Anakiwa 401

Marlborough Sounds self-catering guest accommodation

Phone: 03 574 1388 or 027 574 1000

Email:  anakiwa401@gmail.com

Marlborough │ New Zealand

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Biking in Marlborough

October 4, 2020 by tanya

Marlborough has a wonderful variety of tracks and trails to suit all ages and abilities. If you’re unable to bring your bike with you, Sea Kayak Adventures Bike Rental in Anakiwa Road can help kit you out.

Those local to Anakiwa include the more advanced 72km Queen Charlotte Track – one of New Zealand’s 23 Great Rides that starts at historic Ship Cove and takes you along spectacular ridgelines & through beautiful forest to Anakiwa. And The Link Pathway, an almost entirely off-road 42km trail between Havelock and Picton (including Anakiwa) that parallels the Queen Charlotte Drive for much of its length with interesting views. It’s an off-road experience, with the odd short but steep climb, so doable by most riders of reasonable fitness and biking skills. If you only want to ride in only one direction or a certain part of these tracks, The Link Bus can pick you and your bike up or drop you off at your convenience.

In Picton, there are a variety of short graded 2-4 mountain bike tracks through native bush in the Victoria Domain offering stunning views over Picton and the Marlborough Sounds. These start at either the Picton Marina or the carpark at Sussex Street.

Just before Renwick (ten minutes to Blenheim), is Condors Bend – a unique 6km cross country track winding through forest and scrub between the stop bank and the Wairau River, with undulations of a few metres and less, so perfect for everyone.

If you head to Blenheim for some mountain biking, you have quite a selection including the dedicated Wither Hills Mountain Bike Park, the dual use tracks in the Wither Hills Farm Park, the Ben Morven Track and the flat and maintained Taylor River Reserve tracks.

Back in the Sounds is the 27km Nydia Track, starting at Kaiuma Bay. It’s a fantastic single-track ride with big climbs, fast downhills, rugged tree roots and brilliant views, suitable for experienced mountain bikers.

And if you’re a road biker, you won’t miss out here either – the stunning Queen Charlotte Drive & Kenepuru Road are relatively quiet scenic winding roads with opportunities on route to stop for a swim, coffee, ice-cream or just take in the spectacular views. The Queen Charlotte Drive forms part of the world famous 101km annual GrapeRide loop and it’s definitely worth experiencing it if you’re here.

Filed Under: Activities, Mountain Biking

Walkers’ Delight

May 31, 2016 by tanya

Walking is often a favourite pastime of guests at Anakiwa 401 and it’s not surprising they come to stay with the many options available to them when lodging at our self-catering guesthouse.   Whether you’re interested in short walks, full day walks or evening strolls, the choice is endless from Anakiwa 401.

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With the famous Queen Charlotte Track starting at the end of our garden, be assured that however long a walk you decide upon, you’ll encounter unforgettable coastal and bush scenery with magnificent views of the Marlborough Sounds. A short 3km walk from Anakiwa through native beech tree forest to Davies Bay, will reward you with a gorgeous picnicking spot and a beautiful safe sandy swimming beach to refresh yourself. If you’d prefer a longer walk, continue on from Davies Bay to the Onahau Lookout, overlooking Ngakuta Bay with spectacular views of the Queen Charlotte Sound bays and coves, before returning to Anakiwa (13km return).

Perhaps you’d like to experience the Marlborough Sounds on the water and take a morning water taxi with Arrow Water Taxis (during the season from October to Easter), from the jetty right opposite Anakiwa 401 to Mistletoe Bay on the Queen Charlotte Sound. From here, you’ll walk at your leisure through both mature and rapidly regenerating forest supporting large populations of waxeyes, fantails and wekas, before arriving at the Onahau Lookout, Davies Bay and then back to Anakiwa (12.5km – QCTLC Track Pass required – $10 1-day pass, $18 5-day pass).

