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Leave The Sounds and follow State Highway 6, over Rai and Whangamoa saddles to the spread of Tasman Bay, and Nelson City. Allow at least half a day for this leg.

Beyond the quiet port town of Havelock is Canvastown, which began as a tent city in the 1864 Wakamarina gold rush. At Pelorus Bridge are beautiful forest walks and riverside picnic areas. In Tasman Bay you can turn off to charming Cable Bay, site of New Zealand's first international telegraph cable station. Closer to Nelson is The Glen, at the northern end of the Nelson Boulder Bank, which encloses the city's natural harbour.

Side trail: French Pass Another spectacular scenic drive, this trail follows a narrowing finger of land to the dramatic French Pass and nearby D'Urville Island. Stay the night to make the most of this unique area.

The first light of a new day strikes the forest canopy at
Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve (Simon Noble)