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Destination Guides > New Zealand > Marlborough
MarlboroughMost people arrive in the Marlborough region by ferry from Wellington. This wine-producing region is known for its excellent sauvignon blancs, particularly the famed Cloudy Bay and the popular Montana wines. Although some travellers stay in the region to pick up fruit picking work, most of those who decide to linger in Marlborough usually stay on to explore the breathtaking Marlborough Sounds and many backpackers hike the Queen Charlotte Track. PictonAs the southern terminus for the Cook Strait ferries, this pretty little town is most people's first impression of the South Island. Although most people come here to make transport connections, Picton is also the launching pad for exploring the Marlborough Sounds with many hiking trails starting nearby including the popular Queen Charlotte Track. Practical InformationVisitor Information CentreThe Foreshore, PictonTel (03) 520 3113 Website www.destinationmarlborough.com Open Jan-Apr 8.30am-5pm daily; May-Sep Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 9am-4.30pm Coming & GoingPicton has excellent transport connections for a small town. AIRFlights from Wellington are competitively priced often working out cheaper than the ferry. Sounds Air (tel 0800 505 005; website www.soundsair.co.nz) flies from the small Koromiko airfield 9km outside town and operate their own shuttle bus to and from Picton. Air New Zealand (tel 0800 737 000; website www.airnz.co.nz) and Origin Pacific (tel 0800 302 302; website www.originpacific.co.nz) both fly from the busier Blenheim Airport, about half an hour south of Picton. BUSThere are frequent bus connections with InterCity. Atomic Shuttles and many smaller bus operators serve Picton with services to Christchurch, Nelson and elsewhere in the South Island. TRAINPicton is the northern terminus for the South Island's rail network. The train station is on Auckland Street only 200 metres from the ferry terminal. FERRYThe ferry terminal handles Blue Bridge, InterIslander, and Lynx ferries to Wellington. Most rental car agencies have their offices outside the ferry terminal and along nearby Auckland Street. There are also smaller ferries (water taxis) that connect Picton with various spots in the Marlborough Sounds. Many backpackers use these to get to the Queen Charlotte Track and some of the more remote hostels in the Sounds. AccommodationAtlantis HostelLondon Quay, PictonTel (03) 573 7390 Bayview Backpackers318 Waikawa Road, PictonTel (03) 573 7668 Picton Lodge9 Auckland Street, PictonTel (03) 573 7788 Sequoia Lodge3a Nelson Square, PictonTel (03) 573 8399 The Juggler's Rest8 Canterbury Street, PictonTel (03) 573 5570 The Villa34 Auckland Street, PictonTel (03) 573 6598 Tombstone Backpackers16 Gravesend Place, PictonTel (03)573 7116 Wedgewood House YHA10 Dublin Street, PictonTel (03) 573 7797 SightsEdwin Fox Maritime CentreThe Edwin Fox is the world's ninth oldest ship and is the focal point of this small maritime museum near Picton's ferry terminal. This ship was built in Calcutta in 1853 and is the only surviving wooden ship to carry immigrants to New Zealand and convicts to Australia. It is also the oldest surviving troopship from the Crimean War. Foreshore, PictonTel (03) 573 6868 Admission $6 Open 9am-5pm daily HavelockThis small town between Picton and Nelson is a good base for exploring the Marlborough Sounds and many people stay here to hike the Nydia Track. Apart from hiking, Havelock is famous for two things its mussels and Ernest Rutherford. The Noble prize winning scientist grew up in Havelock and went to school in the building that is now the YHA hostel. He is best known for splitting the atom and his other achievements include the discovery of radon and work that has led to the invention of the smoke detector and Geiger counter. Practical InformationDepartment of ConservationThe local DOC office is inside the Rutherford Lodge YHA. 46 Main Road, HavelockTel (03) 574 2104 Website www.rutherfordtravel.co.nz Open 8am-10pm AccommodationBlue Moon48 Main Road, HavelockTel (03) 574 2212 Rutherford Lodge YHA46 Main Road, HavelockTel (03) 574 2104 Marlborough SoundsYou'll notice the Marlborough Sounds' myriad coves and inlets if you arrive in Picton by ferry (or by plane on a clear day); many of which harbour small resorts and backpackers' hostels. The best way to explore the Marlborough Sounds is to take a local ferry or water taxi to some of the remote backpackers resorts or to hike the Queen Charlotte Track. Local TransportVarious hostels in Picton can arrange boat transport to Ship Cove with a pick up from Anakiwa for hikers walking the Queen Charlotte Track. Packs can be carried between accommodation spots by boat operators; this means that you only need to walk with a daypack, making the trek a little easier. Cougar Line (tel (03) 573 7925; website www.queencharlottetrack.co.nz) and Endeavour Express (tel (03) 573 5456; website www.boatrides.co.nz) are two of the main transport operators. They both combine the ferry trip from Picton to Ship Cover with pack transfer to jetties along the track and pick up from Anakiwa. They cost between $60 and $65 for the return trip including pack transfer. It is also possible to use the boat connections to complete a chosen section of the track, but this usually costs more than the full return trip. AccommodationIn addition to several campsites in the region, including seven on the Queen Charlotte Track, there are a number of excellent hostels, many of which are within easy access to the Track. The following hostels are listed geographically from south to north. All of them, with the exception of Hopewell, are within walking distance from the Queen Charlotte Track. There are no DOC huts on the Queen Charlotte Track. Anakiwa Backpackers401 Anakiwa Road, AnakiwaTel (03) 574 1388 De BrettsPortage Bay, Kenepuru SoundTel (03) 573 4522 HopewellHopewell, Double Bay, Kenepuru SoundTel (03) 573 4341 Lochmara LodgeLochmara Bay, Queen Charlotte SoundTel (03) 573 4554 Mahana Homestead LodgeEndeavour Inlet, Marlborough SoundsTel (03) 579 8373 Nikau CottagesMarlborough SoundsTel (03) 579 8292 Portage Bay Bunkhouse (Portage Bay Resort)Kenepuru Road, Portage Bay, Kenepuru SoundTel (03) 573 4309 Portage Bay ShopKenepuru Road, Portage Bay, Kenepuru SoundTel (03) 573 4445 Punga Cove ResortPunga Cove, Queen Charlotte SoundTel (03) 579 8561 Te MahoerangiNydia Track, Marlborough SoundsTel (03) 579 8411 HikingNYDIA TRACKThe Nydia Track (27km; 2 days) connects Tennyson Inlet with Kaiuma Bay, near Havelock. It follows the shoreline of Nydia Bay and crosses the Kaiuma and Nydia Saddles. Rutherford Travel (tel (03) 375 2104; website www.rutherfordtravel.co.nz) in the Havelock YHA is also the local DOC office and they organise transport packages with a ferry drop off at Shag Point near the start of the track and pick up at Duncan Bay. This transport package costs $45 and there are other packages that include accommodation. QUEEN CHARLOTTE TRACKThe Queen Charlotte Track (71km; 3-5 days) takes in beautiful scenery on the stretch of land between Kenepuru and Queen Charlotte Sounds. Although the trail can be hiked in either direction, most people start at Ship Cove (where Captain James Cook took shelter between 1770 and 1777) and walk back toward Anakiwa near Picton. The Queen Charlotte Track is also popular with mountain bikers, except in summer (Dec-Feb) when bikes are not permitted. It takes around 13 hours to ride the length of the track. Ship Cove to Resolution Bay (4.5km; 2hrs)The track begins at Ship Cove, a 1hr boat ride from Picton. Captain James Cook took shelter here on five separate occasions between 1770 and 1777. There is an historic reserve here that features Cook's Monument. From Ship Cove, the track climbs through native bush to a lookout that offers breathtaking views to Mount Egmont/Taranaki in the North Island and then descends to Resolution Bay where there are cabins and a campsite. Resolution Bay to Endeavour Inlet (10.5km; 3hrs)The track from Resolution Bay follows an old bridle path to Endeavour Inlet where there are a couple of accommodation options, but no campsite. Endeavour Inlet to Camp Bay (11.5km; 