Perfect location, amazing views, fabulous atmosphere & Mike and Linley were the best hosts ever.
Fresh Cinnamon buns and warm smiles welcomed us on arrival. Linley and Mike made great effort to keep us all enjoying the Lodge and the beautiful opportunities surrounding it. We’ve gone on beautiful walks, fishing, kayaking and biking. We enjoyed the Hot Tub facing the beautiful sound and our kids even got an opportunity to visit the local school –which was wonderful. There was excellent coffee available, yummy muscles brought by Mike and a great common room to sit back and relax. Clean and tidy with anything you can ask for; and more !! We cannot recommend Hopewell Lodge highly enough.
Important update – Kenepuru Road is currently closed for public Access
There are subsided water taxis operating from Havelock or Picton making boat transfer affordable and fun! Please contact us directly for more information.
How to Get to Hopewell
Hopewell Lodge is located in the beautiful Marlborough Sounds. You will find us in Double Bay on the water’s edge of the remote Kenepuru Sound. Getting to Hopewell is a scenic experience and we can be easily accessed by road (when the road is open!), water and air. Below you will find a list of possible transport options. For more detailed information on how to get to Hopewell, please contact us directly
By Road
(When the road is open!)
Hopewell is at the end of the Kenepuru Road. The Kenepuru Road winds around the coastline of the Kenepuru Sound and is a very scenic drive with great views. The drive from Picton or Havelock takes about 2.5 hours and is less than 100kms.
Directions (When the road is open!)
The Queen Charlotte Drive is the scenic route which connects Havelock and Picton. You need to take this road from either Havelock or Picton to get to Linkwater. Here you turn into the Kenepuru Rd and Hopewell is at the end of this road. It is faster to go via Havelock if you are driving from Kaikoura.
It is not necessary to have a 4WD vehicle; the road is in very good condition with only 16kms of unsealed road.
| From | Distance | Driving Time (Approximate) |
|
Linkwater |
72km |
2 Hours |
|
Picton |
100km |
2 Hours 30 Mins |
|
Havelock |
85km |
2 Hours 15 Mins |
|
Blenheim (via Havelock) |
120km |
3 Hours |
|
Nelson |
175km |
3 Hours 30 Mins |
|
Golden Bay |
300kms |
5 Hours 15 Mins |
|
Christchurch |
440kms |
7 Hours |
|
Westport (via Renwick) |
400kms |
6 Hours 30 Mins |
Drive Part Way
You can drive part way and take a short cut across the Sound by boat from Te Mahia Bay.(When the road is open!)
Te Mahia Bay is only one hour’s drive from Picton or 40 minutes’ drive from Havelock and the road is sealed all the way.
If you have a car but don’t want to drive all the way around to Hopewell, taking the Hopewell Boat is the best and cheapest option. $60 per person return, $20 return for children under 14 years (children under 5 are free of charge). Bookings are essential. The boat runs inwards from Te Mahia to Hopewell between midday to 6pm and outwards from Hopewell to Te Mahia between 8am to 2pm.
Taking the Hopewell Boat from Te Mahia saves you driving another 1.5 hours to Hopewell. The car park at Te Mahia Wharf is safe to leave your car and there is no parking charge. The trip across the sound takes 15 minutes. Please book with us directly. We appreciate your booking in advance. Make sure you park down at the wharf and not at the resort. There is mobile phone reception at the end of the wharf. There is NO public phone at Te Mahia Bay Resort.
By Water Taxi
You can take a water taxi from Havelock (30 minutes) or Picton (45 minutes) or from Te Mahia (10 minutes).
Please contact us directly and we can help you to organise your best option.
Hopewell Water Taxi Prices
Transfers from Te Mahia to Hopewell $30 per adult each way.
Transfers from Havelock to Hopewell $25 to $50 per adult each way depending on numbers.
Transfers from Portage/Torea Bay/Waterfall Bay to Hopewell $35 per person each way – minimum run rate – 2 adults.
Transfers from Torea Bay or Waterfall Bay (Picton boat connection) $35 per adult each way.
By Air
You can also fly with Pelorus Air directly from Wellington to Nopera (our local airstrip) in the Kenepuru Sound. Or you can fly from Picton to Nopera. For more information please email info@pelorusair.com or phone +64 27 757 7247. We provide free transfers from the Nopera Airstrip to Hopewell.
By Kayak
Paddle to Hopewell Lodge with Sea Kayak Adventures. The team at Sea Kayak Adventures will pick you up in Picton, organise your kayaks and equipment, and drive you to a launching place in the Kenepuru Sound. A beautiful 3 hour kayak or 1 hour (your choice) and you can paddle right to the lodge. Prices include transfers to and from Picton.
Contact Sea Kayak Adventures directly at: info@nzseakayaking.com +64 800 262 5492
By Personal BOAT
We have complimentary registered moorings available for our guests.
FOR More DETAILED INFORMATION ON TRANSPORT OPTIONS TO HOPEWELL LODGE, DOWNLOAD OUR VISITOR INFORMATION SHEET
Hopewell Information October 22
