Capture the essence of Marlborough - in world famous wineries, seafood bounty and fresh cuisine, idyllic cruises, native forest walks, exhilarating outdoor activities. Here you'll find an accessible unspoilt wilderness, from wide river valleys to soaring mountains and tranquil bays, beneath sundrenched skies year-round, making Marlborough a true haven for relaxation and exploration. Marlborough is located close to the heart of New Zealand, on the north-east corner of the South Island, due west of Wellington city. If you arrive in the region by sea or air, the intricate detail of the Marlborough Sounds engages your interest immediately. Marlborough is the southern entry point for the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail. It's also the start of the Treasured Pathway touring route. West from Picton is the famed Queen Charlotte Drive, an incredibly scenic way to drive to Havelock and Nelson. This road wends its way through native forest, offering frequent views of the inner Queen Charlotte and Pelorus Sounds. For a totally escapist experience, take the road to French Pass with its tiny shoreside settlement and the nearby island of D'Urville. Separated by a unique tidal pass, these two communities offer picture-book scenery, superb fishing, peace and quiet. The road to French Pass begins at Rai Valley. Marlborough embraces 3 distinct landscapes, offering an extraordinary diversity of things to see and do.
Vineyard Country : In central Marlborough, the vineyard country synonymous internationally for its distinctive, herbaceous Sauvignon Blanc stretches from the coastline at Cloudy Bay, across the abundant Wairau River plains. It is New Zealand's largest grape-growing and winemaking region with around 70 wineries and 290 grape growers and over 4000 hectares planted in grapes, mainly Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer. At its heart is the region's main urban centre of Blenheim, and the satellite wine country village of Renwick.
Marlborough Sounds : The breathtaking blue green waters of the Marlborough Sounds are an unspoilt paradise for those who love the sea, tranquillity, the natural world, freedom walking or outdoor adventure. The Sounds are home to treasured bird and sealife - terns, shags, herons, blue penguins, dolphins, seals, and native forest birds, all easily viewed by private boat or charter tour. The broad pathway of the Queen Charlotte Track ( from Half day to 4 days) lures walkers of all ages and experience along the ridgelines of the Sounds, through virgin native forests and down to blue-green coves fringed with ferns. The Sounds remain relatively undiscovered, a retreat from the mainstream although - if you need it - civilisation is unexpectedly close at hand.
Queen Charlotte Sound from Picton : Discover New Zealand history and the natural world in the tranquil coves of Queen Charlotte Sound. One of New Zealand's most picturesque waterways, it welcomes visitors to Marlborough on the daily ferries. Bush-clad hills soar from the water's edge in this unspoilt wilderness, easily explored by boat, mountain bike or walks from Picton.
Pelorus and Kenepuru Sounds : By road or by charter boat from Havelock township, the Pelorus and Kenepuru Sounds are a photographer's paradise. Each headland reveals a view better than the last. You'll find civilisation here too, in restaurants and resorts, gardens open to view, motels, moorings, holiday parks, fishing lodges, backpackers and homestays, many tucked into their own fern-fringed cove. Cruise out to a mussel farm, and sample them fresh-cooked on board.
Awatere Valley : Stunning high country and coastal scenery unfolds and wildlife abounds through the Awatere Valley and south along the Pacific Coast, from historic Seddon township to Kaikoura, home to whales, seals and dolphins. The Pacific Coast Highway is a stunning driving route to Kaikoura wedges itself between the coastal mountain ranges and the ocean. Wide-open seascapes, rolling sand dunes and untamed beaches are flanked by rugged mountains. Lake Grassmere is a man-made scenic highlight. The ponds of evaporating sea water (sometimes pink and purple) are New Zealand's main source of salt. Check out the seal colony in the untamed isolation of Ward Beach or follow a side road for a back-country safari into the hinterland.
