Marlborough and Nelson in 5 Days: A Campervan Wine Loop from Picton
Quick summary: Five days is perfect for a campervan wine loop across the top of the South Island. Collect your campervan or motorhome in Picton, spend two nights among the vineyards of Marlborough, stop for Greenshell mussels in Havelock on the way west, and spend two nights in Nelson riding the Great Taste Trail past wineries, orchards and craft breweries. It’s around 300 km in total, with two full days when the vehicle stays parked.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Length | 5 days, 4 nights |
| Start and finish | Picton loop |
| Total driving | Around 300 km |
| Wine regions | Marlborough, Nelson |
| Tasting days off the road | Marlborough, Nelson |
| Longest day | Around 110 km |
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Day 1: Picton to Renwick (around 40 km)
Collect the campervan in Picton, stock up in Blenheim, and drive on to Renwick in the Wairau Valley. Settle in for two nights. See picking up in Blenheim and Picton.
Day 2: Marlborough tasting day (no driving)
Hire bikes in Renwick and ride between the cellar doors, or join a Marlborough wine tour with lunch at a vineyard restaurant. See Marlborough by campervan.
Day 3: Renwick to Nelson via Havelock (around 105 km)
Follow State Highway 6 west to Havelock for a lunch of Greenshell mussels, then continue through the Rai Valley and over the hills to Nelson. Stay at a holiday park close to the Great Taste Trail, in Nelson, Richmond or Mapua.
Day 4: Nelson tasting day (no driving)
Ride a section of the Great Taste Trail past vineyards and orchards, with stops at cellar doors, cafés and craft breweries. Many bike hire operators deliver bikes to your campsite and collect you at the end of the ride. See Nelson by campervan and our guide to cycling wine trails.
Day 5: Nelson to Picton (around 110 km)
Return to Picton via Havelock and Queen Charlotte Drive, a narrow, winding road with beautiful views over the Marlborough Sounds, or via Blenheim on the main highway for an easier drive. Return the vehicle or continue on the ferry.
Is Queen Charlotte Drive suitable for an RV?
It’s sealed but narrow and winding, with tight corners and steep drop-offs in places. Smaller campervans manage it well with care, but larger motorhomes may prefer the main route via Blenheim, which is longer but much easier. Either way, allow extra time and use the pull-over bays.
How can you extend the loop?
- Add the Abel Tasman. Spend a night at Kaiteriteri or Mārahau for a kayak or water taxi day, around an hour beyond Nelson.
- Add the Marlborough Sounds. Take a seafood and wine cruise, or stay a night at a Sounds campground.
- Continue south to Kaikōura and the Waipara Valley on our South Island wine trail.
For the wider region, see our sister site’s Nelson, Tasman and Golden Bay route.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Five days allows two nights in each region, with a full tasting day in both and short drives between them.
Around 105 km on State Highway 6 via Havelock, about 1 hour 30 minutes without stops.
Havelock, on the road between Marlborough and Nelson, is known as a centre of mussel farming, with restaurants serving them fresh.
Yes. The Great Taste Trail links vineyards, orchards, breweries and cafés, with bike hire and transfers available.
It is narrow and winding. Larger vehicles may prefer the main route via Blenheim.