Leaving Picton
south on SH1 you drive through the Koromiko Valley past Mt Pleasant, the Picton
Airport and the township of Koromiko - the road follows the Main Trunk Railway
all the way.
After passing through
Grovetown you will soon come to Blenheim; the largest city in the Nelson and
Marlborough regions. There are many attractions here, great restarants and
cafés and wineries to explore.
Leave Blenheim
southeast on SH1 through Riverlands. If you have time, take one of the next
two left turns to explore the Big Lagoon. This huge waterway is part of the
Wairau River Delta separated from the sea by Boulder Bank.
Back on SH1 continue
in a south-easterly direction through Dashwood and Seddon. If you want to
stay and explore the region, there is a good motor camp right here.
A little further
down the highway, take a left turn to see the vast salt ponds of Lake Grassmere.
In late summer certain phases of the process turn the ponds iridescent shades
of pink and purple.
If you continue
past Hauwai you can take the road all the way to the Cape Campbell lighthouse
for spectacular views north to Wellington and the Marlborough Sounds.
Leaving southeast
on SH1 again, you will pass Taimate, Ward and arrive on the east coast with
its spectacular beaches and rolling surf.
For about the next
40km you will follow the coast to the Clarence River Delta.
Leaving Clarence
you will soon rejoin the coast at Okiwi Bay and cruise past breathtaking coastline
through Rakautara, Mangamaunu, Hapuku into Kaikoura.
Picton
to Nelson
Leave Picton in
the direction of Havelock following the coast along the south bank of Queen
Charlotte Sound.
You will pass through
the tranquil spots of Mamorangi Bay and The Grove, across the saddle at Linkwater
before reaching the intersection of Queen Charlotte Drive and SH6.
Turn right into
Havelock and turn inland, leaving the sounds behind as you head towards Canvastown
- a town with a big history that began during the gold rush of the mid 1800s.
Heading west out
of Canvastown on SH6 it is less than 10km to the spectacular Pelorus Bridge
which is a nice place to have a swim and explore the foothills.
SH6 turns northwest
along the Rai River through Rai Valley before heading into the Rai-Whangamoa
Forest to Whangamoa. The Heads on the coast are a popular location for surfers
due to the left-hand break which occurs during northerly swells.
The highway turns
southwest alongside Saddle Hill before winding its way into Hira and out to
the Tasman Bay coast at Whakapuaka.
You will drive
through the seaside towns of Marybank, Atawhai, Tui Glen and Brooklands before
arriving in Nelson City.
Blenheim
to Murchison (cross-country route)
Leave Blenheim
on SH63 in a westerly direction towards Renwick. The roads are very straight
and follow the Wairau River for much of the way.
For most of the
way you are passing the vineyards of New Zealand's largest wine producing
region. After Renwick, you will pass through Wairau Valley townshop, Hillersden,
and The Branch, before crossing over to the other bank of the Wairau River
and making your way to St Arnaud.
St Arnaud is popular
for all sorts of adventure sports like white water rafting, skiing, snowboarding,
trout fishing and tramping.
Leaving to the
northwest on SH 63 you will come to Howard Junction and the intersection of
SH63 and SH6 at Kawatiri.
Turn left onto
SH6 toward Gowanbridge. Continue through Owen Junction, Owen River and on
through Mangarata to Longford and Murchison.
Motueka to Murchison
Leave Motueka to
the southwest on Motueka Valley Road passing through Pangatotara, Ngatimoti,
Pokororo to Woodstock.
From Woodstock
continue south along the Motueka River to Tapawera, Mararewa to the junction
of SH6.
Turn right onto
SH6 at the junction and you will soon come to Motupiko.
From here the road
still follows the Motupiko River through the Korere Valley and townshop to
Glenhope.
After Glenhope
you will come to a junction of SH6 and SH63 at Kawatiri.
Stay on SH63 toward
Gowanbridge. Continue through Owen Junction, Owen River and on through Mangarata
to Longford and Murchison.
It
is recommended that you have detailed road maps before departing on your trip