What to do there

There is plenty to do in Marlborough where wine, water and wilderness reign supreme. Queen Charlotte Track is a great way to appreciate the Marlborough Sounds. This is a 67-kilometre track that passes through lush coastal forest, around coves and inlets, offering breathtaking views of the Queen Charlotte and Kenepuru sounds. Blenheim is the base from which to begin your explorations of Marlborough's wineries or follow the art and craft trail to see a thriving creative community in action. Alternatively you can visit a distillery and see how it's done and taste locally produced fruit brandies and liqueurs.

Explore the town of Picton, a European settlement from the 1840s, and see many of the early buildings that still grace the waterfront. Go on a sea kayaking safari or visit the Edwin Fox, a maritime artefact situated in Picton. Dive shipwrecks such as the Russian cruise liner, Mikhail Lermontov, or the wreck of the Hippalos, a 120-year-old wooden barque. Check out Havelock, which was once a thriving gold-mining town, or visit the historic gold mining township of Canvastown. Don’t miss out on the scenic splendour of Pelorus Bridge Reserve and rural Rai Valley, or get on board a charter boat and go snapper fishing and see the tiny settlement of French Pass and its offshore island d'Urville. Stretch your legs on the Pelorus Bridge walks, 18 kilometres west of Havelock. Guided trout fishing and hunting tours are other ways to appreciate the beauty of the Marlborough landscape. The average brown trout in this region weighs between one to three kilograms, depending on the fishing ground.

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