4hrs)From Endeavour Inlet, the track follows the shoreline to Camp Bay where there is a DOC campsite and backpackers' accommodation at the Punga Cove Resort. Camp Bay to Torea Saddle (20.5km; 8hrs)This is the hardest part of the track, but you are rewarded by breathtaking views of the sounds from the ridge-top walk. Although there are a couple of campsites on this section, most people hike it all in one day and stay at one of the three backpackers' hostels in Portage, near Torea Saddle. Torea Saddle to Mistletoe Bay (7.5km; 4hrs)This section climbs out of Torea Saddle and follows the ridgeline along the highest points of the track offering more spectacular views. It is recommended to take the one-hour detour off the track to the brilliant Lochmara Lodge, which is one of New Zealand's best backpackers' hostels. There is a DOC campsite at Mistletoe Bay. Mistletoe Bay to Anakiwa (12.5km; 4hrs)The final leg of the walk follows old bridle paths descending to a DOC campsite at Davies Bay (Umungata) before the final easy walk into Anakiwa. At Anakiwa there's a backpackers' hostel and a shelter with a toilet and payphone where you can wait for your transport back to Picton. BlenheimBlenheim is the largest town in the Marlborough region and it is the commercial centre for New Zealand's top wine producing district. Marlborough wines particularly Sauvignon Blanc have an excellent reputation internationally and the locally produced Cloudy Bay is considered one of the best. The attraction for many budget travellers is the abundance of work in the vineyards, especially during the grape harvest. The managers of the local backpackers hostels are a tremendous source of knowledge when it comes to looking for work. Practical InformationVisitor Information CentreBlenheim Railway Station, State Highway 1, BlenheimTel (03) 577 8080 Website www.destinationmarlborough.co.nz Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 9am-4pm Coming & GoingAIRBlenheim Airport, on State Highway 6 near Renwick, handles Air New Zealand (tel 0800 737 000; website www.airnz.co.nz) flights to Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington and Origin Pacific (tel 0800 302 302; website www.originpacific.co.nz) flights from Wellington. Both airlines' service to and from Wellington is a good value alternative to the ferry. BUSBlenheim lies on State Highway 1, which runs down the east coast of the South Island. It is well served by coach and shuttle bus services linking Picton with Kaikoura and Christchurch. These include InterCity, Atomic Shuttles (tel (03) 578 9904; website www.atomictravel.co.nz) and East Coast Express (tel 0508 830 900), which depart from the train station on Sinclair Street. Kiwilink Shuttles (tel (03) 577 8332; website www.kiwilinks.co.nz) go to Picton, Nelson, the Abel Tasman National Park and Golden Bay. Deluxe Travel Line (tel (03) 578 5467; website www.deluxetravel.co.nz) runs a couple of coaches a day between Blenheim and Picton. TRAINThe TranzCoastal train linking Christchurch and Picton stops at Blenheim. The train station is on Sinclair Street in the town centre. AccommodationArrow Backpackers107 Budge Street, BlenheimTel (03) 577 9857 Cherrycamp House52 Budge Street, BlenheimTel (03) 579 5445 Honi-B Backpackers18 Parker Street, BlenheimTel (03) 577 8441 Jack's Backpackers144 High Street, BlenheimTel (03) 578 7375 Koanui Backpackers33 Main Street, BlenheimTel (03) 578 7487 Leeways Backpackers33 Landsdowne Street, BlenheimTel (03) 579 2213 Lemon Tree Backpackers78 Main Street, BlenheimTel (03) 579 5413 Swampys Backpackers2 Ferry Road, Spring Creek, BlenheimTel (03) 570 2180 The Grapevine29 Park Terrace, BlenheimTel (03) 578 6062 SightsMarlborough MusemThis large regional museum has exhibits of local history. Brayshaw Park, Arthur Baker Place, BlenheimTel (03) 578 1712 Website www.marlboroughmuseum.org.nz Admission $5 Open 10am-4pm daily RenwickRenwick is a great location for exploring the surrounding vineyards with many wineries within an easy bike ride. AccommodationWatson's Way56 High Street, RenwickTel (03) 572 8228 |
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