Bookings for Marlborough’s campgrounds for the 2025-26 season are set to begin in May, with reservations available on staggered dates between May 15 and June 4.
Momorangi Bay Campground, located on Queen Charlotte Drive, will open for bookings at 9:30 a.m. on May 21 through bookings.doc.govt.nz. Other DOC conservation sites will open for reservations on May 20, while backcountry huts and lodges will become available on May 13.
According to an article published by The Press, Momorangi Bay, which has 136 campsites, recorded 4,750 visitors during the 2022-23 summer.
State Highway 6 between Rai Valley and Hira will also undergo three weeks of night closures starting next week as part of resurfacing and maintenance work on the Whangamoa Saddle.
Due to the narrowness of the road and the large equipment required, closures will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, until March 13.
New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) will also close Pelorus Bridge on SH6 on Sunday night to replace a deck panel. Work sites will reopen at 12:30 a.m. each night, and freight operators are advised to plan accordingly.
Marlborough residents interested in preserving local heritage are also invited to participate in community workshops in March as part of a 10-year Marlborough Heritage Strategy.
Mayor Nadine Taylor said the initiative aims to strengthen the heritage sector and support museums in Picton, Renwick, Flaxbourne, and Havelock, as well as the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, Edwin Fox Maritime Museum, and Marlborough Museum.
An independent facilitator will lead discussions at the Awatere Community Hall on March 18, Blenheim’s Te Kahu o Waipuna and Nativity Hall on March 19, and Havelock Town Hall and Picton Library on March 20.