Upper South Island and the West Coast
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Upper South Island and the West Coast - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. Queen Charlotte Track
Picton is the entryway to the Queen Charlotte Track, which stretches 73.5 km (45 miles) along peninsulas, around inlets, and on ridgetops, playing hide-and-seek with the Marlborough Sounds along the way. The Department of Conservation provides a few camping areas, but there is also a variety of other accommodations, including backpacker hostels, lodges, and plush resorts. (Booking ahead for any type you choose is advised.) Boat companies Cougar Line or Beachcomber Cruises can drop you at various places for one- to four-day walks (guided or unguided). You can also mountain-bike on this track—it's the longest single track ride in New Zealand. (The outermost section, Ship Cove to Keneperu Sound, is closed to bikes from December 1 to February 28). The boat companies can deliver and retrieve you and your bike to and from points along the track. For walkers and bikers they'll also carry your luggage between overnight stops. Some of the track passes through private land. Track users must buy a Queen Charlotte Track Pass, which contributes toward track maintenance. The track has steep inclines and long drop-offs, and the weather can be unpredictable. It also gets busy in summer, and is part of Te Araroa, the Long Pathway walking trail that runs the length of New Zealand. Though it's relatively easy to access, the track shouldn't be taken lightly.
New Zealand -
2. Edwin Fox Maritime Museum
The preserved hulk of the Edwin Fox demonstrates just how young New Zealand's European settlement is. The ship was used in the Crimean War, transported convicts to Australia, and brought settlers to New Zealand. Now dry-docked, it serves as a museum, bringing to life the conditions the early immigrants faced. It has the honor of being the oldest surviving merchant ship in the world.
Dunbar Wharf, Picton, Marlborough, 7220, New Zealand03-573–6868Sight Details
Rate Includes: NZ$15 -
3. Lochmara
Take the short boat ride out to explore this delightful café, lodge, wildlife refuge, and art studio on the shore of Lochmara Bay. Follow the bushwalks to see native gecko and the kakariki (a native parrot) being nurtured here as part of the lodge's wildlife recovery program. There's a pampering spa room and bathhouse above the beach, galleries of local art, and a sculpture trail. Artists-in-residence sometimes work here. Four-star chalets are suitable for couples and families, if you plan to stay longer.
Lochmara Bay, Picton, Marlborough, 7282, New Zealand03-573–4554Sight Details
Rate Includes: Programs from NZ$50 per person, Closed mid-May--late Sept. -
4. Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve
Halfway between both Picton and Nelson and Blenheim and Nelson, on State Highway 6, is this remnant of the native lowland forest that once covered the whole region. Easy walking trails explore the beech, podocarp (a species of evergreen), and broadleaf trees. In summer ,the crystal clear river is warm enough (just) for swimming (watch for the sand flies). There's also a rare colony of endangered long-tailed native bats that come to play round the streetlight at the bridge at night. This is an utterly delightful place to take a pause, especially with a campground and café both in the vicinity.
Pelorus Bridge, State Hwy. 6, Havelock, Marlborough, 7192, New Zealand -
5. Picton Heritage and Whaling Museum
Picton's seafaring history is captured with a wealth of memorabilia showcased in this quaint and worthy museum. The area was first a key Māori settlement called Waitohi, then an important whaling and sealing location for European immigrants in the early 19th century. Until 1860, all trade and travel was done by sea.
9 London Quay, Picton, Marlborough, 7220, New Zealand03-573–8283Sight Details
Rate Includes: NZ$5 -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
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6. Queen Charlotte Drive
The main road out of Picton, State Highway 1, heads directly to Blenheim. If you're heading west toward Havelock and Nelson, and don't mind a slower, though much more scenic, route, Queen Charlotte Drive is for you. From Picton, the drive climbs the hill to the west of the town, then winds in and out of bays along the edge of Queen Charlotte Sound. Governor's, Momorangi, and Ngakuta bays are gorgeous spots for a picnic. The drive then cuts across to Pelorus and Keneperu sounds, and follows the water's edge to Havelock township. Cullen Point, a short walk near the Havelock end of the drive, leads to a good lookout point across Pelorus Sound. From Havelock you join State Highway 6, which leads to Nelson.
New Zealand
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