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

Wither Hills Farm Park

The Wither Hills Farm Park offers a brilliant range of walking and mountain biking tracks on a 1,100ha working sheep and cattle farm just minutes from Blenheim's CBD.

Walking
The Wither Hills provide an iconic backdrop to Blenheim and the Wairau Valley, and are the perfect place for a short or long walk, up to the lookouts with panoramic views of Cloudy Bay, or along the base of the hills for a more gentle stroll.

Biking
There are trails for every level of riding, including the easy single track Rifle Range Trail along the base of the hills and the challenging Mt Vernon Traverse over the ridgelines. From the top of the farm park’s golden hills you’ll find views across Marlborough, stretching from Cloudy Bay to Mount Tapuae-o-Uenuku in the Awatere Valley.

You can ride to the park from Blenheim centre, using the Taylor River Trail to the Taylor Dam Reserve.

Access

Main Entrance: Rifle Range Place off Taylor Pass Road

Other Access Points: Taylor Pass Road, Forest Hills Drive, Weld Street, Fyffe Street, Redwood Street, Dry Hills Lane or Cob Cottage Road.

Map

Click here to view the map which includes all the walking and biking trails, along with some more info on the walks available. Alternatively, once you arrive you can pick up a map from the Blenheim i-SITE Visitor Information Centre.

Grade

Beginner to experienced.

Shared Pathway Etiquette

1. Keep left.
2. Cyclists should let pedestrians know when they are approaching by politely calling out or ringing a bell when approaching from behind.
3. Cyclists should pass on the right, when possible – unless the pedestrians are on the right in which case pass them in the safest way possible.
4. Cyclists should ride defensively and cycle at a speed that does not put others at risk.