Upper South Island Road Trip

Explore sunny Nelson where foodie trails, heritage and scenery add to a glamorous bookend to a New Zealand holiday experience. Excitement builds as you start the journey on a backcountry iconic road trip State Highway 6 to Murchison, where wild meets west coast.

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Whistle stop photo moment at Brightwater and perhaps check out the wineries.  It is Nelson after all with its well known wine trails. There are two heritage church’s worth a second look for those interested in New Zealand church architecture. 

Brightwater highlights:

• Home to Lord Rutherford memorial, birthplace
• Kaimara Winery
• Middle-Earth Winery
• Great Taste Cycle Trail entrance / exit

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SPOONERS TUNNEL – RAILWAY TO NOWHERE

There is a story of the local member of Parliament sitting on the railway lines, with her knitting in a failed attempt to keep the rail link open. Sonja would be pleased with the reimagined use of the tunnel and the opportunity tourism brings with its visitor dollars. 

INTERESTING FACT NOTE AFFILIATE PARTNER STATEMENT

INTERESTING FACT

At 1.4km long, Spooners is NZ’s longest decommissioned rail tunnel and the 5th longest tunnel open to cycling and walking in the world. Great Taste Trail: Wakefield to Kohatu Spooners Range tunnel is a shared tunnel with cyclists and walking enjoying the atmospheric historic tunnel.

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The sweet taste of locally sourced honey. Stock up in the goodie bag for delicious toast. Nelson Honey New Zealand, Manuka Honey, Royal Nectar, Nectar Ease. Visit Nelson Honey for a live beehive viewing and processing factory. From origins as a small one-man apiary on the outskirts of Nelson in 1900.

Nelson Honey today is still a family-owned business but has grown to become a significant employer at Motupiko. “For more than 100 years the Cropp family have worked alongside nature, extracting honey delicately from honeycomb to bring you the finest quality product, direct from New Zealand’s own backyard.” …

Nelson Honey is opposite the rustic Quinney’s Bush Camp.

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Murchison’s story and the Buller River and its tributaries are inextricably entwined.  The Buller is 177 km in length originating in the Nelson Lakes National Park. Near Murchison the Buller River becomes a force to be reckoned with. The small settlement of  Murchison is an excellent introduction to a way of life governed by its mining legacy and the current relative isolation due to the Southern Alps.

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In the forests surrounding Murchison is a natural burning fire constantly kept alight with escaping natural gas. Access is through private land and by guided tours only. Book tours at the local information centre. The four-hour tour is a walk through the lush rainforest to the extraordinary sight of flames flickering on the forest floor.

Buller Gorge Swingbridge Adventure and Heritage Park: 

Adventure Buller River style with a suspension swing bridge, a zipline and gold panning. Walk across New Zealand’s longest swing bridge. Crossing the white water magic of the Buller River, the swing bridge leads to an attraction park where you can pan for gold, learn about the gold mining heritage of the area and zipline across the Buller Gorge. 

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Want a view of the Buller Suspension Bridge? The Buller Swing bridge is 110m in length and 19m above the Buller River. There is an admission fee to cross the bridge. For views of the Buller swing bridge turn onto New Creek Road and park… Find out more  Buller Swing Bridge & Maruia waterfalls

An easy 10 minute walk from the carpark. (SH65). The waterfalls are the result of the 1929 Murchison earthquake which forced the Maruia Rivercut a new channel over an old river bank.

The 10-metre falls are easily accessible from SH65 and are only a short 5-minute walk from the roadside car park. The roar of water hitting the deep pools is background to the wide sweep of waterfalls easily visible from the track.

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PHOTO LOCATION

Base of the Maruia waterfalls, Murchison for the best spot for a selfie.

Lyell – once a thriving town now a ghost town now a popular picnic and camping spot.  The Lyell walkway (1 hr loop walk) explores gold mining relics and the evocative atmosphere of an abandoned cemetery. Lyell is the starting point of the ‘Old Ghost Road’ mountain biking and multi-day tramp.

Lyell Historic Reserve has ample parking, a Department of Conservation Campground, water and toilet facilities.  The campsite has signposts to Lyell Cemetery…

Upper Buller Gorge, nearby Lyell Camping Grounds and entrance to Old Ghost Road cycle trail.

The Iron Bridge – 1890 years ago to replace a punt – the stone wall where the punt used to tie up on its river crossing can be seen from the Murchison side of the bridge, upstream on the far bank. Turn into New Creek Rd (no exit) to view the bridge and river.  Bridge designation is SH6, 2820.  The bridge is still in use as a single lane bridge crossing of the Buller River.

Inangahua is a truck and rest stop for travellers between the West Coast and East Coast of the South Island. A quick break then it’s off to REEFTON. Dust off your gold panning skills and find out whether the idea of being an intrepid gold mining prospector delivers the promised reward.

