By bus
Buses (http://www.intercitycoach...) and shuttles (http://www.atomictravel.co.nz) (http://www.kahurangi.co.nz) route link Picton, Blenheim, Havelock, Rai Valley and Nelson. From Havelock, there is a shuttle (http://www.nydiatrack.org.nz) to both ends of the Nydia track, Kaiuma Bay and Duncan Bay, Tennyson Inlet.
By car
The roads around the Sounds while offering stunning views, are generally narrow and windy. Do not expect to travel at speeds greater than 60km/h and plan to give yourself plenty of time. Generally there are no loop roads in the Sounds - you end up coming out the same way you go in. Getting petrol can be a problem, especially in the evenings and at weekends. Picton has a 24hr petrol station the Shell on High St and Blenheim has a selection on State Highway 1 which bisects the town. Rai Valley and Havelock have petrol stations which keep reasonable hours.
Just west of the settlement of Rai Valley on State Highway 6 is a turn-off leading to French Pass and Tennyson Inlet. Not long after you leave the state highway you will come to a junction. Taking the left fork the road continues over the Ronga Saddle yielding views of the Croisilles Harbour. The settlement of Okiwi Bay has petrol at the camp ground shop. The road then snakes around Elaine Bay before branching at the head of Admiralty Bay. The left road takes you to the French Pass settlement riding high on the ridge overlooking Tasman and Admiralty Bays. Allow 2 hours from the state highway to get to French Pass. Fuel is available at the French Pass store. The right road runs around the eastern side of Admiralty Bay overlooking the main Pelorus Sound to Port Ligar and Bulwer. Allow more than 2 hours to get to Bulwer.
Leaving the state highway west of Rai Valley and then taking the right fork leads to Duncan Bay in Tennyson Inlet via the Opouri Saddle, from which are spectacular views. Tennyson Inlet is the end of the Nydia track.
Traveling 12 km north west of Havelock is Kaiuma Bay Rd, which leads to the beginning of the Nydia track.
At the southern end of Havelock is the start of the Queen Charlotte Drive, the scenic route between Havelock and Picton. The road climbs to Cullen Point. From the carpark at the top there is a short walk which leads to a lookout giving views of Mahau Sound, as well as Kaituna and Pelorus estuaries. From there the roads runs up to the head of Mahau Sound and then to Linkwater, where petrol can be purchased from the garage. 800m beyond the garage is the turnoff north to the Keneperu Rd and a further 2 km is the turnoff north to Anakiwa, the start of the Queen Charlotte Track. Queen Charlotte Drive then follows Queen Charlotte Sound to the Grove, Momorangi Bay and Ngakuta Bay, which has a beach good for a dip. The road snakes to the port of Shakespeare Bay with a lookout on the eastern side before climbing over the last hill to Picton. Allow 1 hour for this trip.
Kenepuru Rd turns off Queen Charlotte Drive at Linkwater. This road first climbs and then hugs the side of the Keneperu Sound past Te Mahia resort, Portage where petrol is available to the head of the Keneperu Sound. The road continues up to a saddle where the road forks, the left fork to Anakoha and the right to Titirangi Bay and Endevour Inlet. The track to the stop of Mt Stokes leaves from that fork.
From Picton, traveling east leads to Waikawa Bay. Beyond the bay the road climbs over to Port Underwood. It continues to Robin Hood Bay, White's Bay and Rarangi and Blenheim. This route takes 1 1/2 hours.
For rental cars in Picton go to (http://www.nzrentalcarhire.com) (http://www.pictonrentalca...)
By ship
Boats are a good way to get round the Sounds. The size of the marinas especially at Waikawa Bay and Havelock is testament to that. Cook Strait at the head of the Sounds can be rough. Typically, transport will only take you within one of the Sounds.