Marlborough - South Island, New Zealand

At the top of the South Island, the region splits neatly into halves, with Nelson to the west and Marlborough region to the east.

Marlborough is best known for its magnificent coastline, its famous wine region and on the southern coast, the spectacle of Kaikoura whale watching.

The breathtaking sheltered waterways of the Marlborough Sounds are the first sight of the South Island for many visitors, as the Cook Strait Ferry sails through here to dock in Picton.

The Sounds beckons visitors with its sheltered waterways, delightful bays, inlets and hidden coves with numerous walking tracks, wildlife, and unsurpassed views. There is also plenty of on water activity with some of the best sailing and kayaking waters in the country.

Picton and Havelock are the main service towns of the Marlborough Sounds and provide the best access to the secluded bays and accommodation by the sea. The best way to explore the Sounds is by sea - in a yacht, a kayak, a day cruise or in one of the many water taxis.

The Queen Charlotte Track in the Marlborough Sounds is the main attraction for trampers and is a 67 kilometres (42 mile) scenic walk or mountainbike ride. The calm waters of the Sounds give the opportunity for scuba diving, to check out either the wrecks or the rich marine life.

The Marlborough region is famous for its wine production, in particular its sauvignon blanc grapes, which grow in the Wairau Valley (just out of Blenheim), New Zealand's largest and best known wine region. There are now over 50 wineries open. All the wines of the Wairau Valley are celebrated in the annual Wine Marlborough festival every February.

The largest town in the Marlborough region is Blenheim, which has grown mostly to service the rapidly growing surrounding wine region.

South of Blenheim on the east coast is Kaikoura, a stunning coastal town with the snowcapped steeply rising foothills of the Seaward Kaikouras as a backdrop. Kaikoura attracts thousands of tourists every year who come for the wild life and to get up close and personal with the sperm whales and dolphins.

There are numerous eco-tourism companies, where you can see the whales and seals form the shore, the air and on the water.

Blenheim

Blenheim, 27km south of Picton at the top of the South Island, is the best place to access New Zealand's biggest wine growing district - the Wairau Valley.

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Marlborough Sounds

Marlborough Sounds is a pocket of paradise featuring islands, coves, waterways and delightful bays rising abruptly from the water to rugged, lush green wilderness and cleared farmland. The unique area was formed by the sea flooding its deep valleys after the Ice Age, over 12,000 years ago.

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Picton

Picton is a pretty portside town set in the deep, calm waters of the Queen Charlotte Sound. Picton is referred to as the "gateway to the South Island" as the Cook Strait Ferry, connecting the North Island to the South Island, docks here.

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Kaikoura

Located 183 kilometres north of Christchurch on SH1, Kaikoura is a mecca for wildlife enthusiasts. The name Kaikoura means "meal of crayfish" and reflects what an influence the sea has on this area.

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Marlborough Attractions

Scuba Diving, Cruises, Queen Charlotte Track, Wine Tours, Kaikoura Whale Watching

Marlborough Accommodation

Marlborough Activities