Te Araroa Trail

Welcome to the South Island
Queen Charlotte Track

1 of NZ's iconic walks
Short walks

Plenty to choose from
Heritage walks

Walk through historic sites

Guide

Walks

Get to know Marlborough step by step, via walking tracks to alpine peaks, golden trails on working farms and native bush walks in the Marlborough Sounds.

Marlborough walks can be as challenging as Mount Tapuae-o-Uenuku, as beautiful as the Queen Charlotte Track and as relaxing as the Taylor River reserve.

Whether you’re hiking for a day or a week, staying in a tent, hut or lodge, you’ll love the pace of Marlborough.

Start planning your walk with New Zealand Mountain Safety Councils Plan my Walk app. An awesome app that provides you with useful information of particular tracks, alerts, weather and what gear you will need. Click here to check it out.

Short walks

Save your breath for the breathtaking views and stroll some of Marlborough’s short tracks. A few minutes or hours on your feet can yield big rewards, with easy walks to everything from a seal pup nursery to a golden beach in the Marlborough Sounds.

Short walks in Marlborough
Day walks

From beach trails at the edge of the Pacific Ocean, to sub alpine climbs in the Richmond Range, Marlborough has a range of day walks, whatever your level or choice of scenery. Pack your coat, your lunch and your walking boots, and set out to explore.

Marlborough day walks
Multi-day walks

Trek to a lighthouse at the edge of a reef or a resort at the edge of the Marlborough Sounds. Walk through native bush to a secluded beach, or climb a mountain range to a panoramic view. Stay in a tent, hut or luxury lodge, and choose to carry your luggage or have it taken ahead. The only challenge with hiking in Marlborough is choosing where to go.

Multi-day walks in Marlborough

Roy Grose Director Operations, Northern South Island | Te Tau Ihu

“Marlborough is the mountains to the sea. One day you can be out in the Marlborough Sounds, and the next day be up at Lake Rotoiti. On the way you can stop and pick cherries or have a glass of wine at a cellar door. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

My insider guide to Marlborough

Grovetown Lagoon - Te Whanau Hou

Grovetown Lagoon is one of the few natural wetlands remaining on the Wairau Plain.

Grovetown Lagoon is a beautiful oxbow lake which was formed when the Wairau River changed its course roughly 155 years ago when a bend was cut off and became a circular lake.

Historically the lagoon, and adjoining wetlands and waterways were considered a mahinga kai (food resource) by iwi and as such these were highly valued for the abundance of freshwater foods and resources.

To visit the website for further information, please click here.

The Track

A 3.8 km circuit track runs around the outside of the lagoon is accessible to the public. Picnic tables are located near the track to the birdwatching hide, and beside the Wairau river. Kayaks can be launched on the lagoon. The best launching area at present is at the corner of the lagoon on the south-western side.

Getting there

If going to the Grovetown Lagoon from Blenheim, turn right off State Highway 1 at Grovetown (watching out for the railway crossing). Proceed along the road through suburban Grovetown (Fell Street), cross Vickerman Street, and keep going now through vineyards. Immediately before the end of the road turn right into Steam Wharf Road. Halfway down Steam Wharf Road you can see the Lagoon at a place from which you can launch a kayak. You can park at the end of Steam Wharf Road and walk along the stop bank past the Rowing Club to the Riverside and Springs Wetland areas.

Dogs

Although dogs can be brought to the lagoon and kept on a lead, because of the bird life here we encourage you to leave your dog at home when you visit.

Life at the lagoon

The lagoon is currently home to a variety of birds. Birds seen at Grovetown include pukeko, coot, mallard, shoveler duck, paradise duck, grey teal, black shags, black swan, little white throated shags, black backed gulls, welcome swallows, blackbirds, song thrushes, goldfinches, starlings and harrier hawks. Currently birds can be most easily viewed from on the water, and the installation of pathways have enabled a greater range of people to be able to experience the wonderful wildlife of the lagoon.

Gallery

Short walks

Day walks

Multi-day walks