Main Centres
Marlborough has five towns and other settlements in between, all with a relaxed open atmosphere.

Blenheim
The main town, Blenheim, has a population of 28,200 and is the hub of the famous Marlborough wine district. Naturally the town features several fine restaurants focused on wine and food of the region. It also has a stylish public art gallery, a museum and colonial village, glorious public and private gardens to visit, theatres and cinemas and shops to explore. From Blenheim you can take wine and food tours, garden tours, riverboat cruises or start a day exploring from the i-SITE Visitor Centre at Blenheim Railway Station.

Renwick
Renwick is a satellite village to Blenheim, right in the heart of the vineyards. It boasts a museum of agricultural history, a supermarket, pubs with local beers, accommodation and some service shops.

Picton
About 25km north is the seaside town of Picton, population 3,700, the starting point for walks,outdoor adventure eco-tourism, boating and cruises in and around Queen Charlotte Sound. As the ferry transit point from Wellington, Picton is geared to visitor needs with many cafés offering fresh food and excellent espresso, several fine craft galleries, grocery stores and a supermarket.

Havelock
Charming Havelock township, the home town of Nobel physicist Lord Rutherford, is the Greenshell mussel capital of New Zealand, celebrated in local restaurants. Havelock’s boat harbour is the access point to the stunning Kenepuru Sound and remote shores of Pelorus Sound. Boat trips leave regularly for fishing, mussel farm visits and scenic tours.

Seddon
Seddon township, 20 minutes south of Blenheim, services the agricultural and viticultural communities of the Awatere Valley. A few shops cover essential supplies, while a new café/art gallery/wine bar offers tastings of local wines.

Blenheim, Renwick and Wairau Valley
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. It’s a great base for exploring and indulging in the leisure and lifestyle attractions of the region. As befits a region of such bountiful, high quality produce, Blenheim boasts an array of dining choices including a thriving café culture, and fine dining restaurants specialising in local cuisine.

The centre 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 4 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.

Take time to explore Blenheim’s parks – an entrée to the numerous acclaimed private gardens throughout the regions; many of which are showcased during the annual Hunters Garden Marlborough event. Visit Seymour Square in the middle of town, and nearby Pollard Park / Waterlea Gardens, with childrens’ play area, golf course (one of 8 in handy reach to visitors) and sweeping bedded gardens. Come here again after-dark to view the special-effects lighting that illuminates the entrance to the park.

If art and craft appeals visit the Marlborough and Millennium Galleries in central Blenheim and the many regional galleries and fascinating craft studios that stretch from the Awatere region in the south to the Marlborough Sounds in the north. Take home a piece of exquisite polished paua jewellery crafted by local artisans, a sculpted pot or painting from one of Marlborough’s talented artists and some fresh country preserves.

And immerse yourself in Marlborough’s fascinating history. People have lived here for many generations; explore heritage sites that tell their stories. Maori grew kumara along the coast, the storage pits still evident. You’ll find records of the early European whaling activity through to the colonial settlement of the region beginning around 1840. Step back in time in the streets of Beavertown (a replica of early colonial Blenheim) at Brayshaw Museum Park which includes comprehensive Vintage Car and Farm Machinery exhibits. Pick up a copy of the Historic Places brochure Welcome to Historic Marlborough at the Blenheim Visitor Information Centre to plan your itinerary.

In the Wairau Valley, west of Renwick on State Highway 63, rolling hills extend to the majestic grandeur and excellent tramping routes of the Richmond Forest Park and St Arnaud range. In this wide river valley, the braided Wairau’s cool clear water provides excellent fishing, alongside enchanting rural attractions.

In Blenheim, Renwick and the Wairau Plains area there are numerous accommodation choices - from luxurious hotels, motels, and homestays through to backpackers &riverside campsites. Dotted across the vineyard plains are lodges, B&B’s and cottages run by local vintners – who may share their latest vintage with you. From end-to-end you’ll find friendly hospitality, security and comfort, from hosts who love the Marlborough lifestyle.

Picton and Queen Charlotte Sounds
Many visitors to Marlborough arrive by sea through the glorious maze of deep coves and sheltered bays of Queen Charlotte Sound. A place where the historic past overlays present maritime pleasures, its an unspoilt wilderness of native forest and bush that reaches down to secluded beaches and azure blue water – an idyll of fishing, diving, boating, kayaking, nature trails and wildlife. 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. The tales unfold in Picton Museum and at the Edwin Fox on the foreshore – a relic of the Crimean War and still afloat.

Take a cruise to explore historical sites such as Ship Cove, visited several times by explorer Captain James Cook as he charted New Zealand, and Motuara Island, where he first claimed British sovereignty in January 1770. It’s now a bird sanctuary where rare South Island robins come to your hand. En route, you’ll see dolphins, penguins, shags and seals – the wildlife love it here too.

Lunch in the Sounds or head back to Picton for fresh local cuisine and an espresso in the sun - indoor/outdoor cafés abound amidst the galleries and souvenir shopping. Accommodation is plentiful, from motels, B&Bs and backpackers, to shoreline resorts and hideaways. Numerous businesses offer transport, tours, guides and gear for land or water excursions.

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 Track, which leads walkers and cyclists over 71km into the Marlborough Sounds. Suited to all ages and experience levels you 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. Combine with a sea-kayaking adventure to get the most out of it. Select a different accommodation option each night – from luxury lodge to backpackers – and have your pack delivered to your door by boat.

The Marlborough Sounds is a network of fjiord-like waterways, sheltered by steep hills, most clad in native and timber forests. Geologists would describe the Sounds as ‘drowned valleys’, where in past millennia, the mountains sank in earth movements and the sea flooded into the valleys. Maori legend tells a more exotic story of their creation, how as Kupe wrestled with a giant octopus he grasped at the South Island for support, his fingers digging deep and carving out the waterways.