Sauvignon Blanc is the grape of choice in New Zealand's most famous wine region. Located at the north east corner of the South Island, you'll be taken with the rolling hills and endless vineyards. You'll love it even more after free tasings at wineries. For an escape from people, head to the Marlborough Sounds, a maze of greenery and islands.
Highlights
Blenheim is one of NZs best known wine growing regions so if you like wine this is a good place to do some tasting.
Marlborough Sounds are a lovely place to exploring sea-flooded valleys and islands.
Queen Charlotte Track is a beautiful walk through the forests and bays.
Check out the DoC Conservation Campsites for cheap places to pitch your tent (tip: if you're going to be camping a bit while in the South Island, pick up the booklet-it has a description of each campsite in it plus the cost and how to get there. You can get these at DoC offices around the country).
There's 24 spots to choose from scatterd around the Marborough region. Some of these are ones you walk to (e.g on the Nydia Track) others you can drive to.
Some goodin's are:
Onamalutu Reserve. This is a beautiful spot surrounded by native forest including huge, old podocarp trees (e.g. Totara, Miro, Matai). To get there, head left (going towards Havelock) down Onamalutu road, off Highway 6, just after the Wairau bridge. The campsite is down the road, off to the right.
Pelorus Bridge. You can pitch yout tent or even hire a cabin here. The spot is beautiful, surrounded by native bush and birds. The biggest drawcard for stopping here, however, is the river - it is FANTASTIC for swimming! There's also walking tracks (options of 30minutes - 4hour tracks) and mountain biking tracks also. There is also a small cafe and shop at the office where you pay. This spot is about 20kms West of Havelock on Highway 6.
Kenepuru Head looks good too. It's 40kms from the Main road (head down Kenepuru Road to get to Kenepuru Head) so having to share the spot with few other people is more likely. Set right beside the inlet it's a good base for other activites.
There's a YHA Hostel at Anakiwa. Anakiwa is the start of the Queen Charlotte Track so it'd be a good spot to park up if you're planning on doing this hike. Even if you're not doing the tramp, Anakiwa is a stunning place just to go and chill out!
EAT
Blenheim is a relatively small city but the town centre has some good options for eating:
The Living Room. This is a nice place to get coffee, snacks or lunch and the people behind the counter are friendly. They're on Maxwell Road.
Poppy Thai. This Thai restaurant comes recommended by the locals. You can find them at 31 Scott Street.
Blenheim is one of NZs best known wine growing regions so if you like wine this is a good place to do some tasting. We recommend visiting Nigel at Wine Tours By Bike in Blenheim. He'll set you up with bikes, complete with wine bottle holders, and a map of the wineries in the area for your self-guided wine tour. They're also a GOOT Partner!
TRAMP
Marlborough Sounds is a perfect place to go exploring sea-flooded valleys and islands.
The Bridle Track is a good, quick stomp through native bush. It'll take you an hour, goes for 3 kms and can be mountain biked also. To get there, head down Tennyson Inlet Road, off highway 6 just past Rai Valley.
Walking through Onamalutu Reserve is said to be like walking through grandfathers. The reserve holds amazing examples of old kahikatea, matai, beech and totara trees. The get there, turn left down the road straight after the Wairau bridge (heading towards Nelson on Highway 6, between Woodbourne and Havelock). Follow the road until you get to North bank rd on the right. There's a DoC campsite to stay at too (the STAY/EAT?DRINK tab for more info).
The Nydia Track is a highly recommended mission if you have the time. The track goes for 27kms through native bush full with native birds. It's a one way track (but you can get transport back to your car) which will take 2 days. There's a DoC campsite at the Northern end of Nydia Bay, about 1/2 way through the track, and a lodge on the opposite side of the bay, but you'll need a minimum of 4 people to book the lodge. If you're into a technical mountain bike ride you can also bike the track. Check out the DoC website for more information, bookings, directions to get there and to download a brochure.
