Guest who came for a Luxury Pāua Pearl Tour with Helicopter in Nelson
A 150-Minute Exclusive Pāua Pearl Tour on Arapaoa Island
We warmly welcome you to our family home on Arapaoa Island, where our passionate story with the pāua (the Māori name for New Zealand abalone) began.
This 150-minute pāua farm tour is our most immersive experience with a deeper, more intimate exploration of our pearl farm on Arapaoa Island.
Designed for pearl enthusiasts, this luxury pearl experience takes you further behind the scenes of our sustainable pāua farming and pearl cultivation process.
Pāua pearl tour, a must-do experience in New Zealand
The Luxury Pāua Pearl Tour New Zealand Pricing
| Visitor Type | Price per person | Add-on |
|---|---|---|
| Casual Visitors Price | 120NZD | Includes a fresh New Zealand pāua tasting and other add-ons, (see the FAQ for a comparison table). |
| Accommodation Visitors Price | 90NZD | Includes a fresh New Zealand pāua tasting and other add-ons, (see the FAQ for a comparison table). |
Transport to Arapaoa Island is not included. Arrive by boat (Beachcomber Cruises), helicopter (Helicopters Nelson), or your own vessel.
What to Expect on Your Luxury Pāua Pearl Tour, in 8 Steps
1. Discover a Must-Visit Island in New Zealand
Your luxury pearl experience takes place in a postcard-perfect landscape, nestled among native bush and the serene beauty of Arapaoa Island. Overlooking Whekenui Bay and the entrance to Cook Strait, you will immediately feel how Arapaoa Island shapes both our lifestyle and our pāua farming philosophy.
Aerial view of Arapawa Blue Pearls
2. Savour a Morning or Afternoon Tea with a New Zealand Pāua Tasting
This pāua pearl tour offers the opportunity to enjoy homemade New Zealand baking during a morning or afternoon tea included in your experience, along with a fresh pāua tasting. This refined, degustation-style experience showcases pāua prepared with our signature homemade seasoning blend, crafted to enhance its delicate ocean flavour.
Taste New Zealand pāua
3. Learn More About New Zealand Abalone (Pāua)
During this in-depth pāua pearl tour, you’ll learn about:
- The full pearl growing process
- Advanced pearl grading techniques
- What makes pāua pearls among the rarest in the world
- The craftsmanship behind every finished piece
This part of the luxury pearl experience includes a short educational film followed by a Q&A session.
4. Unlock Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Access as Part of Your Premium Pāua Pearl Tour
While pearl grading is introduced in our Foundation tour, this luxury pāua pearl tour explores it in greater detail. Learn how colour, lustre, surface quality and rarity are assessed on Arapaoa Island.
New Zealand blue pearls and a pearl necklace
A highlight of this luxury tour is exclusive access to our processing room on Arapaoa Island, where pearls are delicately extracted. Gain deeper insight into our craftsmanship, sustainable land-based farming, and reseeding project supporting pāua.
This luxury pearl experience is enriched with extended Q&A sessions, offering meaningful exchanges with the growers behind each pearl.
5. Step Into Our Pāua Farm
Pāua Farm Tour
A highlight of your pāua pearl tour is visiting our farm.
You’ll see adult pāua in specialised tanks featuring our innovative ‘tipper bucket’, and, depending on the season, step into our hatchery to observe juvenile pāua.
These are not raised for pearl cultivation, but for our reseeding project, a long-term initiative designed to support the natural future of pāua in New Zealand.
An additional Q&A session offers more time to deepen your understanding of our farm.
On the left, baby pāua grown for our reseeding project, on the right, a glimpse of the pāua farm tour.
This luxury pearl experience offers deeper access to the hatchery, revealing pāua’s early life and the meticulous care behind our reseeding efforts across New Zealand.
6. Be Enchanted by The Pearl Jewellery Boutique & Island Heritage
Your pāua pearl tour continues in our pāua pearl jewellery boutique, where craftsmanship meets nature.
You’ll also gain access to our intimate mini museum, offering insight into the history of Arapaoa Island and the inspiration behind our jewellery.
7. Design Your Own Pāua Pearl Jewellery
As part of this premium tour, you may enjoy a personal one-on-one jewellery design session with Antonia, founder of Arapawa Blue Pearls.
