Introducing Marlborough & Nelson

Splashed across the northern end of the South Island, the Marlborough and Nelson regions are many travellers’ first southern contacts after crossing Cook Strait from Wellington. The South Island’s population only recently topped one million, but less people doesn’t mean less action: there’s just as much to do here, and more room to do it!

The name of the genius who discovered that Marlborough’s cool, sunny climate is perfect for growing grapes has been lost to history, but the wine world is now toasting his (or her) legacy: Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough Wine Region is a world-class winner. Also here is pretty Picton, and the sunken valleys of the Marlborough Sounds: the Queen Charlotte Track is a tramping and mountain-biking haven.

The coast road southeast from Blenheim to Christchurch tracks through stunning (and we mean it!) Kaikoura. Here, snowcapped summits erupt from the coastline, while not far offshore, a continental crag offers up a smorgasbord for the whales, dolphins, seals and seabirds.

West of Marlborough is Nelson, an artsy, midsize city dotted with photogenic Victorian houses. Pubs, galleries and hip cafés set the scene for creative discourse; a vigorous coffee culture keeps the locals humming. The Nelson region is also the access point for tramping and kayaking in New Zealand’s most-visited national park, Abel Tasman. Not far away is Kaiteriteri, with one of NZ’s most alluring beaches, while further west Golden Bay mellows-out in hippiedom near the abandoned, end-of-the-world beauty of Farewell Spit.