Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Marlborough & Nelson Highlights
Getting up close to wildlife, including whales, seals, dolphins and albatross, in
Kaikoura
(
Click here
)
Nosing your way through the
Marlborough Wine Region
(
Click here
)
Tramping or biking the
Queen Charlotte Track
(
Click here
)
in the Marlborough
Sounds
Eating and drinking your way along Nelson's
Great Taste Trail
(
Click here
)
Sea kayaking in postcard-perfect
Abel Tasman National Park
(
Click here
)
Getting blown away at Blenheim's
Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre
(
Click here
)
,
one of New Zealand's best museums
Driving through a dunescape to
Farewell Spit
(
Click here
)
, where there'll be gan-
nets and godwits for company
Reaching the wild West Coast on foot, across Kahurangi National Park on the
Heaphy Track
(
Click here
)
Getting There & Around
Cook Strait can be crossed slowly and scenically on the ferries between Wellington and
Picton, and swiftly on flights servicing key destinations.
InterCity is the major bus operator, but there are also local shuttles. From October to
May, KiwiRail's
Coastal Pacific
train takes the scenic route from Picton to Christchurch,
via Blenheim and Kaikoura.
Renting a car is easy, with a slew of car-hire offices in Picton and depots throughout
the region.
Popular coastal areas such as the Marlborough Sounds and Abel Tasman National Park
are best navigated on foot or by kayak, with water-taxi services readily available to join
the dots.
MARLBOROUGH REGION
Picton is the gateway to the South Island and the launching point for Marlborough
Sounds exploration. A cork's pop south of Picton is Blenheim and its world-famous
wineries, and further south still is Kaikoura, the whale-watching town.
