A helicopter lands on the bow of the super-yacht Serene, currently anchored in the Bay of Many Coves in Marlborough. The yacht is owned by Russian billionaire Yuri Shefler, whose business empire includes Stolichnaya Vodka.

Crew members aboard a $430 million super-yacht, owned by a Russian billionaire, took in the sights of the Marlborough Sounds yesterday.

Super-yacht Serene cruised into the Bay Of Many Coves after making the trip from Kawhia Harbour, south of Raglan, overnight on Tuesday.

This marked its second visit to the Sounds in the last 10 days. About 50 crew members are thought to be on board.

DEREK FLYNN / Fairfax NZ The staggering 134m-metre long Serene is one of the world's largest yachts.

Its owner, exiled Russian vodka magnate Yuri Shefler, has been travelling the world "personally spearheading" his company SPI Group's initiative to get into premium wineries.

It is unclear whether he was looking at wineries in Marlborough.

Shefler's 8231 tonne ship arrived in Auckland last month and his agents have insisted on absolute secrecy about its movements around New Zealand.

DEREK FLYNN / Fairfax NZ Serene may be the biggest super-yacht to have cruised the Marlborough Sounds.

Port Marlborough chief executive officer Ian McNabb believed it was only in the Sounds for the day.

The port company sent them a pilot to help navigate the ship into the Sounds yesterday, McNabb said.

It was possibly the biggest super-yacht to have cruised the Marlborough Sounds, he said.

DEREK FLYNN / Fairfax NZ A bar inside the super-yacht.

It is understood fresh Marlborough produce was delivered by water taxi to the crew on board yesterday morning.

At 134 metres long, the Serene is longer than New Zealand's two navy frigates and the multi-role ship HMNZS Canterbury.

It is said to feature an internal seawater pool, two helicopter platforms and a helicopter hangar.

A jet-black helicopter made a few flights from the ship yesterday, however, it was unclear whether Shefler took to the air.

Serene left Marlborough Sounds overnight and ship tracking sites show it on the whale watching grounds at Kaikoura this morning.

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