Located in the northeast of New Zealand’s South Island, Blenheim is the Marlborough region’s most populous town and an ideal place to start exploring the area.
It’s one of New Zealand's sunniest towns, with hot, dry summers, and cool, crisp winters – making it ideal for wine and food production. The town’s surrounding mountains trap the summer heat with temperatures normally rising to over 30°C in February and March.
A Producer’s Paradise
Aside from the abundant wineries, the town of Blenheim is also home to a multitude of cafes, restaurants, bars, and artisanal food shops. Visiting the Marlborough Farmers market is a must-do and allows you to buy direct from local producers, in a beautiful market setting quite unlike anywhere else.
Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre
This brilliantly unique museum is home to filmmaker Peter Jackson’s personal collection of original and replica aircraft from the Great War, all brought to life in a series exhibits that illustrate dramatic wartime scenes. There’s also an exhibit entitled Dangerous Skies, which displays a WWII era collection. Visitors can take to the skies, with vintage biplane flights available for one or two people. Also nearby is Omaka Classic Cars, which houses more than 100 vehicles dating from the 50s right up to the 80s.
A Region of Extraordinary Wineries
There’s something in the air and the soil around Blenheim that has given rise to some of New Zealand’s most extraordinary wine. There are numerous wineries in the region that are producing wines of exquisite quality, many of which are open for tours and visits. Read on for some of our recommendations.
Saint Clair Estate is responsible for producing some of the best sauvignon blanc and pinot noir in the business. Pop along on a visit here and pick up a few bottles for your stash. There's also a cafe on site, with the adjacent deli selling local food, all lovingly produced.
Framingham Winery is quite simply one of New Zealand’s very best. It’s a winery that plays by its own rules, constantly innovating and doing things differently. They are renowned for producing delicious riesling that is nothing short of exquisite. The winery is now fully accredited as an environmentally sustainable winery, with organic viticulture practices that produce award-winning wines that are a pleasure to drink.
Beautiful Pollard Park
Just a 10 minute stroll from town, Pollard Park is a 25-hectare park that includes beautifully manicured gardens, a playground, tennis courts, croquet and a nine-hole golf course. It’s as picturesque as a park can get, ideal for a long summer evening.
Biergarten
On Dodson Street you’ll find Blenheim’s iconic beer garden, which is home to the largest selection of craft beers in New Zealand. It’s a veritable paradise for beer lovers. There’s also an extensive food menu featuring dishes inspired by German, Italian and Kiwi cuisine. With plenty of outdoor seating, you could easily while away a summer’s evening here as you try and make your way through the menu of delicious beers.
