Marlborough is a region of great geographical diversity and historical interest. Covering an area that includes the internationally renowned beauty of the Marlborough Sounds and the rugged Pacific coastline in the east, Marlborough is full of variety. The Marlborough Sounds is also a breathtakingly beautiful labyrinth of islands and bays serving as an impressive gateway to the rest of South Island. The region also has a wide range of recreational activities, from swimming with dolphins in the Marlborough Sounds to watching whales in Kaikoura and from walks through the bush and along the rugged coastline to relaxing at Marlborough's world-class wineries.
Marlborough is renowned for its wine tasting, and in fact, we spent 2 days sampling all the free wine the wineries had to offer. Heralded as one of the world's finest wine regions, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, and methode champenoise are produced in Marlborough's many vineyards. Hire a bike and do the Marlborough wine trail. We especially recommend Cloudy Bay, which has reached cult status in the European market. Their sauvignon blanc is legendary. Villa Maria is also another of our favourites that has been winning lots of awards recently and never seems to be out of the New Zealand press.
Quick Tips:
Oh, and if you’re planning to be here in February, you'll be just in time for Marlborough’s annual Wine Festival (the second Saturday in February each year). It is now an established showcase for the region's bounty and draws people from all over the world to taste and see for themselves the excellence that is Marlborough. We really loved it here.
When you can manage to tear yourself away from the wineries, don't forget to take a look at Blenheim, the largest town in Marlborough and the sunshine capital of New Zealand. Good restaurants, such as Bacchaus, can be found here. Most winery restaurants are closed on Monday nights, so the town is a good option to find something to eat.
Visit some other townships. Nestled at the head of Pelorus Sound, Havelock is the best place from which to explore the Marlborough Sounds. The area is famous for its fishing and green-lipped mussels, which are huge. Go to the Slip Inn and order yourself a bowl of mussel chowder while looking at the marina.
Best Way To Get Around:
Hire a bike so that, when wine tasting, you can drink as much as you’d like without being over the limit. If wine tasting isn't your thing, you definitely need to hire a car if you want to explore the rest of the region, as taxis are very expensive