Winter

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.