Eastern Marlborough
Introduction
Eastern Marlborough is an area of rugged mountains and an equally rugged coastline. The Department of Conservation offers a number of recreation opportunities to enjoy in the area ranging from a secluded forested bay through to a sheltered estuary, to more open coast where the great Pacific Ocean sweeps up on to wide-open, shingle beaches.
Cultural/historical
Sawcut Gorge
Maori settled much of this area, fishing and hunting in the lagoons and forests.
European settlers burned much of the original forest, but some areas remain. The salt works at Grassmere began in the 1940s, when salt was harvested in wheelbarrows and washed in a concrete mixer. The process now is much more high-tech.
Getting there
Bluegum Corner, Rarangi/Monkey Bay, Pukaka Valley, Mt Robertson, Whites Bay and Robin Hood Bay are all accessed from Port Underwood Road.
Port Underwood Road from Whites Bays to Picton is not recommended for caravans. Follow State Highway 1 to Tuamarina (9 km north of Blenheim or 20 km south of Picton). Turn off and head east via Hunter, Pembers and Rarangi Roads to Rarangi and Monkey Bay. From Rarangi/Monkey Bay the road climbs steeply over hills to Whites Bay and Robin Hood Bay. Whites Bay and the historic cable station is sign posted down a short side road off Port Underwood Road.
Activities
Bird watching
Historic sites
Camping and walking are the main activities available at these places, with some scope for bird-watching, hunting and swimming. All are within easy reach of Blenheim, the wineries, gourmet food producers and artists of Marlborough
Fishing
A Fish and Game New Zealand licence is required for river and lake fishing.
The Wairau Bar and river mouth area is popular for sea fishing and white baiting.
Marfells Beach is also popular for fishing.
Hunting
Hunters of waterfowl require a licence from the Fish and Game New Zealand.
Birdwatching
Wairau Lagoons and Lake Grassmere offer good bird-watching opportunities.
Surfing
Robin Hood Bay is popular for fishing and surfing.
Historic sites
At the northern end of Robin Hood Bay is the historic stud and mud Robin Hood Bay Cottage. Built as a whaler's cottage in 1848, the building is now maintained by members of the NZ Historic Places Trust and Blenheim Rotary Club.
In 1866, Whites Bay became the South Island terminus of the inter-island telegraph cable. The original cable station still exists.
Swimming
Whites bay provides the only safe swimming beach on the Cloudy Bay coast.