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About Pelorus

The most stunning region in New Zealand.

You can make your holiday a relaxing and restful time, or do as many exhilarating activities as you can fit in. The Marlborough Sounds are renowned for their scenery, boating, diving, fishing, and the Queen Charlotte Track. The Havelock Mussel Festival, held annually in March, is on the AA’s list of 101 Must-Do-Things. There are plenty more Activities & Attractions available for you. There is something for everyone.

Havelock is the Mussel Capital of the World, sample the locally cultivated Greenshell™ mussels with a wonderful wine, grown and made in Marlborough by one of our many talented winemakers. We offer a wide range of accommodation, from luxury resorts to secluded campsites, and everything in between.

We are easy to find – right at the top of the South Island of New Zealand. Check out our Travel Information on how to get here.

Come visit us… we know you will just love it here and will want to return

101
Must-Do-Things in AA's list
50
Marlborough must do's list
380
Kilometers of shore line
290
Square kilometers area

The Pelorus region offers a number of great places to visit, from Havelock, the greenshell mussel capital of the world, to the Pelorus Valley. The Wakamarina River, Canvastown has historic gold mining heritage, Pelorus and Keneperu Sounds have stunning views and, remote Tennyson Inlet which is an arm of Pelorus Sound has a pristine indigenous forest. The bays in the inlet, Duncan Bay, Tuna Bay, Penzance and Elaine Bay are reached by a winding 32-kilometre road over the Ōpouri Saddle from Rai Valley.

Linkwater is a locality between Havelock and Picton via the Queen Charlotte Drive. It started as a milling town in 1861 due to a stand of kahikatea trees in the area and its proximity to the Marlborough Sounds. Gold was discovered in 1864 at Hall’s Creek. The gold rush resulted in the foundation of Cullensville a few km to the south of Linkwater. Cullensville remains as a ghost town. Dairy farming became the mainstay of the area.