Pelorus Sound / Te Hoiere is the largest of the Marlborough Sounds, a complex of flooded river valleys at the top of New Zealand's South Island. It is a coastal saltwater sound, characterized by a long, winding main waterway stretching approximately 55 kilometers south from Cook Strait, with a highly indented shoreline of about 380 kilometers. The sound features numerous smaller arms and inlets, including Tennyson Inlet, Kenepuru Sound, and the Crail/Clova/Beatrix Bay areas, creating a vast network of calm, green waterways. Access for paddlers is primarily by boat from Havelock, which sits at the head of the sound, or from road access points at Rai Valley for Pelorus Sound and Linkwater for Kenepuru Sound. Specific launch sites like Jacobs Bay have experienced infrastructure damage, requiring beach access only, and paddlers must check local road conditions for closures before traveling. The sound is calm and quiet, ideal for cruising and kayaking, with a remote character as many areas are inaccessible by road. The Marlborough Sounds region has a generally mild climate, but weather conditions on the water can change rapidly, necessitating careful checking of marine forecasts and adequate equipment. Significant boat traffic includes the Pelorus Express mail boat, which operates three times weekly from Havelock, and other charter launches and water taxis, so paddlers must maintain awareness. Key sights include marine farms, notably for mussels, and the protected Maud Island (Te Hoiere), a 310-hectare nature reserve off-limits to the public. Wildlife such as dolphins can be spotted. There are few facilities directly on the water, with services concentrated in Havelock. Paddlers must treat or boil any water collected from land sources. The area holds cultural significance for the local Ngāti Kuia iwi, whose traditions name the sound. Drone use on public conservation land requires a permit from the Department of Conservation.