About Marlborough

Marlborough & Surrounds

About Marlborough

Marlborough is famous for its excellent white wines and the stunning beauty of the mountainous water ways of the Marlborough Sounds. Marlborough’s main business hub is Blenheim, a busy provincial centre set amidst the wine and fruit growing plains of the Wairau – home to a great number of quality wineries. Only 25min drive from here is the not-to-be-missed sea side hamlet of Picton – the natural gateway to the Marlborough Sounds and for those traveling from the North, the South Island. From Picton you can also access one of the great walks of New Zealand, the Queen Charlotte Track. Marlborough is a wonderland for fishing, kayaking and boating, wine tours, long scenic drives, hiking and mountain biking.

Our Marlborough Holiday Homes & Apartments

We offer holiday home and apartment accommodation in Marlborough, around the beautiful seaside destination of Picton, just 30 minutes drive from some of the best wineries in the country and on the doorstep to the waterways of the magnificent Marlborough Sounds, also properties within the Sounds itself.

Please view our Marlborough Holiday Homes & Apartments.

Regional Attractions

• Adventure tours
• Art and Craft trail
• Beachcomber fun cruises
• Boat and Yacht Charters
• Dolphin Watching Ecotours
• Edwin Fox Maritime Centre
• Golf courses
• Marlborough Quad Bike Adventures
• Queen Charlotte Track
• Seahorse World Aquarium
• Sounds Connection Fishing Charters
• Sounds Wild Sea Kayaking
• Swimming with dolphins
• Skydiving
• Victoria Domain
• Vinyards/ Wineries
• Waikawa Sea Kayaks
• Walking trails
• Winery bike tours

Getting to & from Marlborough

Auckland to Blenheim / Picton

Flying – If you are coming from Auckland then flying is probably the best option for you. The Nelson – Auckland route is well serviced by Air New Zealand with almost hourly flights between 6am and 7pm. Total flight time is just under 80min. and Nelson Airport is conveniently located, 10min. from Nelson City centre and our Holiday Nelson holiday homes. Sit on the left for the best views!

Driving – This is certainly possible, but with a 900km+ North Island section, a 3hour+ inter-island ferry ride and another 150km of driving from Picton, this is not a plan for the fainthearted! This huge journey, can be accomplished in a day… but spreading the drive across 2 or more days is certainly recommended.Driving instructions: Follow State Highway (SH) 1 to Wellington (other options exist, this is just the fastest way).In Wellington, follow SH1 to either of the Wellington-Picton ferry terminals. Your two main options are, the Interislander ferry or the Bluebridge ferry.From Picton take either the scenic Queen Charlotte Drive route to Havelock and join SH6 to Nelson (winding, but beautiful) or the slightly longer, less interesting, but usually quicker route: SH1 to Springcreek, SH62 to SH6. Picton to Nelson is typically a 1.5hr drive.

Wellington to Picton

Flying – Just a 35min. jaunt across Cook Straight. Two airlines to choose from, Air New Zealand or Sounds Air with flights at least every hour. Nelson Airport is conveniently located, 10min. from Nelson City centre and our Holiday Nelson holiday homes. Sit on the left for the best views.

Driving – See Auckland details from Wellington.

Christchurch to Picton

Flying – Air New Zealand flights leave almost hourly and take just 50minutes. Nelson Airport is conveniently located just 10min. from Nelson City centre and our Holiday Nelson holiday homes.

Driving – There are two main routes North to Nelson, each offering quite different scenary and the two forming an excellent circuit for those completing a return trip by car.Driving directions: Route 1) Via Hanmer and Maruia Springs: Follow SH1 to SH7, onto S69 and SH6 to Nelson. Both Hanmer and Maruia offer excellent hot spring bathing opportunities. This route is follows mountainous river valleys and takes about 6hrs. Route 2) Via Kaikoura and Blenheim: Follow SH1 to Kaikoura and on to Blenheim before heading further North to Spring Creek, SH62 and SH6 to Nelson. Travel the East Coast where the highway passes before the Southern Alps, through old tunnels, past the whale watching mecca of Kaikoura and the wine growing region of Marlborough! Without stopping this route take about 7hrs.

Queenstown / Wanaka to Picton

Flying – There are no direct flights between Nelson and Queenstown, you need to hub through Christchurch to fly. Depending on the flight this will take between 2 and 3hrs.

Driving – There are two main routes North to Nelson. Via Christchurch (SH8/SH1…; 12hrs.) or via the West Coast (SH6; 11hrs.). The West Coast is the more spectacular of the two, offering the chance to drive through spectacular virgin New Zealand forests, past the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers and along the rugged cliffs and beaches of the coast.Note: In the summer months (Dec ~ Apr) a number of bus operators provide an excellent budget solution to travel.

Getting around Marlborough

New Zealander’s generally tend to favour personal transportation over public transportation and this has made it difficult for City authorities and businesses in New Zealand’s provincial cities to establish first class mass transit options. An infrequent bus service does operate between Picton and Blenheim, but given the distance between these points and then the distances to the outlying wineries and other spots of interest a rental car/boat or tour is recommended.

Buses – There are municipal operated buses which run various routes around Blenheim on an hourly schedule although these are mainly suited to travelling between local residential areas only. There is no bus service operating in Picton, but for transport to Blenheim (or in between), Nelson, Christchurch or further afield the Mini-buses provide a great option.

Mini-buses – Minibuses leave from the Picton Ferry Terminal or nearby isite information and tourist centre. These buses run hourly or more frequently during morning and evening peak arrival and depature times. Please check the Yellow Pages phone book under “Bus Charters & Services”.

Taxis – Gateway Taxis ph (03) 577-2072

Ferries / Boat charters – There are several water taxi / charter boat companies that provide transportation or tours around the Sounds. The main local (not North Island – South Island) ferry companies are Cougar Line ph (03) 573-7925, Endeavour Express ph (03) 573-5456, Picton Water Taxis ph (03) 573-7853 and Peter Beech’s particularly excellent service: Eco Tours ph (03) 573-6901.

Rental cars – All national and international rental agencies have depots in Picton. Picton is a typical start and end point for many South Island adverntures. It is usally simple to arrange a pick up or drop off from Picton without special drop off charges.

Bicycle hire – Picton Cycle Touring Solutions offer touring cycle hire ph 021-165-2423. For mountain bike hire please contact the Marlborough Sounds Adventure Company ph freedial 0800-283-283

Walking – Picton is fantastic for walking. The hills are filled with day walks, forest roads or access tracks and the beaches and shoreline make for an excellent day of beach combing. From Waikawa Views in Waikawa Bay the walk to Picton is about 4km and will take you about an hour. Head down Nautique Plc., cross the small bridge and head through the Waikawa Marina. At the foot of the hill you can access a walking track that will take you along the natural residential fringe all the way to Picton Marina, across the Coat-Hanger Bridge to the centre of town!

What to Bring

One of the benefits of staying at a ‘Holiday Homes Nelson | Marlborough’ holiday home is that it really is your home away from home. All the necessities of life are more are right at your finger tips. All you will need to bring are your personal items, the golf clubs or your recreational equipment of choice.