Queen Charlotte Drive

Queen Charlotte Drive Review

Heading west out of Picton toward the town of Havelock, Queen Charlotte Drive rises spectacularly along the edge of Queen Charlotte Sound. It cuts across the base of the peninsula that separates this waterway from Pelorus Sound, then drops onto a small coastal plain before climbing across to Havelock. Beyond Havelock the road winds through forested river valleys and over several ranges before it rounds the eastern side of Tasman Bay and reaches Nelson—allow two hours for this drive, despite the misleading look of the maps. To start the drive from the Interislander ferry terminal in Picton, turn right after leaving the parking lot and follow the signs.

About a third of the way to Havelock, Governor's, Momorangi, and Ngakuta bays are gorgeous spots for a picnic or a stroll along the forested shore. Cullen Point, at the Havelock end of the drive, is a good vantage point to view the inland end of the Pelorus Sound and across the bay to Havelock. The short walk to the lookout is well worth the effort.