Blenheim,
Picton & Marlborough Sounds
Arriving by sea from the North Island, the Marlborough Sounds appear as a maze
of incredibly beautiful and isolated islands, sheltered inlets and rugged headlands.
The ferries make their way up scenic Queen Charlotte Sound to land at the former
whaling settlement of Picton, now a convenient overnight stop and the start
of the Queen Charlotte Walkway. The best way to explore this marine wonderland
is by boat and visitors can choose between kayaking trips or relaxing cruises.
Inland, the town of Blenheim serves the famous Marlborough Vineyards in New
Zealand’s premier wine region, which produces world-class Sauvignon Blanc.
Nelson - 'The Sunshine City'
Beautifully located in the middle of the Tasman Bay, the town of Nelson holds the enviable accolade of being New Zealand’s sunniest town. It is also a very friendly and appealing town, suggesting that this tag may be as much metaphorical as literal. The town has a reputation for its arts and crafts, which is underlined by the unusual annual Wearable Arts Festival.
Numerous cafes and pubs add to Nelson’s overall charm, but its popularity is largely due to the fact that the town is gateway to Abel Tasman National Park.
The National Parks
Abel Tasman National Park is a stunningly beautiful stretch of coastline and an adventure playground for hikers and kayakers. Its jewel-like turquoise bays are studded with granite boulders and fringed by golden sand beaches and lush forests. While land access to much of the park is limited to walkers, cruise launches bring visitors to enjoy its superb scenery from the sea. Farewell Spit, at the outer limit of Golden Bay, is a bird sanctuary, attracting over 90 species of bird, from waders to keas.
The National Parks of Nelson Lakes and Kahurangi offer the full wilderness experience to self-sufficient backpackers and a taste of the bush to day walkers.
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Northland