Day Trips from Blenheim and Picton

There are trips from Picton too, to Bob's Bay and Shelly Beach, plus the Wairau River and the Pine Valley Waterfall, each with its own guide.

Day trips from Blenheim reach the Marlborough Sounds, the port town of Picton, Havelock’s green-lipped mussels, the Molesworth high country, and the wineries of the Wairau and Awatere valleys. Most sit within an hour, making them easy weekend escapes through some of the South Island’s most scenic country.

Day trips map

28 day trips in and around Blenheim. Tap one for how far it is and the guide, or find the ones nearest you.

Map of 28 day trips

Pins from each day trip guide. Distances are in a straight line from the city centre.

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28 day trips

Heritage, Food & Wildlife ExperiencesOmaka Aviation Heritage CentreWWI and WWII Aviation Collection10 min drive4 km south-westOmaka Aviation Heritage Centre in Blenheim shows Sir Peter Jackson's WWI aircraft collection and a WWII exhibition in cinematic sets by Wētā Workshop.

Countryside & Nature EscapesWairau RiverMarlborough's Largest Braided River5 km north-eastThe 170 km Wairau River near Blenheim flows out to Cloudy Bay. Fishing, access, safety, tributaries and its role in Marlborough wine country.

Scenic Coastal AdventuresBlack Jack Track Whites BayLoop Walk, Lookout & Access16 km north-eastToiletsNo dogs1.5 hrBlack Jack Track at Pukatea/Whites Bay offers a 1.5-hour loop to a Cook Strait bluff lookout. Check DOC alerts for current road and access conditions.

Scenic Coastal AdventuresWhites BayBeach, DOC Camping and Coastal Walks16 km north-eastPatrolled in summerToiletsNo dogsWhites Bay near Blenheim offers a sheltered sandy beach, DOC campsite and coastal walking tracks with lifeguard patrols in summer.

Scenic Coastal AdventuresPukatea Walk Whites BayEasy Forest Stroll to Cable Station17 km north-eastToiletsNo dogs10 min one wayShort easy forest walk at Pukatea/Whites Bay from campsite to historic 1866 Cable Station, ideal for families and day trips from Blenheim.

Scenic Coastal AdventuresRobin Hood BayBeach Swimming, Surfing and DOC Camping19 km north-eastToilets30-40 minRobin Hood Bay (Waikutakuta) near Blenheim offers swimming, surfing, free DOC camping and coastal views via a scenic gravel road.

Countryside & Nature EscapesMt Sunday/Mt Riley TrackTwo-Peak Circuit in Mount Richmond Forest Park22 km west8 hr returnHardMt Sunday/Mt Riley Track near Blenheim: an advanced 8 hr, 15 km DOC loop over two open summits. Access road, bivvy, dogs, water and hazards.

Heritage, Food & Wildlife ExperiencesEdwin Fox Maritime Museum PictonA Convict and Immigrant Ship in Dry Dock25 km northEdwin Fox Maritime Museum in Picton: the India-built ship's troop, convict and immigrant voyages, its Picton years, hours and viewing the hull.

Heritage, Food & Wildlife ExperiencesPicton Heritage and Whaling MuseumCook Strait Whalers and Picton Stories25 km northPicton Heritage and Whaling Museum on London Quay: the Cook Strait whaling display, Māori and settler history, opening days and entry.

Scenic Coastal AdventuresShelly Beach Reserve PictonSwimming, Picnics and Foreshore Access10 min drive25 km northToiletsNo dogsShelly Beach Reserve in Picton offers grassed reserve swimming, picnicking and boating access, 10 minutes from town centre with free entry and dog rules.

Scenic Coastal AdventuresBob's Bay PictonShort Coastal Walk to Secluded Beach26 km northToilets30 minEasy to moderateBob's Bay near Picton offers a 30-minute coastal walk to a narrow sandy beach with toilet facilities and connections to Harbour View and Snout tracks.

Countryside & Nature EscapesWakamarina TrackGoldfields Crossing of the Richmond Range26 km west7 hr one wayHardWakamarina Track near Blenheim: an advanced 7 hr DOC tramp and bike crossing of the Richmond Range. Huts, access changes, dogs and gold history.

Scenic Coastal AdventuresGovernors BaySheltered Swimming Beach Queen Charlotte Sound27 km northToilets15 minGovernors Bay offers a sheltered, road-accessible swimming beach in Queen Charlotte Sound via a short easy DOC track, 15 minutes from Picton.

