By Air in Upper South Island and the West Coast

By Air

Blenheim Airport (BHE) is quite close to town; you can hop a shuttle bus for a roughly 10-minute ride into Blenheim. Soundsair operates Picton's Koromiko Airport (PCN); this is also within 10 minutes of town and has shuttle bus service. Both are small regional airports -- Picton's Koromiko airfield is little more than a paved runway in farmland -- so you don't have to worry about long check-in or security lines.

The very scenic flight from Wellington to Blenheim takes about a half hour. Air New Zealand Link has at least 10 departures to and from Wellington daily. From Wellington, Soundsair makes the half-hour trip to Picton a few times daily from May to October and at least seven times a day from October through April.

Nelson Airport (NSN) is 10 km (6 mi) south of the city. It's a small regional airport, so there aren't any major lines to worry about. There are two terminals, the larger one for Air New Zealand flights and the smaller one for local Origin Pacific flights.

Air New Zealand links Nelson with Christchurch, Queenstown, Dunedin, the West Coast town of Hokitika, and all major cities on the North Island.

Super Shuttle buses meet all incoming flights and can take you wherever you need to go in town; the cost is $15 to the city for one passenger, $19 each for two. You don't need to book for incoming flights, but you do need to reserve ahead to go out to the airport. Taxi fare into town is about $25 to $40.

Airports

Blenheim Airport (03/572-9899). Koromiko Airport (0800/505-005).

Nelson Airport (Trent Dr. 03/547-3199).

Carriers

Air New Zealand Link (0800/737-000. www.airnewzealand.co.nz). Soundsair (03/520-3080 or 0800/505-005. www.soundsair.co.nz).