Our Region
Blenheim, Renwick and Wairau
Blenheim in Marlborough, New Zealand
Marlborough's main town, Blenheim, has great cafes, galleries and shops wrapped up within the picturesque Taylor and Opawa rivers, a short distance to the region's world famous wineries.
There's an abundance of vineyards and cellar doors surrounding Blenheim, so explore the stunning Wairau Valley and discover why the world is in love with Marlborough wine.
Central Blenheim is best explored by foot, with an abundance of great cafes, restaurants shops and galleries, along with popular walkways along the Taylor River Reserve.
Walk a little further afield to get to Pollard Park, a beautiful botanical garden, playground, golf course and exercise trail.
The Marlborough Farmers’ Market is held at the A&P Showgrounds every Sunday morning and the Marlborough Artisan Market is on in town on Saturdays.
A short drive or bike ride will take you to the world-class Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, where World War One history comes to life thanks to the talents of the team behind The Lord of the Rings.
The centre’s Knights of the Sky exhibition features The Hobbit director Sir Peter Jackson’s personal collection of WW1 aircraft and memorabilia. This story of aviation in the Great War is brought to life in sensational sets created by the internationally acclaimed talent of WingNut Films and Weta Workshop.
Captivating scenes depict the aircraft in context, sometimes recreating an incident that actually happened in the war. Rare memorabilia is on display, worthy of any national collection and ranges from beautifully crafted ‘trench art’ through to personal items belonging to the famous Red Baron.
Or head to the historic Brayshaw Park and Marlborough Museum, where exhibitions include Te Pokohiwi - The Wairau Bar 1250 AD, a land mark exhibition of the Wairau Bar archaeology site, place of the earliest known graves in the country and key to understanding daily life in the 13th century.
Marlborough’s world famous wine industry is on Blenheim’s back doorstep in the Wairau Valley, so make sure you taste its sublime wines amid the vines that grew them.
Head to nearby cellar doors for a taste of Marlborough’s flagship sauvignon blanc, along with award winning aromatics, pinot noir and sparkling wine.
Lunch at a vineyard restaurant to try some amazing local cuisine, including garlic, asparagus, olive oil and cherries grown in the Wairau Valley, and King (Chinook) salmon, oysters and Greenshell mussels from the Marlborough Sounds.
The Wairau Valley is also home to rich heritage and ecology, and a great way to learn more about both is on a kayak trip on the Wairau Lagoons, where Royal Spoonbill, shag, bartailed godwit, herons and terns can be spotted. Learn some of the history of Maori here, and of whalers and pioneering settlers.
Popular in Blenheim, Renwick and Wairau
Mondo Kopua Biking enthusiast
“The thing I love about Marlborough, which you see when you cycle it, is the diversity of the landscape. We’ve got high country like up the Awatere Valley, then the Richmond Range, the Marlborough Sounds and all the rivers. Personally I’m an open country, high country farm sort of person. I love getting up in the hills.”
My insider guide to MarlboroughMarlborough Heritage
For those wanting a cultural and historical experience, the following itinerary showcases the best of Marlborough’s art and heritage.
Soak up the view at Brancott Estate
Get there early in the morning when it’s quiet and have a coffee looking at the view.
Brancott Estate Heritage Centre
Garden Marlborough
Enjoy workshops and tours at the Garden Marlborough Festival, and be in sure to stay in town for the famous Fete at Seymour Square.
Blenheim i-SITE Visitor Information Centre
Richmond Range
Hike or mountain bike through native bush to a DOC hut on the Richmond Range, then up through alpine flora to one of its beautiful peaks.
Blenheim i-SITE Visitor Information Centre
Hire bikes
Get out and experience Marlborough’s vines or hills by bike
Blenheim i-SITE Visitor Information Centre
Forrest GrapeRide
Competitive recreational ride through some of the most stunning natural scenery. From the vineyards of the Wairau plains through the head of Queen Charlotte and Pelorus Sounds to the Greenshell mussel capital of Havelock and home to Forrest Estate in Renwick, the heart of the world renowned Marlborough wine industry.
Blenheim i-SITE Visitor Information Centre
Featured
Classic Fighters Airshow
See heritage aviation on display and in the air at the action-packed Classic Fighters Omaka Airshow weekend. Every two years - next is Easter 2019.
Featured
Kayak the Wairau Lagoons
Kayak down the Wairau River, to the Wairau Boulder Bank, exploring the habitat of amazing birdlife with Driftwood Eco Tours.
Featured
Drink craft beer & eat pizza
Eat pizza and drink Rennaissance craft beer at Dodson’s, looking through to the brewery at work or enjoying the sun in the garden.
Related Guide:
Biking
Mountain bike Marlborough’s epic high country trails and coastal ridges, road bike undulating routes at the edge of the sea, tour on long flat runs through vine-clad valleys or take the whole family biking along one of the region’s many rivers.
Marlborough boasts brilliant weather, stunning scenery and an abundance of acclaimed mountain and road trails, including a Great Ride and three Trails along the New Zealand Cycle Trail, Nga Haerenga.
This pedaller’s paradise has thrilling adventure, low key rides, and everything in-between.
Popular in Blenheim, Renwick and Wairau
i-SITE visitor information services
Blenheim i-SITE Visitor Information Centre
Winery Cellar Doors & Wine Tastings
Marlborough Wine Tours
Venues and Accommodation
Chateau Marlborough
Hotel
Chateau Marlborough - Blenheim
Lodge
Hans Herzog Estate - Vineyard Cottage
Wine & Food
Hans Herzog Estate Winery
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