A Tale of two regions – Nelson & Marlborough
Nelson
Collingwood / Tasman
Well known for its thriving arts and crafts scene, Nelson is the oldest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the second oldest city in the country, being established by Europeans in 1841 and accorded city status by royal charter in 1858
Surrounded by the sea on one side, and the mountains on the other three sides, Nelson is also blessed by three national parks in close proximity; Abel Tasman, Kahurangi, and Nelson-Lakes. The area is well known for ecotourism, and adventure-tourism, and also boasts abundant birdlife, golden sandy beaches in the North, and extensive limestone karst cave systems around Mt Owen and Mt Arthur including New Zealand’s deepest cave system
Marlborough
Marlborough Sounds
With its epicenter in the town of Blenheim, the region boasts highly fertile soils particularly around the wide plains surrounding the town. Combining that with the warm days and cool nights of a temperate climate and we have New Zealand’s best wine growing region
To the South, West, and North lies mountainous areas including the famous Marlborough Sounds where the tops of the mountains rise from the waters of the Sounds and form the Northern edge of the Southern Alps. It is in one of these Sounds that the town of Picton resides, hosting the inter-island ferry link between the North and South Islands
Our Tours
In honour of its popularity with local and visitor alike, we offer two special tours into the Nelson-Marlborough area; with three days, and five days options.
Each tour departs from and returns to Christchurch city, and provides all the necessities and goodies to make your tour a success.
Explore Nelson Lakes Hidden Gems
Nelson Lakes
Three inspiring days ex Christchurch deep into the heart of the Nelson Lakes National Park. Accessed via the Wairau Valley the countryside gets increasingly remote the closer we get to St Arnaud. Weather permitting, we might even try a spot of Astro-photography that night before heading to Maruia Springs Thermal Pools and the Lewis Pass back to Christchurch
Exploring the Upper Reaches of the South Island
Top of the South
Join us as we work our way up the Kaikoura Coast to Picton and through the edges of the Marlborough Sounds to Nelson and Takaka beyond. We then dip down to St Arnaud before slipping through the Lewis Pass to Hanmer Springs for a soak in the hot pools. Finish up by visiting some of the Waipara Vineyards on the last leg of the tour back to Christchurch