Best Marlborough road trips: 4 South Island routes

Plan the perfect South Island holiday using our guide to the 4 best road trips around Marlborough, New Zealand. Our travel experts have compiled a range of ideas, from romantic couples getaways to week-long family adventures.

Whether you’re after seafood and Shiraz or sun and sand, you’ll find it all on this list. Plus, we’ve thrown in detailed maps and a heap of extra information about attractions, distances, the best season to travel and much more!

The best road trips around Marlborough: 4 routes you can’t miss

1. The Marlborough Loop

Total distance: 200 km | Recommended days: 5 to 7 days | Best time to do the route: Summer and Spring | Route Map

If you want to see all the Marlborough has to offer, this loop road trip is a must-do! It gives you a taste of everything , including world-class wine, fresh seafood, sublime sunsets and a tour of Marlborough Sound.

Begin in the sunny city of Blenheim and ride a hire bike around the wine trail , stopping at your choice of more than 30 of the world’s best vineyards.

Take a short drive to Havelock , where you can gorge on a freshly-caught seafood lunch before jumping aboard the Pelorus Mail Boat and delivering post to the most remote homes in the Marlborough Sound.

Not far away is the town of Picton , from which you can start trekking all or part of the 73km Queen Charlotte Track around Kenepuru Sounds (one of New Zealand’s Great Walks).

Finish your Marlborough road trip by visiting Blenheim’s state-of-the-art museums, including the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre (created by the team behind Lord of the Rings) and the Omaka Classic Cars Museum.

2. Marlborough Food and Wine Trail

Total distance: 105 km | Recommended days: 3 to 5 days | Best time to do the route: Winter and Autumn | Route Map

This Marlborough road trip is all about kicking back and enjoying the finer things in life - fresh seafood and vintage vino!

Kick things off in Blenheim and spend a few hours trying local treats and delicacies at the Marlborough Farmers’ Market (Sunday) or Artisan Craft Market (Saturday). In the afternoon, join a guided tour of 30+ local vineyards or head to a renowned cellar-like The Vines Village to try the region's internationally renowned Sauvignon Blanc.

Your next stop is Havelock - the “Greenshell Mussel capital of the world”. Hop aboard a sunset dinner cruise around Marlborough Sound and visit a salmon and mussel farm before enjoying a freshly caught seafood meal. There are also many boutique food producers around town where you can try and buy local nuts, cheeses and fruits.

End your Marlborough road trip in the town of Picton , where you can join a full-day hop on hop off tour that includes the region's best vineyards, museums and parks. Alternatively, pack a picnic and spend some quiet time on the stunning little beach at nearby Governors Bay.

3. Marlborough Outdoor Adventure

Total distance: 250 km | Recommended days: 5 to 10 days | Best time to do the route: Summer and Spring | Route Map

Want to spend your time exploring the stunning scenery around Marlborough? This road trip is jam-packed with hiking, kayaking, cruising, animal encounters and heaps more!

Start in the seaside town of Havelock and join the Pelorus Eco Adventure , where a guide will take you on a 4-hour rafting tour of the Pelorus River (made famous by The Hobbit films). Camp in town overnight and spend your second day swimming with dolphins in the clear calm waters of the Marlborough Sounds.

Just down the road is the town of Te Mahia , where you can enjoy a guided horseback tour around the Sounds. Alternatively, strap up your hiking shoes and walk the famous Queen Charlotte Track around Kenepuru Sounds.

In Picton , you can hire a kayak from the waterfront and experience the Sounds from a different angle as you spend the day paddling around its nooks and crannies.

Finally, end your Marlborough road trip in Blenheim and hire a bike to ride the wine trail whilst enjoying a few glasses of Pinot Noir or Sauvignon Blanc.

4. Marlborough Family Road Trip

Total distance: 185 km | Recommended days: 5 to 7 days | Best time to do the route: Summer and Spring | Route Map

The kids will have the time of their lives on a family Marlborough road trip, packed with awesome museums, wildlife centres and easy day trips around the Marlborough Sounds!

Head straight to the state-of-the-art Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre in Blenheim , created by the same team behind Lord of the Rings. They’ve brought to life Peter Jackson’s private collection of WW1 and WW2 aircraft and artefacts using their movie magic. Next door is the Omaka Classic Cars Museum , which offers free entry for kids under 14!

Next, drive to Havelock and jump aboard the Pelorus Mail Boat. Your family will be sea postmen for the day, cruising around the quietest and remotest parts of the Marlborough Sound to deliver mail to isolated residents.

Devote a day to exploring the awesome attractions around Picton , including the Edwin Fox Maritime Museum , where the kids can climb aboard one of the oldest surviving convict ships in Australasia.

And don’t miss out on the EcoWorld Aquarium & Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, home to Little Penguins, endangered parrots, seahorses, giant squid, native fish and heaps more!

Organise your Marlborough road trip today

Now that you’ve got a few ideas for road trips around Marlborough, it’s time to organise your wheels (and accommodation)! Need to sort out campervan hire in Marlborough?

Camplify is a platform that allows holidaymakers to quickly search through privately-owned rentals. Simply enter your pickup location (plus heaps of other optional filters) and within seconds, you can find the perfect motorhome, caravan or campervan for your Marlborough road trip!

Check out the best Marlborough Sounds camping grounds .

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