Reefton’s main street, Broadway is an original Victorian era main street and home to galleries, cafes and quirky stores. Reefton offers plenty of activities from a visit to a local distillery bottling botanical gins to gold panning right on the main street at the Bearded Miner. The Lewis Pass gateway town to the West Coast is founded on gold prospecting miners intent on striking it rich in the 19th century. 

Those second hand fabulous finds Reefton is calling out with its own brand of retail therapy. Find out more about the 23 things to do in Reefton tempting you to stay awhile.

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Sample botanical gin flavoured with native New Zealand herbs and flowers at Reefton Distillery.

The Alpine Nature Walk in Lewis Pass is a perfect reason to slow down and take a deep breath (or several) as you amble along a scenic walk through native beech forest. The Lewis Pass Nature Walk is a mere 800 metres (one way).

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Photo moment: In spring to capture photos of the lupins in flower amidst the alpine landscape of the LEWIS PASS. For nature lovers there is the Lewis Pass Scenic Reserve to linger in. 

Hot pools anyone? You are spoiled for choice whether you indulge in geothermal mineral waters in Maruia or Hanmer Springs.

Hanmer is a thriving spa destination. Hanmer has avoided Queenstown’s mass tourism debate about crowded attractions and the subsequent impact on the environment.

Highlights include a leisurely soak as nature’s geothermal waters gently cocoon you. The perfect reason to go nowhere. Hanmer is sensory. Relax into the day in one of the world’s great spa resorts.

Indulge in a range of water temperature controlled relaxing rock pools. You have a choice from invigorating sulphur pools, massaging water jets and bubbles to quiet waterfall flows cascading over yourself.

Hanmer is a year round destination with forest walks, jet boating, Ilams and a shopping centre focused on visitor hospitality.

WEATHER

Winter snow conditions.

Hanmer Springs Ski Field Snow Forecasts and Conditions

Weather Forecast for Hanmer-Springs | WeatherWatch – New Zealand’s Weather News Authority.

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Take a leisurely cruise down highway 70 with a stop in Waiau. The picturesque village is located at the confluence of the Waiau and Rivers. There are several significant heritage sites marking European settler 19th century activity. The village green is home to a historic jail and some village stocks on the domain. 

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Low on petrol, fuel up in Waiau as there are no petrol stations for the next 75 kms.

Alpine Village with a Mt Lyford Adventure Park attracts visitors intent on enjoying the remote inland South Island alpine landscape.

• Winter ski and snowboard activities
• Summer 4 WD guided tours, hikes and short walks
• Dark sky observation

Mt Lyford Adventure Park & Lake Stella Mountain Retreat operate on a private mountain park spanning over the 3 mountains Lyford, Terako & Tinline in the Amuri Ranges, North Canterbury. The property is owned and operated on by the Simpson Family who founded the area, built the road and who also operate the Ski Area in the Terako Basi.

Kaikōura is the meeting point for the ocean and mountains with a picturesque fishing village reimagined as a tourist destination offering marine experiences from dolphin encounters to whale watching.  All of this washed down with local wines and a plate of succulent freshly harvested crayfish. 

Kaikōura’s drawcard is marine mammal encounters – sperm whales, fur seals and dolphins live permanently in the coastal waters. There are ocean going birds and local seals to observe on your foreshore walks. Whale watching trips leave the town several times a day.

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Often overlooked by visitors rushing off the Picton ferry on their way to Nelson. Marlborough, with its vineyards, vibrant artisan community, wide open spaces and iconic Queen Charlotte Sounds is a world class destination tucked into the hills and rivers of the South Island. Blenheim is the hub for the next day or perhaps Marlborough charm has evolved the stay into several days or more.

Grab the opportunity – don’t miss out on five must do Marlborough attractions

• 14 Things to Do in Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand: A Detailed Travel Guide
• Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre
• Marlborough, New Zealand wine trail – Best Bits
• Marlborough family friendly top sights – Best Bits

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This is another glorious road trip with the Pelorus Bridge as one of the many highlights. Perhaps you have time to book a rafting trip on the river together with a chance to explore walks in the Pelorus Reserve.

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ARRIVE AT YOUR FINAL DESTINATION – NELSON

Meet one of New Zealand’s rock stars in the visitor experience market.  Nelson is a great year round destination with landscape diversity, plenty of adventures for the intrepid, leisurely courtyard wineries to linger in and a stimulating art scene.

Nelson is a seasoned host with an extensive range of food / craft markets, cafes and award winning restaurants for visitors to sample.  This mix is stirred and mixed in food and wine where the taste buds are tantalised  by the bounty of the sea and land.  No wonder Nelson is a perennial favourite place for a holiday.

Best Bits recommends you lace up the walking boots. Get going on the Best Short Walks in the Abel Tasman National Park. What a way to explore the delights of the Abel Tasman National Park.