Reserve
Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve
River-flat forest beside the Pelorus River on SH6, midway between Blenheim and Nelson.
Photo: Pseudopanax / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
A DOC scenic reserve on State Highway 6, 18 km west of Havelock, protecting one of the last stands of river-flat forest in Marlborough, with short walks beside the river. A natural stop on the drive between Picton and Nelson.
At a glance
- Cost
- Free
- Getting there
- On SH6, 18 km west of Havelock, midway between Blenheim and Nelson (DOC)
- Rules
- No cats, dogs or other domestic animals in the reserve (DOC)
- Walks
- Several short walks from the reserve, including the Totara Walk (DOC page for details); longer tracks start here too
About Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve
Most of the lowland forest in the Pelorus valley was milled in the late nineteenth century. The area that is now the reserve was spared because it had been set aside for a township, and it survives as a stand of river-flat forest beside the Pelorus River, on the main road between Blenheim and Nelson.
From Picton it is a drive of Havelock plus a little further, so it makes sense as a stop on the way to or from Nelson rather than as a trip in its own right. Check DOC's page for the current walks and any track alerts before you go.
Know before you go
- Check DOC alerts for the reserve before you go; track conditions change after storms.
- No dogs or other pets.
Sources for this page
Facts on this page were checked against the sources listed on 29 September 2026.
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