Marlborough
Many visitors to Marlborough arrive by sea through the glorious maze of deep coves and sheltered bays of Queen Charlotte Sound. Located in the northwest corner of the South Island, Marlborough is blessed with a year-round sunny climate and regularly records the highest sunshine hours in New Zealand.
The region offers an outdoor paradise, with native forests, trout-filled rivers, coastal tracks, sheltered bays for cruising and fishing, mountains and high backcountry – all easily accessible from its towns. Whether you love wine or wildlife, sea-kayaking or cruising, native bush walks or formal garden rambles, under clear sunny skies Marlborough is a great place to unwind. In town and country there are galleries museums shopping, craft studios and food specialities to discover, with numerous tours taking in the best.
Marlborough is New Zealand’s largest grape growing and wine making region with 65 wineries, 290 grape growers and 4,054 hectares in grape production. Nearly all of the wineries welcome visitors for tasting sessions and many have a cafe or restaurant on site.
Tour Marlborough’s famous wine trail by coach, car or cycle. Take the Arts and Craft route from the Awatere to the Marlborough Sounds. Or the Treasured Pathway that traces the human and natural history of the region’s northern coastline.
Sample fresh Sounds oysters with the world’s best Sauvignon Blanc, taste local lamb or game in an award-winning restaurant, or discover salmon secrets in a top cooking school. Savor Greenlip mussels or scallops straight from the Sounds, prepared by a chef as you cruise. Seek out organic and seasonal delicacies, boutique beers and liqueurs, pick your own cherries and stonefruit in summer all capped by the Wine Festival.
Before the wine industry came along, Marlborough’s fame lay with its sounds—sunken valleys that are home to all kinds of wonderful bird and sea life, including terns, shags, blue penguins, dolphins and seals. Queen Charlotte, Kenepuru and Pelorus Sounds can be explored by boat—ferry, runabout, kayak, luxury charter launch or day cruise.
The province is well serviced with a 24-hour ferry service to and from New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington, just 3 hours by conventional ferryboat. Marlborough has direct air links with all three major NZ international airports, Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, and is easily accessible by both road and rail from all points in the South Island.
Other highlights of the area
At the head of the Queen Charlotte Sound, nestled between the mountains and the sea is Picton. Once a Maori settlement, and now a charming seaside township that accommodates the region’s port, extensive marina facilities and visiting cruise ships, Picton is rich in history.
There’s a host of short bush walks from the town to hidden beaches and lookouts, offering breathtaking views and wilderness experiences. Or venture out on the renowned Queen Charlotte Sound which leads walkers and cyclists over 71kms (43 miles) into the Marlborough Sounds. Suited to all ages and experience levels, one can journey for four hours or four days on this broad wilderness pathway through lush coastal forest, around coves and inlets, and along skyline ridges with breathtaking views of Queen Charlotte and Kenepuru Sounds.
Row upon row of vines as far as the eye can see – that’s the view that awaits you as you approach Blenheim; the region’s main commercial centre and hub of the famous Marlborough wine district.
The center of Blenheim is conveniently compact, making it easy to enjoy the town’s amenities on foot. Market Place in the middle of town features a 100-year old rotunda and wide piazza; a great place to soak up the relaxed ambience all around. Explore the shops at a leisurely pace, with a pause for a seriously good coffee or a lightly chilled Marlborough wine in the sunshine.
From here, or the satellite town of Renwick (just a few minutes from the airport) you can take one of numerous guided Wine and Food tours, embark on a self-drive exploration of the largest grape-growing region in the country or, for the more energetic, a wine cycle tour.
Gateway to the pleasures of the Pelorus and Kenepuru Sounds, the historic, seaside town of Havelock was once a thriving gold-mining town. Now it thrives on riches from the sea – as Greenlip Mussel capital of the world.