Scenic Coastal AdventuresNgākuta BaySwimming, Water Quality and Queen Charlotte Drive Day Trip from Blenheim27 km northToiletsSwim at Ngākuta Bay on Queen Charlotte Drive: a sheltered Sounds beach 11 km from Picton, tested weekly in summer, Fair LAWA grade, toilets.

Scenic Coastal AdventuresAnakiwa Queen Charlotte SoundBeach, Track End & Swimming30 min drive28 km northToiletsAnakiwa offers a sheltered beach at the end of the 73.5 km Queen Charlotte Track, with swimming platform, wharf and Outward Bound school nearby.

Scenic Coastal AdventuresUmungata (Davies) BayShallow Bay Swimming and Camping on Queen Charlotte Track29 km northToiletsUmungata (Davies) Bay offers shallow swimming, DOC camping and easy Queen Charlotte Track access in Queen Charlotte Sound.

Scenic Coastal AdventuresMarfells Beach CampsiteCoastal Camping Near Blenheim45 min drive31 km south-eastToiletsNo dogsMarfells Beach DOC campsite south of Blenheim, 30 tent sites, gravel beach, fishing and the start of the Cape Campbell walk.

Scenic Coastal AdventuresCowshed Bay CampsiteDOC Camping in Kenepuru Sound35 km northToiletsNo dogsCowshed Bay DOC campsite in Kenepuru Sound offers boat-access camping, swimming and Queen Charlotte Track access.

Countryside & Nature EscapesPine Valley WaterfallShort DOC Walk in Mount Richmond Forest Park38 km west10 m fallsPine Valley Waterfall offers a short accessible walk from Mill Flat carpark in Mount Richmond Forest Park near Blenheim, with a 10m cascade and more.

Scenic Coastal AdventuresŌruawairua TrackDay Trip from Blenheim to Pest-Free Blumine Island44 km north-eastNo dogs55 min one wayEasyŌruawairua Track on Blumine Island: an easy to intermediate 55 min DOC walk to a historic gun emplacement. Boat access, dogs and pest-free rules.

Scenic Coastal AdventuresNydia TrackTwo-Day Pelorus Sound Tramp via Nydia Bay47 km north9.5 hr one wayHardNydia Track near Blenheim: an advanced 27 km, 9.5 hr DOC tramp and bike ride via Nydia Bay. Access, campsite, river crossings and dogs.

Countryside & Nature EscapesMount Richmond Forest ParkTramping Huts and Tracks49 km westMount Richmond Forest Park, large Marlborough/Nelson backcountry DOC park. Network of huts (Richmond Saddle, Old Man, Mt Fell, Lake Chalice).

Scenic Coastal AdventuresMount Stokes TrackDay Trip to the Highest Point in the Sounds50 km north4-5 hr returnHardMount Stokes Track: an advanced 4–5 hr return DOC tramp to the 1203 m summit above Kenepuru Sound. Start, dogs, weather and what to take.

Scenic Coastal AdventuresOkiwi Bay Marlborough SoundsSwimming, Holiday Park & Boat Ramp1 hr 20 min drive51 km north-westOkiwi Bay in the Marlborough Sounds offers calm swimming, a private holiday park and public boat ramp, 92 km from Blenheim.

Scenic Coastal AdventuresQueen Charlotte TrackWalking and Cycling the Marlborough Sounds30 min drive52 km north-eastHardThe Queen Charlotte Track is a 73.5-kilometre shared-use trail through the Marlborough Sounds, running from historic Meretoto/Ship Cove to Anakiwa.

Scenic Coastal AdventuresMotuara Island Lookout TrackBird Island Summit Walk in Queen Charlotte Sound53 km north-eastNo dogs40 min returnEasyMotuara Island Lookout Track: an easy 30-minute DOC walk to a summit platform in Queen Charlotte Sound, with robins and saddleback. Boat access info.

Countryside & Nature EscapesMolesworth StationNZ's Largest High-Country Farm and Drive86 km south-west2 hrMolesworth Station, New Zealand's largest farm, is a working cattle station in southern Marlborough crossed by the seasonal Acheron Road from Blenheim.

Mangamaunu, KaikōuraThe Long Right-Hand Point Break North of Town89 km southMangamaunu north of Kaikōura: a nationally significant right-hand point break over boulders, with 200 m rides for intermediate to expert surfers.