10 Day Top of the South Adventure Trail Self Drive

Welcome to Wellington, New Zealand’s creative capital perched on a deep natural harbour and ringed by lush hills. Today is perfect for an easy exploration of city highlights, café culture, and vibrant urban spaces before your South Island adventure begins.

Private Transfer – Wellington Airport to Your Accommodation
Once you’ve collected your luggage, a private driver will meet you at the airport and deliver you directly to your Wellington hotel. This stress‑free start lets you unwind and get oriented with ease.

Suggested Activity – Entry to Te Papa Tongarewa (Museum of New Zealand)
Te Papa is New Zealand’s bold and interactive national museum, seamlessly blending art, science, history and Māori culture. Exhibits range from colossal squid to provocative contemporary art, making it more than a museum visit—it's an inspiring journey through Aotearoa’s stories.

Suggested Activity – Wellington Cable Car
Ride the historic cable car up Kelburn Hill for panoramic city views and scenic looks over Te Whanganui‑a‑Tara (Wellington Harbour). At the top, explore the Cable Car Museum and stroll through the Botanic Garden’s lovely grounds.

Today you’ll board one of the world’s most scenic ferry crossings as you make your way across the Cook Strait and through the Marlborough Sounds to Picton. The route offers dramatic coastal views, sheltered bays and plenty of marine life.

Private Transfer – Hotel to Interislander Ferry Terminal
A private driver will collect you from your hotel and take you to the ferry terminal in plenty of time for check‑in. This ensures a relaxed and smooth departure.

Interislander Ferry Wellington to Picton
The roughly three‑hour ferry crossing is famed for ocean views, seal colonies, wind‑swept headlands and, if you’re lucky, dolphin sightings. An hour of the trip winds through tranquil Marlborough Sounds, where bush‑clad hills, small islands and peaceful coves make for memorable scenery.

Suggested Activity – Premium Lounge with Interislander
Upgrade your crossing with access to the Premium Lounge for a more serene experience. Enjoy locally sourced food and drinks along with excellent views from spacious, comfortable seating.

Picton Ferry Terminal to Accommodation Transfer
After disembarking in Picton, you’ll be met for a short transfer to your hotel in the town centre. This quick link gets you settled and ready to explore without fuss.

Spend the day exploring the natural splendour of the Marlborough Sounds before heading to a premier lodge tucked deep in Queen Charlotte Sound. Today blends wildlife experiences with ocean access and scenic seclusion.

Kaipupu Wildlife Sanctuary Visit
Cruise to Kaipupu Sanctuary, a mainland sanctuary only accessible by water, for a peaceful bird‑life walk through native bush. Keep your eyes peeled for tui, bellbird, fantail and little penguins as you wander the sanctuary’s loop tracks.

Water Taxi – Picton to Lochmara Lodge
Board a water taxi for a short scenic transfer through the Sounds to Lochmara Lodge, surrounded by native forest and water. It’s a unique way to arrive, offering photo opportunities and wildlife sightings en route.

2‑Course Dinner at Lochmara Lodge
Enjoy a relaxed two‑course dinner at the waterfront restaurant, just a short stroll from your room. The menu typically pairs seasonal produce with local flavours for a delicious evening meal.

Today is a free day to explore the grounds and waters surrounding Lochmara Lodge at your own pace. From wildlife tours to water activities, there’s flexibility to tailor your sounds experience.

Explore Lochmara Lodge and Surroundings
Discover native wildlife up close with daily animal education and feeding tours that often include kakariki parakeets and local eels. Complimentary kayaks and stand‑up paddleboards are available for use in the sheltered bay, while walking trails wind through blooming bush.

2‑Course Dinner at Lochmara Lodge
This evening, enjoy another delightful two‑course dinner at the lodge’s waterfront restaurant. With views over the bay and expertly prepared dishes, it’s a perfect way to reflect on your day.

Today you’ll depart the Sounds and collect your rental car before journeying south through Marlborough wine country toward Nelson. From vineyards to seaside towns, the scenery unfolds beautifully before you reach the sunniest region in New Zealand.

Water Taxi – Lochmara Lodge to Picton
After breakfast, board the water taxi back to Picton and your waiting rental vehicle. The transfer gives you one last chance to savour the sounds scenery before you hit the open road.

Collect Rental Car
Pick up your intermediate‑sized vehicle and set off on your self‑drive adventure south. There’s flexibility to explore cellar doors in Blenheim before continuing toward Nelson.

