French pass, D'Urville Island activities.

Walks; short walks are available at French Pass. One leads to a small sandy beach. It is ideal for surf casting and sheltered when the wind is from an easterly direction. It runs through a lovely patch of native bush. The water is clear and the beach gets the afternoon sun. At this time of year we are being treated to some wonderful sunsets.

Another walk takes you to a lookout from which you can view the tidal race of the awesome French Pass Passage. At times you can see seals and dolphins using this piece of water along with terns, gannets, petrels and penguins.

D'Urville Island is blessed with areas of reserve and a diverse range of native fauna. Some of the best short walks are available from D'Urville Island wilderness resort. These lead to waterfalls and glow worm grottos. For the more adventuresome loop walks are available. These give way to outstanding views of the outer Marlborough Sounds, French pass and surrounding area.

Shark diving is available from nov to the end of April. All gear is supplied and the dive is in a surface cage. This means you are only just under the water. The cage has an ideal viewing panel suited for both video and still photography. Information is available on the shark specie you are most likely to see being blue and mako.

Sportfishing and diving is available. Fishing is good with snapper, kingfish, blue cod, groper, terakihi and other specie being caught regularly. French Pass is only 1.5 hours from the wreck of the Lermontov and a host of good diving sites. Visibility is usually good and there is always a piece of calm water to be found around the Island.

Sea Kayaking is available. Both guided and freedom hire. The coast of D'Urville is both tranquil and wild, bold and spectacular with waterfalls, tunnels and bush to the waterline.

Nature tours to several of the offshore islands are available including Te Kakaho Island of the Chetwode Group. This Island is a closed nature reserve and is only accessible through an operator with a DOC concession. Here you can see yellow crowned parakeet, tui, bellbird, king shag, diving petrel, fluttering shearwater and a host of other specie as well as seals and a chance to see dolphins.

Seal/Dolphin swim is an awesome way to encounter our friends of the sea. Seals can be seen daily while dolphins can be seen on many occasions.

D'Urville Island mail run. This normally runs on a Tuesday and gives you a good look at the Island as well as the opportunity of meeting a few locals.

• A water taxi is available to all destinations.
• A dinghy is available for hire also.
• Beach picnics can be arranged with lunch.