NELSON
Nestled into the Tasman Bay, on the top of New Zealand's South Island, the city of Nelson offers a lifestyle the envy of many in the entire country. It is an area of artists, artisans and very stylish wines. Nelson is the capital of World famous New Zealand wines. In Nelson, winemaking is celebrated as an art, which is why our boutique winemakers have been winning the hearts and minds of discerning wine lovers the world over, and attracting more than their fair share of prestigious international awards for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Pinot Gris.
Nelson region is the home of 3 spectacular national parks, all within 90 minutes drive of each. Satisfy your longing for faraway places from Farewell Spit to Abel Tasman National Park in Golden Bay with its coastline of turquoise waters and golden-sand beaches to Kahurangi and Nelson Lakes, National Parks with rugged mountains and native plant and bird-life. Be inspired by the creative , international spectacle that is the World of Wearable Art, See art in its own place, Visit artist galleries in beautiful locations throughout the region.
Abel Tasman National Park:- Abel Tasman is renowned for its golden beaches, sculptured granite cliffs, and its world-famous coastal track. At 22,530 hectares Abel Tasman is New Zealand's smallest national park and the most natural stretch of easily accessible coastline. It is located at the top of the South Island. The world famous Abel Tasman Coastal Track opens up the park's intimate estuaries, golden sand beaches and forested headlands. Marahau and Totaranui are the main gateways to the park, 1 ½ and 2 ½ hours drive from Nelson City and provide access to the Inland track system.
Golden Bay & Kahurangi National Park:- Golden Bay is an area rich in history and nature experiences. From Nelson it is 1 ½ hours journey over the Takaka Hill to 'another world' of lush farmland and sweeping coastline. Visit the seaside township of Collingwood , Aorere gold (near Collingwood) triggered New Zealand's first gold rush in 1857 . On the Takaka Hill visit the Ngarua Caves, and 176 metre deep Harwood's Hole. Takaka Hill marble was used to build New Zealand's Parliament Buildings. Just out of Takaka are the famous clearwater Te Waikoropupu (Pupu) Springs, with the world's purest water. Beaches abound - from Pohara and Tata Beaches, Ligar Bay, Wainui Inlet to the rugged west coast beaches including Wharariki. Access magnificent Kahurangi National Park, 452,000 hectares of glaciated mountain ranges, lakes and limestone landscapes from Collingwood, or the Cobb Valley, south of Takaka. This road is the only vehicle access to the park's alpine region for hiking and botanising. Motueka, Takaka, Karamea and Murchison are the park's gateway towns. At Golden Bay, experience feeding the Anatoki Eels - a holiday pastime since 1914 and Join a Farewell Spit tour - the southern nesting spot for seabirds from the Arctic.
Nelson Lakes National Park:- Nelson Lakes National Park protects 102,000 hectares of the northern most Southern Alps. The Park offers a quiet experience of tranquil beech forests, craggy mountains, clear streams, fields of tussock and lakes, both big and small. During the last Ice Age massive glaciers gouged out troughs in the mountainous headwaters of the Buller River. Today these troughs are filled by Lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa, the largest lakes in the area. The vegetation is predominantly beech, with the red and silver species growing in lower, warmer sites and mountain beech at higher altitudes. The bush line, where forest gives way to alpine plants is a remarkable feature of the park; the change is abrupt and uniform as if drawn with a ruler. In summer the alpine fell fields teem with flowers, though typically they tend to be pale colours, white, light blue and sometimes yellow. The forests are full of birds like tomtits, robins and the tiny rifleman, New Zealand's smallest bird. The gateway to the park is St Arnaud, a picturesque village just 1 ½ hours drive from Nelson or Blenheim. St Arnaud and Lake Rotoiti are accessed by State Highway 63 from Blenheim. A side road, about half way between St Arnaud and Murchison leads to Lake Rotoroa.
The Treasure Pathway : The Treasured Pathway is a highway-based voyage of discovery through Marlborough and Nelson, at the northern end of New Zealand's South Island.
