travel
An irresistible adventure activity for New Zealand visitors? Delivering the mail by boat
In the sparsely populated Queen Charlotte Sound, tourists can accompany the skipper-come-postman as parcels are dropped off via the scenic route. No heart rate check required
TL;DR
- Tourists can join the mailboat service in Queen Charlotte Sound, New Zealand, for a fee.
- The mailboat delivers mail and parcels to isolated homes accessible only by boat.
- Passenger fares subsidize the postal service, making it economically viable.
- The skipper also acts as the postman, with passengers assisting in deliveries.
- The route offers spectacular scenery and visits locations with evocative names.
- Deliveries include mail, parcels, and even dog biscuits for residents' pets.
- The service operates six days a week, with each registered address receiving two deliveries weekly.
- The mailboat also picks up hikers from the Queen Charlotte Track on its return journey.
- Tickets for the Mail Boat Cruise by Beachcomber Cruises start from NZ$132.