Head through Marlborough’s famous grape growing region, dotted with vineyards and cellar doors welcoming visitors. Pause in Blenheim or Havelock for a coffee or lunch before crossing the Bryant Range into Nelson and Tasman Bay.

Nelson’s vibrant centre boasts an abundance of cafés, restaurants and artisan markets. It’s also a gateway to outdoor adventures and is famous for its arts, crafts and close proximity to Abel Tasman National Park.

Today is all about active exploration and local flavour as you cycle a scenic section of the Tasman Great Taste Trail. Rolling along gentle paths, you’ll pass vineyards, orchards and waterways en route to the charming Mapua Wharf.

Nelson to Mapua Adventure with Kiwi Journeys – Lunch Included
Cycle a 32 km section of the Great Taste Trail on a premium e‑bike, perfect for riders with moderate fitness. Along the way, sample local treats, stop at vineyards and breweries and enjoy a laid‑back celebration at Mapua Wharf with lunch and drinks.

This morning you’ll follow the coastline through golden sands and holiday towns toward the entrance of Abel Tasman National Park. The park’s pristine beaches, sheltered bays and native bush make it a highlight of any Top of the South adventure.

Abel Tasman National Park – Sail and Cruise Transfer
Enjoy a scenic sail with Abel Tasman Sailing Adventures into the heart of the national park before transferring by water taxi. Glide past Split Apple Rock and along the Tonga Marine Reserve, spotting fur seals and marine life en route to Awaroa Lodge.

Harakeke Restaurant at Awaroa Lodge
Tonight’s dinner is an elevated 3‑course experience at Harakeke Restaurant, featuring fresh, locally influenced cuisine made with produce grown on‑site when possible. Enjoy relaxed service and panoramic views over wetlands and native bush as the sun sets.

Today is devoted to the sea and sky as you embark on a half‑day guided sea kayak excursion through protected marine park waters. Expect calm bays, rugged granite cliffs and wildlife encounters that bring Abel Tasman’s coastal beauty to life.

Half Day Guided Sea Kayak Trip
Launch directly from Awaroa with a kayak guide who knows the sheltered coves and marine reserves intimately. Paddle through pristine waters, observing seabirds and, if lucky, fur seals, eagle rays or dolphins in a truly wild setting.

Harakeke Restaurant at Awaroa Lodge
This evening’s three‑course meal again celebrates local produce in style at Harakeke Restaurant. Enjoy flavours that reflect the best of Tasman’s food and wine region while watching the sun dip below native bush and wetland landscapes.

This morning you’ll cruise Abel Tasman’s coastal horizon before heading back toward Picton. The drive weaves through orchards, forests and bays with plenty of stopping points to enjoy nature or explore quaint towns.

Abel Tasman Sea Shuttle
Board a comfortable catamaran for a relaxed cruise of the national park, with plenty of room to move and enjoy photo opportunities. It’s a gentle, scenic way to absorb more of Abel Tasman’s striking landscape from the water.

Marahau to Picton Drive
From Mārahau, head through the Motueka Valley and over the Bryant Range toward Picton, passing historic Pelorus Bridge and beautiful riverside tracks. The Queen Charlotte Drive along Marlborough’s sound coastline offers dramatic viewpoints and forested bays to enjoy along the way.

Return Vehicle at Picton Wharf & Ferry to Wellington
Drop off your rental car at the Picton Wharf depot before boarding the Interislander ferry back to Wellington. On the crossing, enjoy more Sounds scenery and Kaikōura Range views as you return to the North Island.

Interislander Ferry Picton to Wellington
The southern crossing treats you to more panoramic vistas of Marlborough Sounds and Cook Strait landmarks. Keep an eye out for seabirds and dolphins as you make your way homeward.

Taxi Transfer – Wellington Ferry Terminal to Accommodation
On arrival in Wellington, a taxi will take you directly back to your B&B for your last evening in the capital. Enjoy one final night soaking up the city’s harbour vibes.

Enjoy a relaxed morning in Wellington before your departure, perhaps revisiting a favourite café or gallery. Today marks the end of your Top of the South Adventure Trail, leaving you with memorable landscapes, flavours and encounters.

Private Transfer – Wellington Hotel to Airport
A private driver will collect you from your Wellington accommodation and deliver you directly to the airport for your departing flight. Enjoy a stress‑free end to a remarkable journey.

Farewell from Aotearoa / New Zealand
Bid farewell to New Zealand’s breathtaking scenery and warm hospitality. In Māori, mā te wā isn’t goodbye — it means “until we meet again.”