Getting Here
GETTING HERE is easy, when you know how
There are three ways to reach Raetihi Lodge, by road, water or air.
Raetihi Lodge stands on the shore of Kenepuru Sound in New Zealand’s panoramic Marlborough Sounds region, in the South Island. There are many options to get to Raetihi Lodge depending from which direction you’re coming. Here's our How to Get Here Info pack
BY BOAT
From Havelock
Raetihi Lodge offers our own private Water Transfers from Havelock with our Raetihi Lodge skipper and boat. This is an on-demand service for between 2 – 10 people, with prices starting from $210, each way. Please call or email Raetihi Lodge for further information or bookings.
External Operator Water Taxis are also available from Havelock, and we recommend booking through:
- Havelock Water Taxi. Call Brownie Shallcross, the skipper owner/operator to book +64 (0) 212020786 or +64 3 574 2338.
- Kenepuru Water Taxi – Phone Pete Bigley on (03) 573 4344 or email info@kenepuru.co.nz
The Pelorus Mailboat also offers transfers from Havelock to Raetihi Lodge jetty from $50 pp each way, however, this is only available in Summer on Tuesday & Saturday mornings.
From Te Mahia Jetty
Water Transfers from Te Mahia Jetty with our Raetihi Lodge skipper and boat are available at a cost of $30 per person each way, min. 2 people. If you have a car this is a good option to drive to, but there are some windy roads involved to get there. We are happy to work with times that suit your travel plans. Please call us to arrange water transfers.
Arrive with your own boat
We do have moorings available for our guests that are staying with us, and there are no extra costs for the mooring.
BY AIR
Arrive with PELORUS AIR by fixed-wing small planes directly into Nopera Airstrip
Raetihi Lodge works closely with Pelorus Air to ensure your journey from ‘home’ to the lodge runs smoothly and efficiently. Flying over the stunning Marlborough Sounds and landing at Nopera Airstrip is one of the quickest, often cheapest, and best ways to make your way to us.
From Wellington, Picton, Paraparaumu or Nelson arrive at Nopera Airstrip. There you will be met by our Guest Transfer vehicle and taken back to Raetihi Lodge just 4km away.
- For more information and bookings, please contact Cliff or Chris Marchant at Pelorus Air
- Phone: +64 (0) 27 757 7247
- Email: info@pelorusair.com
Blenheim Airport is the closest domestic airport that Air New Zealand flies into.
Sounds Air flies into Picton (Koromiko) as well as Blenheim Airport.
If you are arriving into Blenheim airport, we recommend you call Marlborough Shuttles (ph: 0800203027) and book a pick up from the airport to Havelock (30 mins), and then use one of the Water Taxi Companies listed above.
By Helicopter
Lands on-site on our Raetihi Lodge Helipad!
From Nelson
- Independent Helicopters call Logan Moore Mobile: +64 (0) 21 804 110
- Helicopters Nelson
- Coast-to-Coast Helicopters call Alister & Sarah Twisleton Mobile: 021 316 866 Ph: 0800 282 4354
- Precision Helicopters
Remarks
- All forms of transportation arrangements require reservations to be made prior to the day of travel to ensure availability.
- Please note all prices quoted for external operators are subject to change, as Raetihi Lodge does not operate these services.
- We cannot be held responsible for changes in weather conditions or mechanical failures and reserve the right to cancel a trip if we deem it unsafe. We put your and our safety first. We will do our best to get you to your destination as soon as we can organise an alternative time.
BY ROAD
Following severe weather events over the last 12-18 months, there has been extensive damage to the Kenepuru Road, particularly after the Te Mahia turnoff. If you choose to drive to Raetihi Lodge, please check the Marlborough Council website for road closures, or limited access hours.
Normally, you can drive, in a regular car, the very scenic Kenepuru Road all the way to Raetihi Lodge. The road is spectacular, however, it is VERY winding and narrow in parts and un-sealed for much of the last 10 kilometres.
You can reduce the time and number of tight turns by driving only as far as Te Mahia Jetty, parking your car there for free, then we can collect you in our Lodge boat for a small cost.
Drive to Havelock
- then get a water taxi to Raetihi Lodge. We operate our own boat & skipper offering a private on-demand transfer service, or there are other water taxi operators available. Parking at Havelock Marina is around $6 per day.
Drive to Te Mahia Jetty
- then book a water transfer with our skipper and lodge boat over to Raetihi Lodge (this saves 1.5 hours driving time to Raetihi). Call Raetihi Lodge for bookings +64 3 573 4300
- Free car parking is available at Te Mahia Jetty carpark.
How do I get there? From Havelock or Picton, you drive to Linkwater on Queen Charlotte Drive, and turn into Kenepuru Road (the main turnoff). Te Mahia Jetty is a further 20kms from here, and Raetihi Lodge is about 72kms from Linkwater.
- If driving a rental car, please ensure that you are covered for driving on unsealed roads.
- If you're in Nelson and don't have a car, we highly recommend Paul Newton, who has a company called Nelson Tasman Private Driver Hire. Ph: +64 3 391 0500 His rates are very reasonable and he will drop you to Te Mahia jetty where we can collect you with our water transfer boat, and bring you over to Raetihi Lodge.
Driving Times – approximately
| FROM | TO | Driving Time |
|---|---|---|
| Nelson | Havelock | 1 hour |
| Havelock | Te Mahia | 45 minutes |
| Havelock | Raetihi Lodge | 2 hours 20 mins |
| Blenheim | Havelock | 30 minutes |
| Blenheim | Picton | 25 minutes |
| Picton | Te Mahia Jetty | 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Portage | Raetihi Lodge | 1+ hour |
| Nelson | Raetihi Lodge | 3 hours |