The Queen Charlotte Track is a beautiful and relatively easy walk that will take you around the coast with its many historical connections, through lush coastal forest, and over ridges that give you great views of the surrounding sounds. The track is 71kms long and will take 3-5 days. Parts of the track can be Mountain biked also. You can either stay in Doc campsites or plush private accommodation. Check out the DoC website for more info, directions to get there and to book.
KAYAK
Another great way to see the sounds. There are a few companies who hire out kayaks for you to paddle your way around the sounds. Many of these companies won't hire to solo paddlers so take a buddy along. Alternatively, they also do guided trips if you've not paddled much or want to go with other crew.
DRIVE
If you've not got much time you can also take in the sights and sounds of the Sounds by cruising the backroads that get you out around the bays and towards the heads of the sounds.
At Linkwater, on the Havelock - Picton Rd, turn off and head towards Pelorus Sound. You can also head to Anakiwa which is a beautiful spot.
Further towards Nelson, shortly after the Pelorus bridge, you can head down towards Tawhtitinui Reach and beyond.
If you need to stretch your legs near Havelock you can do so at the Cullen Point lookout. This is on the smaller road linking Havelock and Picton. The lookout is not long after Havelock (on the left when heading towards Picton) and is a great place for views of the sounds. You can also take a 10minute bush walk for even better views or a 1 hr walk also.
SOUTH: Head back South towards towards Christchurch via Blenheim and Kaikoura. Take the inland route via Renwick, on Highway 6 for the fast option, or head EAST towards Picton for the more scenic.
EAST: Head out to Picton to jump on the ferry to head to the North Island or to just take in life in this sleepy port town...
WEST: From Marborough you can either head towards Nelson and Golden Bay (via Highway 6 & 60), or South-West (on Highway 63 or 6) towards Nelson Lakes National Park (lots of awesome tramping) and past Murchison (lots of kayaking/rafting) on to the top of the West Coast.
A little bit about Nelson Lakes National Park:
This is an brilliant spot to get into the hills for a while. There's excellent hiking opportunities that take you in to Lake Rotoroa and Lake Rotoiti and beyond.
A good mission is to head in to Angelus Hut which sits on the shore of the picturesque lake Angelus. The best way to get there to is park your car at the Mount Robert skifield then head in to Speargrass Hut and on to Angelus. This trip into Angelus can be done in a day so this is a good overnight trip.
Another great place to head is in to Cupola Hut. From St Arnaud head in to Lake Head and then from here on to John Tait Hut for the night. From here head up to Cupola Hut, a cool little hut on the bush line. This is a good second night stop and you can head back the same way the next day. Alternatively this also links up with the Travis/Sabine trip.
Visit the DoC website or speak to DoC staff in St Arnaud for more info. and other trip options in the Park.
3. Wine Tours By Bike more enjoyable than driving Raquel Hakin (Rollins), Unregistered
I really like the Wine Tours by Bike in Blenheim. It’s faster than walking but you get to enjoy it more than just driving through it and you get a little exercise. You have to pace yourself. We’d go winery to winery I had a few drinks at each place and it got kinda hard to keep biking. If you plan on drinking a lot, maybe it’s not the best idea, but the ride gives you a chance to have a break between wineries.
Posted 2009-05-28 09:55:29
2. Picton and the best hostel I've ever been to Caitlin Brinkerhoff (BU), Unregistered
Picton is really cute. It’s a great place to visit for a day or as a pit stop. The Villa Backpackers was the best hostel I’ve been to. It has really nice staff, nice rooms, hot tubs, free bikes, huge kitchen, and a mandarin orange tree. We ate the oranges off the tree. There’s a really good outdoor courtyard with seating too.
Posted 2009-05-28 09:38:37
1. Wine Tours By Bike is the shit! Ilsa McIntyre (BU), Unregistered
Wine Tours by Bike in Marlborough was very very good. For $55 you get the bike for the whole day with wine bottle holders. He gives you a map, there’s no guide and you go around to all the wineries and do the tastings. It’s not easy to get lost, but we went 10km out of our way somehow. I would recommend starting at 10 or 11 in the morning, and fitting lunch in because some of the wineries close early.
