U I D E G T O A MARLBOROUGH’S BRILLIANT BACKYARD Top 50 things to do, as voted by locals! Marlborough locals have spoken! Here, you will find the top 50 things to do in our brilliant backyard, as voted by the locals who live, breathe and love their backyard. So, hold on to this handy guide and start checking off the Marlborough Must Do’s. Take the family, a special someone, a group of friends or head out solo – There is something for everyone to enjoy in Marlborough’s top 50. YOUR TOP 50 BROKEN DOWN PAGE 1 Grab a bike and hit the tracks PAGE 2–3 Explore walking tracks in our brilliant backyard PAGE 4–5 Indulge in local cuisine and produce PAGE 6 Savour Marlborough’s world-renowned wines PAGE 7 Immerse yourself in Marlborough’s wildlife PAGE 8–9 Discover the Marlborough Sounds PAGE 10 Looking for something else? While you’re out exploring the top 50, be sure to take a snap and share on your social media with the hashtags #brillianteveryday and #brilliantbackyard to be in to win a scenic flight for two with Pelorus Air. Winner will be selected on Friday 11 August, 2020. Find out more at MarlboroughNZ.com/brilliantbackyard For more information, ideas and impartial booking advice, head to your local i-SITE to chat to our brilliant team. Port Gore Croisilles Harbour Cape Pelorus Sound Koamaru Meretoto/Ship Cove Nydia Track 4 Queen Charlotte Sound Kenepuru Sound Arapaoa Island 6 Queen Charlotte Track Rai Valley Mahau 5 Sound 3 3 Tory Channel Nelson Canvastown Anakiwa Pelorus Bridge Picton Havelock Queen Charlotte 12 Drive 1 6 Port Underwood Pelorus River Rarangi Tuamarina Cloudy Bay 2 Rapaura Rd Wairau Bar Renwick Blenheim 1 Wairau Lagoons Wairau River Wairau Valley Redwood 63 Pass Rd Taylor Pass Rd Clifford Bay Waihopai GrabValley a Rd bike and hit the tracks Mountain bike Marlborough’s epic high-country trails and coastal ridges, road bike undulating routes at the edge of the sea, tour on long flat runs through vine-clad valleys or take the whole family biking along one of the region’s many rivers. This peddler’s paradise has something for everyone. The Link Pathway CHECK OUT 5 MUST DO CYCLING TRAILS AS VOTED BY LOCALS 1. Mountain Bike one of the trails at the Wither Hills Farm Park 2. Hire bikes, pick up a wine map and tour cellar doors 3. Tackle the Link Pathway between Havelock and Picton 4. Mountain Bike the Queen Charlotte Track (in season) 5. Mountain Bike up the Snout Track and check out the views over Picton and the Marlborough Sounds CYCLING | PAGE 1 Cape Jackson Port Gore Croisilles Harbour 7 Cape Pelorus Sound Koamaru Meretoto/Ship Cove Nydia Track 1 Queen Charlotte Sound Kenepuru Sound Arapaoa Island 6 Queen Charlotte Track Rai Valley Mahau 2 Sound 4 8 Tory Channel Nelson 5 Canvastown Anakiwa Pelorus Bridge3 Picton Havelock Queen Charlotte 12 Drive 1 9 6 Port Underwood Pelorus River Rarangi Tuamarina 6 Rapaura Rd Cloudy Bay Blenheim Wairau Bar Renwick 10 7 Wairau Lagoons Wairau River Wairau Valley Redwood 63 Pass Rd Taylor Pass Rd Explore walking tracks in our brilliant backyard Get to know your brilliant backyard 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. Motuara Island 1. Do a day or multi-day walk on the Queen Charlotte Track 2. Walk up Victoria Domain and the Snout Track and take in the spectacular views 3. Do the circle loop track and then do some bombs at Pelorus River Scenic Reserve 4. Walk from Shelley Beach to Bobs Bay 5. Hike a back country track like the Emerald Pools at Pelorus River 6. Walk the 3.8 circle Grovetown Lagoon track 7. Tackle a climb up Mt Vernon and Mt Stokes 8. Climb the Tirohanga Track and take in the views over Picton 9. Do the walk from Rarangi Beach to Monkey Bay 10. Walk on one of the many Wither Hills walking tracks LOCALS ANDLOCALS WHERE YOU’LL FIND THEM 10 MUST DO WALKING TRACKS AS VOTED BY 10 BY MUST VOTED DO AS WALKING TRACKS Pelorus River WALKS AND TRAILS | PAGE 3 By the fire Indulge in local cuisine and produce Marlborough is a foodie haven, with plenty of gourmet produce on offer from land and sea. Take a Marlborough Sounds seafood tour, visit the many local markets or head to one of the eateries to sample seafood delicacies and locally grown foods. From fine dining experiences, to brunch at the local farmers market – you’re sure to please the taste buds in your brilliant backyard. Fresh seafood PAGE 4 | FOOD CHECK OUT 10 FOODIE MUST DO’S AS VOTED BY LOCALS AND WHERE YOU’LL FIND THEM 1. Get a pie from the Burleigh, try them all to find your favourite 2. Eat Greenshell™ Mussels in Havelock 3. Head to the farmers market and try local produce 4. Get delicious strawberries from Hedgerows Strawberries 5. Visit Makana Chocolate Factory for some delicious