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Marlborough & Nelson

Why Go? ....400 For many travellers, Marlborough and Nelson will be their Picton ...... 400 introduction to what South Islanders refer to as the ‘Main- Marlborough Sounds ...404 land’. Having left windy Wellington, and made a white- Queen Charlotte Track ...407 knuckled crossing of Cook Strait, folk are often surprised to fi nd the sun shining and the temperature up to 10 degrees Kenepuru & Pelorus Sounds...... 409 warmer. Good pals, these two neighbouring regions have much Blenheim ...... 411 in common beyond an amenable climate: both boast re- ...... 416 nowned coastal holiday spots, particularly the Marlborough Nelson ...... 423 Sounds and Abel National Park. There are two other Nelson Lakes national parks (Kahurangi and Nelson Lakes) and more National Park ...... 430 mountain ranges than you can poke a stick at. ...... 432 And so it follows that these two regions have an abun- Motueka to Abel dance of luscious produce: summer cherries for a starter, Tasman ...... 435 but most famously the grapes that work their way into the Golden Bay ...... 440 wineglasses of the world’s fi nest restaurants. Keep your pen- Kahurangi National knife and picnic set at the ready. Park ...... 444 When to Go? Best Places to Eat The forecast is good: Marlborough and Nelson soak up some » Green Dolphin (p422 ) of ’s sunniest weather. January and February are the warmest months, with daytime temperatures aver- » Wither Hills (p414 ) aging 22°C; July is the coldest, averaging 12°C. It’s wetter » Hopgood’s (p428 ) and more windswept the closer you get to and » Sans Souci Inn (p442 ) the West Coast. » Wakamarinian Cafe (p411 ) From around Christmas to mid February, the top of the South teems with Kiwi holidaymakers, so plan ahead during this time and be prepared to jostle for position with a load Best Places to of jandal-wearing families. Stay » Hopewell (p410 ) » Ratanui (p 442 ) » Kerr Bay (p430 ) » Dylan’s Country Cottages (p422 ) 399 MARLBOROUGH & NELSON Cape Marfells Beach Ferry to Ward Wairau Lagoons Coastal Pacific Campbell Whites Bay Sounds

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