Marlborough - Wine Country Meets Waterways

Located at the top of the South Island, Marlborough is famous for putting New Zealand wine on the world map. But beyond the cellar doors, it is an outdoor lover’s paradise featuring 1,500km of winding coastline in the Marlborough Sounds.

For campers, the choices are diverse. You can stay at a holiday park in Picton (convenient for the ferry), freedom camp near the vineyards in Blenheim, or take a water taxi to a remote Department of Conservation (DOC) campsite in the Queen Charlotte Sound that is accessible only by boat or foot.

Why Go Camping Here?

The Wine: Marlborough produces over 70% of New Zealand’s wine. Camping here means you are never far from a world-class Sauvignon Blanc.
The Sounds: The Marlborough Sounds are a collection of ancient sunken river valleys. The water is calm, clear, and perfect for kayaking and fishing.
Sunshine: Blenheim is consistently one of the sunniest towns in New Zealand—perfect weather for tent camping.
Green-Lipped Mussels: Visit Havelock, the "Greenshell Mussel Capital of the World," for the freshest seafood you will ever taste.

Must-Do Camping Activities

Walk the Queen Charlotte Track: One of NZ’s classic hikes. You can do the whole 73km multi-day walk (camping along the way) or just a day walk from Ship Cove.
Bike the Vineyards: Hire a bike in Renwick and cycle between the cellar doors. It’s flat, scenic, and the tasting distances are short!
Mail Boat Cruise: Join the official Rural Post boat from Picton as it delivers mail and groceries to remote families living in the Sounds.
Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre: A world-class museum near Blenheim featuring Sir Peter Jackson’s collection of WWI and WWII aircraft.
Swim with Dolphins: Take a tour from Picton to swim with Hector’s, Bottlenose, or Dusky dolphins in the sheltered calm of the Sounds.

Campsites in Marlborough

Latest Posts

The “Pay-to-Play” Cheat Sheet: Understanding National Park & Hut Fees (AU & NZ)
Transparency Note: Pack and Pitch is reader-supported. While this guide is purely informational, our site contains affiliate links to gear we love. If you click one and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This keeps the lights on and the campfire burning. The Problem? It’s Not…
The Critter Defense Guide: Best Camping Insect Repellent & Tactics (2026)
There is a specific sound that haunts every Australian camper. It’s not the howl of a dingo. It’s the scritch-scratch of a possum trying to open your Esky at 2 AM. Or worse: it’s the silence of waking up, pouring a bowl of Nutri-Grain, and realizing the “raisins” are actually 500 meat ants swarming your…
Why I Finally Ditched the Supermarket First Aid Kit (And What I Bought Instead)
Don’t be a statistic. That sounds dramatic, I know. But if you’ve ever tried to find a pair of tweezers in a $20 supermarket first aid kit while your 6-year-old screams about a splinter, you know that panic is the enemy. Most of us treat first aid kits as a “tick box” item. We chuck…
Ultimate Sleeping Bag Guide: Down vs. Synthetic for Aussie & Kiwi Campers
There you are, staring at a wall of nylon sausages at your local camping store. Some are tiny, some are the size of a beer keg. Some claim they will keep you alive on Everest, while others look like they wouldn’t survive a sleepover in the lounge room. And the price tags? They make no…
5 Best Camping Stoves for Families (That Actually Simmer)
The “Hangry” Prevention Guide We need to talk about the wind. If you test a $20 camping stove in your backyard on a sunny Sunday, it works perfectly. But the second you take that same stove to a coastal campsite with a stiff 15-knot breeze, it becomes a paperweight. I have stood over a cheap…