During this special moment, choose your favourite pāua pearl from a wide range of colours. Guided by Antonia, select tones that complement your style or explore our Birth Pearl Collection. You’ll then design a piece to treasure for a lifetime, whether it’s a necklace, a bespoke ring, or a meaningful creation, crafted around your story.
Seven Sisters Silver Pāua Pearl Necklace
This luxury pearl experience is reserved for our Luxury Tour guests and offers a rare opportunity to transform your chosen pāua pearl into a future family treasure.
8. Enjoy a Unique Island Encounter
To conclude your luxury pāua pearl tour we’ll introduce you to our resident longfin eels, who have called Arapaoa Island home for over 60 years. They were once loved by the children who attended the local school, now our charming School House Retreat holiday home.
The Luxury Pāua Pearl Tour Details
- Duration: 150-minute
- Location: Arapaoa Island, Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand
- Format: Land-based Pāua Pearl Farm Tour
- Suitable for: Ages 7+
- Catering: Morning or afternoon tea and a light lunch included
- Signature New Zealand Pāua tasting: Included
Book Your Luxury Pāua Pearl Tour
Spaces for our luxury pearl experience are limited to ensure a personalised experience on Arapaoa Island.
If you are seeking a deeper understanding of pāua, exclusive behind-the-scenes access, and a refined tasting experience, this extended pāua farm tour is designed for you.
The Pearl Girls, true pearl enthusiasts, experiencing one of our exclusive luxury tours
Pāua Pearl Tour FAQ
How to Get There?
Our tours are accessible by boat or helicopter (transport arranged at your own expense).
Sail to our pāua tour New Zealand with Beachcomber Cruises
You may travel with Beachcomber Cruises, enjoying a scenic cruise through the breathtaking Marlborough Sounds, where you may spot dolphins, seals, and other native marine wildlife along the way to Arapaoa Island.
Fly to our pāua tour New Zealand with Helicopters Nelson
Alternatively, arrive by helicopter with Helicopters Nelson and enjoy spectacular panoramic views over the Marlborough Sounds before landing directly on Arapaoa Island.
For full transportation details and booking information, please visit the Transport section on our main Pāua Pearl Farm Tour page.
What accommodation options are available?
For those wishing to experience island life for a few days alongside our pāua farm tour, we would be delighted to host you in one of our three holiday homes, The Beach House Retreat, The Gunyah Retreat, or The School House Retreat.
The Beach House Retreat, The Gunyah Retreat, and The School Cottage Retreat
Staying with us allows you to truly connect with New Zealand’s untouched nature, enjoy private, breathtaking sunrises, and count shooting stars under a crystal-clear sky where the Milky Way stretches brightly above you.
What’s the difference between the Foundation Tour and Luxury Tour?
Compare our 2 options for your unforgettable pāua pearl tour:
| Experience | Foundation Tour | Luxury Tour |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 90-minute pāua pearl farm tour | 150-minute pāua pearl farm tour |
| Location | Land-based pearl farm, Arapaoa Island | Land-based pearl farm, Arapaoa Island |
| Marlborough Sounds boat or helicopter journey | Not included | Not included |
| Introduction to pāua pearl farming | ✔ | ✔ |
| History of New Zealand Abalone pāua pearls | ✔ | ✔ |
| Pāua life cycle explanation | ✔ | ✔ |
| Pearl grading overview | ✔ | ✔ |
| Detailed pearl grading masterclass | - | ✔ Exclusive session |
| Access to our processing area | - | ✔ |
| Access to working pāua farm tanks | ✔ | ✔ |
| Tipper bucket wave simulation system | ✔ | ✔ |
| See baby pāua (seasonal) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Hatchery Experience | Guided hatchery introduction | In-depth hatchery experience |
| Q&A sessions with growers | 2 sessions | 3 sessions |
| Pearl jewellery boutique visit | ✔ | ✔ Extended time |
| Design your own pāua pearl jewellery | - | ✔ Private session with Antonia |
| Morning or afternoon tea | ✔ | ✔ |
| Signature pāua tasting for a full pāua experience | - | ✔ |
| Suitable for ages | 4+ years | 7+ years |
| Ideal for | Families & first-time visitors | Luxury travellers & pearl enthusiasts |
| Price (exclude transport) | $70 | $120 |
| Price if you're staying with us | $50 | $90 |
Please note that all our prices are in New Zealand Dollars