Waikawa: SH1 Picton North

Marlborough stretches from the Marlborough Sounds to the Wairau Valley, encompassing sheltered drowned-valley inlets and dry vineyard plains. At the northeastern tip of New Zealand’s South Island, its coast meets Cook Strait in a maze of waterways that includes Queen Charlotte Sound/Tōtaranui and Pelorus Sound/Te Hoiere. Picton is the region’s principal port and the South Island terminal for Cook Strait ferries to Wellington. Inland, the Wairau River crosses the broad valley around Blenheim, where Sauvignon Blanc has made Marlborough internationally recognised as a wine-producing region. Boating, walking and cellar-door visits reflect the sharp contrast between coast and valley. Continue through nearby webcams to explore different parts of Marlborough.

New Zealand combines Pacific isolation with strong ties to the wider South Pacific in a way that reflects its position between the Tasman Sea and the open Pacific Ocean. The country’s two main islands are divided by Cook Strait, while the Southern Alps run along much of the South Island and include Aoraki / Mount Cook, its highest mountain. On the North Island, volcanic terrain shapes Tongariro National Park and the central plateau; long coastlines frame cities such as Auckland and Wellington. Māori culture is central to national life, and the Treaty of Waitangi, first signed in 1840, remains a foundational document in relations between Māori and the Crown. See how New Zealand fits within the wider South Pacific by browsing webcams nearby.