Winter
What's happening?
Winter brings blue-sky days, calm weather and smooth water. It’s a fantastic time of year to sail to a secluded Marlborough Sounds bay for a lunch blessed with birdsong, or to walk the Queen Charlotte Track. Head to Rainbow Ski Field for some fun in the snow, or stay inside with a glass of pinot noir, matched with local lamb, in front of a crackling fire.
Must Dos
Stay in the Marlborough Sounds
From self-contained baches to all inclusive lodges, there's a slice of paradise for everyone in the Marlborough Sounds, some accessible only by water-taxi.
Marlborough Highlights
This itinerary has been designed to fit into a shorter New Zealand itinerary featuring Marlborough's two most well-known assets, wine and the Marlborough Sounds.
Luxury Retreats & Wine Tours
Indulge in a five-star experience at many luxury retreats offering premium food, wine and brilliant views, whether it be in a secluded bay in the Marlborough Sounds, or among the vines in Marlborough. Wine tours are plentiful with group or private tours available by bike or luxury van.
Family Fun
Lots of Family Fun to be had in Marlborough, from planes and cars, wildlife experiences in Picton and the Marlborough Sounds that even the adults will love!
Walks, bike rides and kayaking
Experience the many walks, bike rides and kayaking trips in Marlborough, from the winding waters of the Marlborough Sounds, to the 30+ winery cellar doors.
Taste Bud Sensation
This itinerary is for people who love food and wine. Pair world famous Marlborough wine with fresh local seafood for the ultimate vine-to-glass, ocean-to-plate, wine and food experience.
The Salmon Trail
If you’re a foodie with a passion for matching cuisine with great quality wine or beer, or just love to eat and drink, then Marlborough will surprise and delight you and your tastebuds.
Winter Fireplace Trail
Cosy up beside a roaring fire with a glass of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and some delicious local produce, you'll never want to leave!
Visit Anakiwa
Check out the end of the Queen Charlotte walkway at Anakiwa, a very attractive bay in the Marlborough Sounds. Take walk to Davies Bay for a taste of the walkway.
Fresh Marlborough seafood
Marlborough salmon and mussels are available at a range of foodie outlets. Seafood (or more strictly Sounds food) with a crisp ‘chardie’ or ‘sav blanc’ is heaven on earth!
Dream date in the Sounds
Catch the early morning summer boat trip to Motuara Island, then get dropped off at Furneaux Lodge for late breakfast. Walk to Punga Lodge for wood-fired pizza.
Spot the king shag
Get a glimpse of the king shag, the second rarest bird in the world with a stagnant population of 500-600. The king shags nest near Motuara Island in the Marlborough Sounds.
Hire bikes
Get out and experience Marlborough’s vines or hills by bike
Taste sauvignon blanc
Explore the sub regional variation with sauvignon blanc as well as the different ways wine makers approach the wine, including those using oak and age.
Kayak the Wairau Lagoons
Kayak down the Wairau River, to the Wairau Boulder Bank, exploring the habitat of amazing birdlife with Driftwood Eco Tours.
Sample local sparkling wine
While you're here you must sample a Méthode Marlborough. Premium quality sparkling from the Marlborough region has a history as long as it's flagship variety Sauvignon Blanc.
Fishing on the Wairau
Whether it's spin or fly fishing, the Wairau River is a great spot to have a go at hooking a delicious trout for your lunch or dinner.
Visit Ship Cove
Visit Ship Cove in the Queen Charlotte Sound, the site of the meeting of the Maori and Pakeha cultures and start of the Queen Charlotte Track.
Visit an ancient forest
Take a drive to the beautiful Pelorus Bridge area to see this remnant of towering podacarp forest and understand what this entire area once looked like.
Visit boutique wineries
Hunt down small, artisan boutique wineries and learn about what makes them so special - whether European influenced, organic, or family owned and run.
Walk and bike Picton
Explore the walking and biking trails around Picton.
Kaipupu Wildlife Sanctuary
Visit the community run Kaipupu Wildlife Sanctuary, a mainland sanctuary just a few minutes by boat from Picton, full of native birdlife.
Hit the road
Road bike the winding Queen Charlotte Drive, with native bush on one side of the road and the sparkling Marlborough Sounds on the other.
Family cycling
Take the kids to Conders Bend for fun forest action, or the Rarangi Pump Track for a great little undulating circuit by the sea.
Wind down the pace
Slow things down and leisurely explore vineyards by bike, choosing a guided or unguided tour of cellar doors.
Compare vineyard sub-regions
Visit cellar doors in the Wairau, Waihopai, Awatere and Omaka Valleys, comparing the flavour profiles of each sub-region.
Paddle the Sounds
Rent a kayak and paddle your way from bay to bay, choosing to be independent or guided.
Tackle an epic bike ride
Mountain bike the 70km Queen Charlotte Track, staying in a brilliant range of lodges, B&Bs, homestays and campsites along the way.
Motuara Island eco sanctuary
Visit the beautiful Motuara Island in the Queen Charlotte Sound. This predator free sanctuary is home to kiwi, saddlebacks and other native wildlife.
Cellar doors with wine & more
Taste Marlborough wines amid the vines that grew them and the wineries that made them. Stay for lunch or dinner at one of the winery restaurants.
Visit a mussel farm
Take a tour boat to one of the mussel, oyster or salmon farms within our unique waterways to see how some of our wonderful seafood is grown.
Walk the Queen Charlotte Track
Boat to historic Ship Cove to start your walk on the Queen Charlotte Track. Carry your pack or have it transferred each day. Full walk 3-5 days or choose a section.
Play golf on a farm
Travel out to the 13-hole Nopera Golf Course in the Kenepuru Sound, where pukeko, weka and ducks may join your game.
Take the mail boat
Travel from Havelock or Picton and call in to isolated homesteads and secluded bays to deliver mail and groceries to families living in the Marlborough Sounds.
Walk the Nydia Track
Walk the two day Nydia Track. Stay at a DOC hut or eco lodge in Nydia Bay, then carry on to Tennyson Inlet or return the way you came.
Marlborough Book Festival
Meet some of your favourite authors in beautiful settings at the Marlborough Book Festival in winter.
Set sail in the Sounds
Bring your yacht or charter one here, for beautiful cruising in the Marlborough Sounds, where winter brings crisp and calm blue-sky days.
Linger at cellar doors
Savour Marlborough pinot noir in front of a toasty fire, or enjoy a lunch made from premium local ingredients at a vineyard restaurant.
Bike Molesworth Station
Bike through the iconic Molesworth high country station, ending in Hanmer for a rejuvenating hot pool swim.
Governors Bay Scenic Reserve
Enjoy golden sands and azure waters at Governors Bay, a 15 minute drive from Picton.
Wither Hills Farm Park
Head to the Wither Hills Farm Park, on the outskirts of Blenheim, where a multitude of trails wind up to stunning views of the Wairau Valley, Mount Tapuae-o-Uenuku and Cloudy Bay.
Richmond Range
Hike or mountain bike through native bush to a DOC hut on the Richmond Range, then up through alpine flora to one of its beautiful peaks.
Marlborough Farmers’ Market
Devour a beautiful brunch at the Sunday morning Marlborough Farmers’ Market or cool down with fresh-fruit ice creams and juicy cherries.