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A little further afield, close to Havelock, is the Coastal Loop Walking Track at the Cullen Point Lookout – a great 1 hour walk with views of the Mahau Sound & Mahakipawa Arm. For a slightly longer walk, there is the Cullen Creek/Waikakaho Walkway – this follows an old goldminers trail so its historically interesting starting with building remains of the former mining town of Cullensille. The Link Pathway which is a community project to create a 42 kilometre walk / cycle path that links Picton, Anakiwa and Havelock is well under way, with sections now open, is offering even more wonderful walks locally. Or why not walk to the highest point of the Marlborough Sounds, Mt Stokes – on a clear day, the views are simply stunning (5hrs return walk – 1.5 hour drive from Anakiwa).

And let’s not forget your walking doesn’t need to stop at night fall – on a short local night walk, hear the morepork calling, spend time stargazing, see a spectacular cascade of glow-worms or the bioluminescent organisms glowing in the water.  All an amazing spectacle from Anakiwa 401 Self-catering Guesthouse.

The choices are endless – just ask us during your stay.

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Thank you to guests who have kindly provided photos from their Queen Charlotte Track experience.

Filed Under: Activities

Autumn in Anakiwa

April 30, 2016 by tanya

Kahikatea

Our beautiful kahikatea tree is looking splendid in its autumn colours.  Standing in our front garden, it was once part of a large grove, some of which still remain in the adjacent property.

The kahikatea is New Zealand’s tallest forest tree, growing to heights of over 60 metres.  It once dominated the forests that covered much of New Zealand’s swampy lowland areas. Unlike our solitary kahikatea, it is more common to find them close to other kahikatea, intertwining its buttressed roots with its neighbours for support in the unstable swampy ground.

In autumn, numerous forest birds chatter noisily in its canopy, feeding on its abundant red berries. These berries, called koroī, were also a valued food source for Māori, who skillfully climbed up the smooth branchless trunks to harvest them.

It was Captain Cook who named this giant, “white pine”, when he and his companions first encountered it along the banks of the Waihou River, in the North Island. They had great confidence in its suitability as timber.  However, it was not long before it was discovered that while undoubtedly tall and straight, the softness of the kahikatea’s wood and the fact it was a susceptible to damage by house borer, made it unsuitable for naval or building applications.

But its uses didn’t end there – the fact this timber has no odour, meant it was in great demand for cheese crates, butter boxes and tallow casks in the days before fibre-board containers. Consequently there was then a sizable export trade in the timber to Australia and Europe. In fact Kahikatea or white pine is still used today for casks.

Autumn is a wonderful time to visit the region – quieter, yet still beautiful sunny skies and calm waters.  Come and check it out for yourself.  BOOK NOW

Reference: Project Kaikatea and Te Ara NZ.

Filed Under: Activities, Bird watching, Nature, News

A bird-watcher’s paradise

June 2, 2015 by tanya

Rsz SilvereyeNew Zealand is a bird-watcher’s paradise. Whilst, you may not find the famous New Zealand kiwi right here in Anakiwa, they’re not far away and we certainly have numerous bush and sea birds to keep avid bird-watchers interested during their stay with us the Marlborough Sounds.

A recent guest Carol Mayne, was out and about exploring our bay and took some amazing bird life photos shown here.

From the native silvereye, a small songbird with a distinctive white ring around their eye, also known as the waxeye, to the long-legged waterbird, the royal spoonbill with its black spoon-shaped bill.  You may even spot the protected pied shag trying to swallow a flounder in the shallow waters or hear the guttural call of a caspian tern which is often heard, before the bird is seen.   
!cid_075E68E3-4A79-4D3F-A572-9AD55B0A58D9!cid_EE633714-01DB-416F-9A76-C0CE02F4A6D3!cid_ED067E0E-3954-4805-8438-F623C41865DCCome Spring, the dawn chorus, from the warbling tui, the notes of the bellbird that Sir Joseph Banks noted  in the Queen Charlotte Sound on James Cook’s first voyage to New Zealand and the loud song of one of New Zealand’s best known birds, the fantail – is truly magical.

In our gardens and the bush, the large & lumbering kereru (native wood pigeon), the flightless weka (bush hen), sparrow-sized yellowhammers, kingfishers,  californian quails and the NZ falcon, are just some of the birds to look out for.  Oystercatchers, gannets, shearwaters, black swans, reef herons, little blue penguins and even the royal albatross can be seen on the waters of the Marlborough Sounds.