goodies 6. Do the Greenshell™ Mussel Cruise in Havelock and taste the delicious Marlborough Mussels 7. Stay at Punga Cove and eat pizza at the Boatshed Café & Bar 8. Eat dumplings by the outdoor fire at Grovetown Hotel By the fire 9. Visit Seumus’ Irish pub for dinner and have a beer 10. Have Fish and Chips on the Picton Foreshore Cape Jackson Port Gore Croisilles Harbour Cape Pelorus Sound Koamaru 7 Meretoto/Ship Cove Nydia Track Queen Charlotte Sound Kenepuru Sound Arapaoa Island 6 Queen Charlotte Track Rai Valley Mahau 10 6 Sound 2 9 Tory Channel Nelson Canvastown Anakiwa Pelorus Bridge Picton Havelock Queen Charlotte 12 Drive 1 6 Port Underwood Pelorus River 8 Rarangi Tuamarina5 Rapaura4 Rd Cloudy Bay Wairau Bar Renwick Blenheim3 1 Wairau Lagoons Wairau River Wairau Valley Redwood 63 Pass Rd Taylor Pass Rd Clifford Bay Kenepuru Sound Arapaoa Island 6 Queen Charlotte Track Rai Valley Nikau Cove Tory Channel Nelson Canvastown Anakiwa Pelorus Bridge Picton Havelock Queen Charlotte 12 Drive 1 6 Port Underwood Pelorus River Rarangi Tuamarina 3 2 Cloudy Bay 1 Rapaura Rd 4 Wairau Bar Renwick Blenheim Wairau Lagoons Wairau River Wairau Valley Redwood 63 Pass Rd Taylor Pass Rd Clifford Bay Waihopai To St Arnaud/ Valley Rd Seddon Nelson Lakes and Rainbow Ski Area Lake Grassmere Cape Campbell SavourWard Marlborough’s world-renowned wines In the vines CHECK OUT 4 MUST DO’S IN THE WINE REGION AS VOTED BY LOCALS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM With more than 120 wineries and a bunch 1. Take a guided wine tasting around the of cellar doors to visit, a wine tour in your Marlborough Wineries brilliant backyard is a must. Approximately 2/3 of wine produced in New Zealand 2. Enjoy a wine tasting and the swinging comes from Marlborough, and 85% of chairs at Cloudy Bay Wines New Zealand’s sauvignon blanc is from the 3. Visit a winery restaurant for a long region! Each cellar door offers a range of relaxing lunch other varietals to try too – and they’re right here in your brilliant backyard. 4. Try from a selection of 80+ wines on tap at The Wine Station PAGE 6 | WINE Immerse yourself in Marlborough’s wildlife Endangered kiwi and various native birds including the King Shag thrive on predator-free islands in the Marlborough Sounds, as well as tuatara, gecko and native frogs. The winding waterways of the sounds hold dolphins, stingrays, seals, and even orca and whales on their seasonal migration. Discover wildlife sanctuaries and their inhabitants, and learn about conservation and how we can protect the wildlife that call our brilliant backyard home. With the family CHECK OUT 5 WILDLIFE DISCOVERY MUST DO’S AS VOTED BY LOCALS 1. Water taxi to visit Ship Cove/Meretoto and Motuara Island 2. Go dolphin and seal spotting in the Marlborough Sounds 3. Visit Kaipupu Wildlife SanctuaryD’Urville Island 4. Visit Blumine Island in the Queen(Rangitoto Charlotte Ke Sound Te Tonga) 5. Take a cruise to spot wildlife in the Marlborough Sounds French Pass Cape Jackson Port Gore Croisilles Harbour 5 2 1 Cape Pelorus Sound Koamaru Meretoto/Ship Cove Nydia Track 4 5 2 Queen Charlotte Sound Kenepuru Sound Arapaoa Island 6 5Queen2 Charlotte Track Rai Valley Nikau Cove 3 Tory Channel Canvastown Anakiwa Pelorus Bridge Picton Havelock Queen Charlotte 12 Drive WILDLIFE | PAGE 7 1 6 Port Underwood Pelorus River Rarangi Tuamarina Rapaura Rd Cloudy Bay Blenheim Wairau Bar The Marlborough Sounds is made up of four distinctly different Sounds; Queen Charlotte, Kenepuru, Pelorus and Mahau. The winding waterways of the Marlborough Sounds make for brilliant boating, fishing, diving and wildlife viewing including dolphin watching. Seaside lodges and resorts provide a unique setting for an overnighter, or a brilliant location for lunch or dinner. Enjoying the Marlborough Sounds safely and respectfully is of the utmost importance. Use the ‘Cruise Guide for Marlborough’ app, available on the app store or for tips and advice on how to make the most of your brilliant backyard safely, visit www.cruiseguide.co.nz On the Mailboat Discover the Marlborough Sounds 6 D’Urville Island (Rangitoto Ke Te Tonga) 4 French Pass Cape Jackson 10 3 8 Port Gore Croisilles Harbour 5 Cape Pelorus Sound Koamaru 5 10 3Meretoto/Ship8 Cove Nydia Track 10 3 8 Queen Charlotte Sound 10 Kenepuru Sound 5 Arapaoa Island 6 5 9 1 Queen Charlotte Track Rai Valley 2 Mahau Sound 7 2 7 7 Tory Channel Nelson Canvastown Anakiwa Pelorus Bridge Picton Havelock Queen Charlotte 12 Drive 1 6 Port Underwood Discover the Marlborough Sounds 6 D’Urville Island (Rangitoto Ke Te Tonga) CHECK OUT 10 MUST DO’S IN OUR BIG OCEAN PLAYGROUND 4 AS VOTED BY LOCALS AND WHERE YOU’LL FIND THEM French Pass 1.