Blenheim

The heart of New Zealand’s premiere wine growing region.

Blenheim is situated in the northeastern tip of New Zealand’s South Island, on the flat lands of the Wairau Plains. It is the largest town in the Marlborough region, New Zealand’s largest grape growing and wine making region.

The town is the service centre for the flourishing wine industry. It enjoys one of New Zealand’s sunniest climates, with hot summers and crisp winters. At Blenheim’s centre is Seymour Square, a pretty park with fountains and a clock tower. Its other gardens include the attractive Pollard Park. Brayshaw Historic Museum Park houses a collection of restored colonial buildings and farming machinery, set out as a reconstructed colonial village. The park also has a boating pond and a miniature railway. Nearby Wither Hills Farm Park has a network of walking and mountain bike tracks and offers views over the Wairau Plains and Cook Strait.

One of the main attractions in the surrounding region is its excellent wineries. It is possible to tour many of the wineries and sample their wines. Many also have restaurants where visitors can enjoy a fine meal. One of the highlights of Blenheim’s calendar is the annual Marlborough Food and Wine Festival.

In the Awatere valley, to the south of Blenheim, is Molesworth Station, New Zealand’s largest cattle farm. It is a popular location for an excursion into the high country. It’s is a scenic area of mountains and river valleys, and has an historic homestead.