to us. We had read some reviews before our stay and were a little frustrated with the comparison to say a Queenstown resort. We do not know the specifics of how Bay of Many Coves was built but imagine a lot of the material had to be helicoptered in or brought in by boat. A lot in the very imagination and existence of this resort will be lost by those who do not know the sheer effort it takes to build in the Sounds and maintain a resort when nearly everything has to be brought in. When it is described as a jewel in the Marlborough Sounds - it is a jewel in the Marlborough Sounds - not Queenstown (which by the way we love) but its an unfair comparison. The owners should be incredibly proud of their current team because they are superb. The dinner menu each night was varied and what dietary niggles I had were catered for. A highlight of our stay was the whole dining experience. I was under the weather so could not drink alcohol but now know you can get alcohol free gin (Ecology & Co). Although the weather was not at its brightest we took the opportunity to just stop and rest. We slept soundly each night (after we finished off our turn down chocolate treat). We took the kayaks out and were a little chilly on our return but soon warmed up with a hot chocolate and a dip in the hot tub. It is the little touches that make your stay. I find sheep's wool itchy (even the fine merino blankets) but they found me different blankets so I could sit out on our balcony wrapped up and enjoy the view. They also provide walking poles because the local walks are steep. Overall the location is what makes the Bay of Many Coves so special along with what we found to be an amazingly attentive team.
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Date of stay: March 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Walk the glow worm walk during the day because you would not want to walk it at night having...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Rianne Kuiper, General Manager at Bay Of Many Coves
Responded Apr 17, 2023
Such a lovely, detailed review. The Bay of many coves is very distant from the ''mainland'' considering it's a 20min boat ride from Picton or a 15min flight with the helicopter from Wellington. It does however, make you feel more connected with yourself, and we would like to share this experience with all of our visitors. It certainly is what makes the place a generosity of spirit. ;) Thank you from myself and the team.
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We had two wonderful nights at this beautiful resort, six of us in total. The location is absolutely stunning and we were greeted on arrival by the most friendly staff. In fact, all the staff were just delightful and couldn’t have done more for us, remembered all our names, what kind of coffee we all preferred, small details that made a huge difference. We had the five-course degustation dinner both evenings and we all agreed that the second evening was really lovely and much nicer than the first. The lunch menu could perhaps offer a few lighter options as even the cheese plate for two was very large. The apartments were beautiful with a stunning view of the water. The bathrooms were clean and it’s good to hear from the lovely owners Janine and Nigel that they are soon to be renovated to include underfloor heating as they were a bit chilly! Such a beautiful stay!
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Date of stay: May 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Would recommend walking/hiking boots if it’s wet as some of our friends struggled trying to walk...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Rianne Kuiper, General Manager at Bay Of Many Coves
Responded Jun 2, 2023
It was a pleasure to have your as our guests. Thank you for the comment you made about the lunch menu. Our menu changes frequently, it'll be a different experience on your next visit.
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Picton, New Zealand185 contributions11 helpful votes
That’s a really great question. Simple answer is ‘no’ you do not have to take the meal package when booking a room at the Resort. In terms of value - that is an individual preference. Some guests like to know that everything is all inclusive whilst others like to make that decision once they get here.
I hope this is helpful.
Graeme and Kim Smith | General Manager/s
There are some lovely marine reserves in the region such as Long Island - check out the DOC Parks website (link unable to be added to this site)
from the lodge itself we would recommend swimming, kayaking,or going out to take a dive tour or snorkel tour with local operators to long island - or visits marine life from boat charters such as dolphins, (or swimming with dolphins) little blue penguins, many sea birds, and other marine life. Please email us directly for more details on all the possible options.
There are more places to choose from in the Bay Of Many Coves area.
PRICE RANGE
$679 - $1,755 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
bay of many coves hotel picton
LOCATION
New ZealandSouth IslandMarlborough RegionBay Of Many Coves
NUMBER OF ROOMS
11
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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