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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.
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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: Travelled 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.
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: Travelled 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 15 Mar 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 15 May 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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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 13 Feb 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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We have just had an amazing 3 night stay at the Bay of Many Coves. Graham and his wife and team catered for all of our needs effortlessly. It was our first visit and we were treated like old friends. The food was amazing. I would recommend booking your stay with breakfast and dinner included as the menus have no prices for those that haven’t so you are unaware until you settle your bill the cost. However we would definitely go back again. The service was second to none.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled 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 1 Mar 2020
Thanks so much for your review of your stay here at the Bay of Many Coves. I said to you when you checked in that we appreciate that you have a choice when you travel and we really did appreciate the fact that you came to stay with us. I was most thrilled to see that you felt like old friends when you got here because that is exactly what we aim to achieve. Our team work really hard to ensure that you have a wonderful stay and we are so proud of them all - it is nice to have them acknowledged. Please don’t wait too long to return - meantime enjoy the rest of your stay in our beautiful country.
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Peaceful, stunning location only accessible by boat or helicopter, this beautiful hotel run by Kim & Graeme is a wonderful place to recharge your batteries after some full on sightseeing, hiking, kayaking, zip wiring etc on the South Island. That said, the steep ascent to The Lookout was a short hike away and worth it for the view of the Sound. Kim provided us with a picnic and poles (which we needed) but we reached the top earlier than anticipated so we carried on walking, trying to link up with the Queen Charlotte Track. To be in nature with just the cicadas and birds for company was so special. We headed back to the lookout for our picnic and walked back down to BOMC in time for a cuppa and a slice of homemade cake. Kim & Graeme cannot do enough for their guests and their staff are chips off the old block. Our room was clean, delightful and so peaceful. Yes the cicadas make a racket but it’s their territory not ours. We lay by the pool at night and watched stars which with no light pollution gave us a stunning display of the Milky Way. We tracked over 25 satellites crossing the sky! Food here is excellent, I cannot fault it. We didn’t use the spa but I did take the opportunity to do some washing in the guest laundry room. We left Bay of Many Coves knowing that we’d experienced something very special.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled 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 13 May 2020
Thank you guys for such a wonderful review. We are so glad that you enjoyed your stay here, and in particular the trip to the top of the lookout which really does give some spectacular views all the way back to Picton. The other comments that you made with regard to lying in the pool and looking out across the stars is very cool as the lack of light pollution really does give you some spectacular views of the southern hemisphere stars. Thank you again for coming to stay and we certainly look forward to welcoming you back again in the near future.
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A very special and beautiful place to celebrate any occasion. We were made to feel very welcome and special by the whole team who are all exceptional. We had a great walk from the resort up to the Queen Charlotte track which included a bit of bush bashing. From there we were able to make our way onto Punga Cove for a cold beer and back to the resort by water taxi. The kayaking was another highlight and we visited some of the nearby bays which are also beautiful. We loved our luxurious unit with views from our private deck and bedroom windows to die for. Big fluffy towels- loose leaf tea and coffee beans were all appreciated at the end of our days adventures. Thank you to everyone of you that made our stay so lovely.
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Date of stay: February 2021Trip type: Travelled 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 2 Mar 2021
I am glad you enjoyed the walk up to the QCT even though it is certainly a challenging walk. I appreciate you highlighting the amenities - our team work hard to ensure your stay is just perfect and I am so glad we hit the mark on this occasion. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon.
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Simply an exceptional experience from start to finish. The setting is simply breathtaking, the rooms are sensational, and the food absolutely deliciously ( some of the best we’ve tasted). There is a genuine warmth from all the team of staff, and we were made to feel that our comfort and enjoyment was their top priority. Literally nothing was too much trouble and we were truly made to feel welcome and relaxed. This was a special celebration and we could not of picked a better place to have chosen. Thank you to all at the bay of many coves! You totally nailed it! Julia and Liz
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Date of stay: August 2020Trip type: Travelled 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 29 Aug 2020
Thank you so much ladies for this wonderful feedback. It was such a treat to have you guys here to celebrate your milestone birthday and the surprise on your faces when the helicopter landed was priceless. Our team very much enjoyed your company over the three days and can’t wait to see you back again soon. Safe travels back to the Hawke’s Bay.
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We chose to “run away” to celebrate both our 50th wedding anniversary and Christmas, and it was so special to do this at Bay of Many Coves. The location in the Sounds is brilliant with the deep water, bush and amazing bird life. We were certainly made to feel special by staff, starting with a platter and bottle of tattinger waiting in our apartment. Our 7 course degustation meal on the 23 Dec, the actual day of our anniversary was excellent - with 7 matching wines!
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Date of stay: December 2020Trip type: Travelled 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 5 Feb 2021
Running away to celebrate special occasions is a huge amount of fun, and we are so thrilled that you decided to share your 50th wedding anniversary here at the Bay of Many Coves. Celebrations are something we love to share with our guests and given Christmas was only two days later, it made it a double celebration for us. Thank you so much for sharing this milestone anniversary here in the Marlborough Sounds and we wish you guys only the very best.
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We have just had the most wonderful weekend away at Bay of Many Coves, the whole experience was very special. We were warmly welcomed on the jetty after arriving by water taxi and given a tour of the grounds by Graeme and Rianne while our bags were whisked off to our room. Our room had a great view of the bay, as all rooms do, and was tastefully furnished. The bed was extremely comfortable and warm. Dinner is held in the fine dining room and on our first night there was a three-course table d’hôte menu featuring delicious lamb as the main course. On the second night we had the seven course degustation dinner which was outstanding, as good as any Michelin starred restaurant in Europe, and was expertly matched with New Zealand wines. All of the team were super friendly and very attentive, we felt very special throughout our stay. The kitchen even made a cake for my special day. They have a thorough knowledge of the area and were happy to assist in planning our day. An exceptional resort run by a team that clearly love their jobs.
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Date of stay: June 2020
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 Graeme Smith, General Manager at Bay Of Many Coves
Responded 1 Jun 2020
Thank you Murray for your kind words. It was a delight to have you both join us at the Bay of Many Coves for the long weekend and the team are so glad that you enjoyed your stay. I shared your feedback regarding the quality of the food you experienced with Aron who was really stoked that you enjoyed his food. I hope you enjoy the prawn recipe I sent to you this morning. It is a great recipe and I hope they turn out OK for you. Now you know how to get here Murray we look forward to seeing you back again very soon
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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
$1,153 - $1,820 (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
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