Lake Grassmere Saltworks
Lake Grassmere / Kapara Te Hau
New Zealand's only sea salt works, where the evaporation ponds turn a dreamy pink on sunny days, making it a photo stop along State Highway 1.
Lake Grassmere is a shallow lagoon that has been developed as a sea salt works since the 1940s, producing most of New Zealand's table salt. In hot summer weather, halophilic algae in the ponds tint the water pink and orange, which looks stunning against the white salt piles. The salt works itself is not open to the public, but you can admire and photograph it from State Highway 1 or from the roadside at Marfells Beach. It's about 35 km from Blenheim and makes a convenient stop on the way south to Kaikōura.
Opening hours
Open all day (salt pans not open to visitors)
Nearby sights
- Wither Hills Farm Park
- Marlborough Museum
- Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre
- Seymour Square
- Pollard Park
- Makana Confections
- Pukatea / Whites Bay
- Cloudy Bay Vineyards