And if you head to the predator-free Motuara Island accessible by boat from Picton, you may get to encounter some rare & endemic bird species, such as the South Island saddleback and robin, along with the most important species on the island – the nocturnal Okarito brown kiwi.  This island is used as a nursery for chicks but being nocturnal, these birds are hidden from sight to most.

Anakiwa 401 surrounded by native bush and gardens, next to the beachy foreshore, is the perfect spot to stay in the Marlborough Sounds for many activities, bird-watching being one.

Filed Under: Activities, Bird watching Tagged With: Activities, Marlborough

Day Out Mountain Biking the Queen Charlotte Track

November 21, 2014 by tanya

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It was gorgeous weather yesterday,  so we decided to experience some more of our own back yard – the Queen Charlotte Track.  Instead of walking, this time we took the mountain bikes and chose a section close to Anakiwa.  We were dropped off at Torea Bay jetty by friends in their boat, however Arrow Water Taxis pick up daily from Anakiwa and take you there for just $30 per person. We then rode the 21+ km back to Anakiwa.  This section of the track travels through both private and Department of Conservation land, so you will need to get a QCTLC Day pass ($10) from us before you set out.

There were some steep climbs (where we had to push our bikes) but the views on the way up to and along Shamrock Ridge (the highest point on the Track itself at 407m) were outstandingly beautiful.  This section from Torea Saddle to Lochmara can be challenging but you can ride/walk at your own pace and the views of both the Kenepuru & Queen Charlotte Sounds were amazing and well worth the effort.   The technical descent is good fun too.   From where the Lochmara Lodge pathway meets the Queen Charlotte track down to Mistletoe Bay and onto Anakiwa, is a great part of the track and if you are not so experienced, then the Te Mahia Saddle/Mistletoe Bay to Anakiwa section is a little easier and a very popular ride down into Anakiwa.  This follows the old bridle path above Onahau Bay, passing by farm paddocks and regenerating forest to the Onahau Lookout with picnic tables and on a clear day, provides fantastic views of Onahau Bay, up the Queen Charlotte Sound and back down into Anakiwa.   You then descend through mature forest close to Bottle Bay and along the gentle undulating track to Davies Bay, with a safe sandy, grass banked beach – perfect for a dip to cool off.  This is a popular picnic spot for locals in summer.  The final 15 minute ride to Anakiwa again follows an old bridle path running through mature forest featuring some large beech trees.

Along the whole journey, there was evidence of wild pigs and Tanya even saw a wild goat. There was also a variety of native birds to be seen in their habitat.  We arrived home at Anakiwa 401 pretty tired as we are not regular mountain bikers, but totally exhilarated and can recommend it highly – we can see why it has the NZ Cycle Trail Great Ride status.  Talk to us if you’d like any advice on walking or biking the Queen Charlotte Track.

Filed Under: Activities, Mountain Biking, News

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Quality, historic, waterfront accommodation with friendly hosts

Relax in either of our two separate 'exclusive use' well-appointed private self-catering suites in our hosted beachfront guesthouse and have access to excellent facilities including gardens, kayaks, stand-up paddleboard, games, books, complimentary wifi. Continental breakfast and pre-prepared meals can be arranged. [Read more...]

Green Caravan Cafe @ Anakiwa 401

Looking for a beautiful place to stop for a coffee or treat yourself and kids to an ice-cream? Then visit us at the Green Caravan Café @ Anakiwa 401 - located at the end of the road in delightful Anakiwa on the Queen Charlotte Sound - the mid-way point on the South Island's picturesque Queen Charlotte Drive, between … [Read more....]

Local Area Weather

Anakiwa Marlborough New Zealand
August 12, 2022, 7:51 pm
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3°C
real feel: 3°C
humidity: 97%
wind speed: 4 km/h NW
wind gusts: 14 km/h
UV-Index: 0
sunrise: 7:18 am
sunset: 5:40 pm
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Anakiwa 401
401 Anakiwa Road
RD 1, Picton 7281
New Zealand
Phone: +64 [0] 3 574-1388
Mob: 027 574 1000
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