Greymouth to Picton
West Coast to Marlborough Self Drive Travel Guide.

This Guide follows: the Inland Route from Greymouth via Reefton to Picton.

  Travel Facts
Distance: 387km (240 miles )
Approximately: 5 hours 20 minutes
Road Conditions:
State Highway 7 Greymouth to Reefton
State Highway 69 Reefton to Inangahua Junction
State Highway 6 Inangahua to Kawatiri Junction
State Highway 63 Kawatiri Junction to Blenheim
State Highway 1 Blenheim to Picton

This guide sponsored by: Sponsor this Guide

Greymouth - Reefton - Murchison - Kawatiri - Blenheim - Picton.

Mt Alexander from Stillwater on the banks of the Grey River.

The Inland Route to Picton from Greymouth takes us along side the Grey River past the Brunner Mine Site to Stillwater where we have two options.

To detour via the Western side of the Valley and visit Blackball and follow the road on to Ikamatua or to continue on SH 7 through Ngahere, Arahura and Totara Flat to Ikamatua.

Either road is sealed all the way offering differing scenic views along the way as we pass through the valley farmlands flanked by the Paparoa Range to the West and the Southern Alps to our right.

At Ahaura we cross the Aharua River via a lengthy one lane bridge, before we begin the climb from Ikamatua to the Reefton saddle and the down hill run to Reefton town. Just after Ikamatua is the turn off to the former mining town of Waiuta on the plateau above the valley. This is a short trip (8km) over some unsealed sections, but well worth the drive for the incredible views over the Grey Valley and eastward to the Southern Alps.

Waiuta, high above the Grey Valley .. at one time the South Island's richest Gold mine.

It is somewhat ironic that one of the mine shafts in this locality is the deepest in New Zealand. You see the township sits at approximately 800metres above sea level while the shaft is over 900metres deep. So in theory that means those early miners climbed to the top of the mountain in order to drive a shaft to the bottom and beyond of the same mountain.

But it was obviously worth the effort, as Waiuta was one of the most prosperous gold fields in New Zealand and lays claim to being the South Island's richest.

Returning to SH 7 it is only 35kms from the Waiuta turn off to Reefton township. The view from here on changes from open farmlands to native forest as we climb to the Reefton saddle and then pass back into farmland as we take the down hill run to Reefton in the heart of the Victoria Forest Park.

 

Greymouth - Reefton - Murchison - Kawatiri - Blenheim - Picton.

Reefton is a picturesque town full of history. Known as the "the Town of Light" it was the first town in the southern hemisphere to have a public supply of electricity, even before many of the more fashionable suburbs of London and New York.

Established about 1870 Reefton has its beginning like most other places on the West Coast, with the discovery of gold bearing quartz reefs in the late 1860s. It is these Reefs that gave the town its name.

The Bearded Miners Reefton, West Coast. New Zealand

Proudly part of the Buller District, that incorporates the northern West Coast from Punakaiki north to Karamea, Reefton remains a unique mining town one of the few where gold is still won from the surrounding district.

A few minutes drive north along SH 69 through farmland river flats between the Paparoa and Victoria Ranges we come to the Inangahua Junction and our meeting with State Highway 6 to Nelson through the Upper Buller Gorge. Here we bid farewell to the Inanagahua River and follow the mighty Buller.

From the Inangahua Junction it is a short hop to the township.

Inangahua

The township of Inangahua was devasted by the earthquakes of 1928 and 1967 that hit the region. The Inangahua Hall has an excellent historic display recounting the tremendous power of these two events.

At Lyell there is an interesting 90 minute return walk through the forest to a stamping battery which crushed gold-bearing quartz from the Croesus Mine. Other features along the way include a goldfield cemetery and interesting tailings (mounds of stones) left by miners after gold-bearing gravels had been sluiced away. Return the same way.

The walkway begins at the Lyell picnic and camping area, about 35 km from Murchison, the area is well sign posted.

 

Greymouth - Reefton - Murchison - Kawatiri - Blenheim - Picton.

Murchison, Nelson Tasman, New Zealand

First known as Hampden, Murchison sprang to life with the discovery of gold and later grew into farming.

Another township in the region devastated on the 17th of June 1929 by an earthquake that killed 17 people as it wrenched the mountainsides blocking rivers and cutting roads. The Museum here is well worth a visit.

It is here that we say farewell to the Coast, and the glory and green that is the scenic beauty of the West Coast and Buller Region.

As the road follows the mighty Buller into the Nelson Tasman Region through farmed river flats and Beech forest to the Kawatiri Junction.

 

Greymouth - Reefton -Murchison - Kawatiri - Blenheim - Picton.

At the Kawatiri Junction State Highway 63 from Renwick and Blenheim meets SH 6. There are a number of short walks in the area centered around the Historic railway. Here we leave SH6, as we follow SH63 and the Buller River up to St Arnaud beside Lake Rotoiti.

Lake Rotoiti, Nelson Lakes, New Zealand

Part of the Nelson Lakes National Park, Lake Rotoiti and her sister Rotoroa offer abundant summer sporting and boating activities. With the Rainbow skifield being the popular winter atrraction in the area.

A short drive then brings us through the St Arnaud Range to the Wairau Valley and on through the settlements of Hillersden and Wairau Valley to Renwick about 12kms from Blenheim. A visit to the Renwick museum offers rides on gig or wagon.

 

Greymouth - Reefton -Murchison - Kawatiri - Blenheim - Picton.

At the junction of the Opawa and Omaka Rivers, Blenheim sits where James Sinclair first built a hut in 1852, owing it's initial existence to the proximity to ford and landing place for crossing the rivers. Today the township is a center for the surrounding territory, with a number of interesting places to visit not the least of which are the Museum and Blenkinsopp's cannon situated near Seymour Park.

The short (28km) final leg of the journey from Blenheim follows State Highway 1 north to Picton.

 

Greymouth - Reefton -Murchison - Kawatiri - Blenheim - Picton.

The first or final port in the South Island (literally) for many Self Drive visitors is the Cook Straight Ferry terminal and township of Picton (photo below). Visitors can enjoy the warmth and relaxed ambience of a small and charming seaside town situated amid some of New Zealands varied but always spectacular scenery.

Queen Charlotte Sound with Picton Township (to the right), the Bluebridge Ferry, Monte Stello in port (center foreground), at left the InterIslander, Kaitaki at sea.

Once a Maori settlement and steeped in maritime history, Picton now accommodates the Marlborough region's main port and extensive marina facilities alongside a host of restaurants, cafes, arts & crafts galleries and souvenir shopping.

At the top of the South Island, Marlborough province is formed from a series of fault blocks that reach out into Cook Straight. The furtherest reaching of these is the area known as the Marlborough Sounds, where the deep valleys have been invaded by the sea to form an intricate puzzle of sounds.

The most well known are Queen Charlotte Sound where Picton township sits, and the 45km Pelorus Sound with its 350 plus kilometres of shoreline.

There are numerous activities based around the stunning Sounds and scenery. With a fine choice of cafes and restaurants all tastes and appetites are catered for.

On the water front you will find tour operators offering amazing scenic cruises, diving, trips, adventure sea kayaking, dolphin cruises, eco tours and fishing trips.

 

Welcome to Picton - enjoy your stay.

This Guide last Updated: February 2011