Things to do in

Blenheim

Discover the flavors of Marlborough on a half-day small-group tour. Be picked up from your Blenheim accommodation and travel through the scenic beauty of the Marlborough vineyards. Collection from Picton is available at a small surcharge per group. Relax in a luxury minibus as your guide shares insight into the region’s history and world famous wines. You will visit five cellar doors on this tour from famous internationally branded cellar doors to boutique family-run wineries. Requests for particular wineries will be accommodated where possible.  Stroll through a vineyard with your guide. Learn about the region’s unique conditions and the challenges wine makers must overcome. A table for lunch at a cellar door restaurant can be booked for you for an additional cost. Sample hand-made chocolates at the local Chocolate Factory. Your tour will end with your safe delivery back to your hotel around 3 PM. 

You will be collected from your Blenheim hotel at 10.00 AM (collections from Picton are available at a small surcharge per group). Your guide will discuss the choice of vineyards and your wine preferences to enable him to plan the most suitable route through the winding vineyard roads. Relax in the luxury minibus as your guide describes the enigmatic history of Marlborough and it's world famous wines. Each cellar door in the Wairau Valley is unique, reflecting the rare conditions which make their wines special. The bright Sauvignon Blancs, delectable Pinot Noir and tropical Aromatics have won multiple international wine awards. Not even the French can match the quality of the Sauvignon Blanc. Your tour through the vineyards will visit a variety of famous internationally branded cellar doors to the boutique family-run winery, to illustrate the diversity of wines available.  Join your guide on a stroll through a vineyard to learn about the unique conditions which produce such stunning wines and the challenges that our wine makers must overcome to consistently produce award winning aromas and textures. Smell the wine in the barrel rooms as it matures in the oak casks. We stop for lunch at a stunning vineyard restaurant where you can savor Marlborough delicacies, from simple cheese platters to Royal salmon and Mussels or other regional specialties. Whilst your food is being prepared, you can move through to the tasting room to meet the cellar hosts as they discuss their range of wines on offer. Continue to enjoy the wines at other cellar doors after lunch. Our last stop is at the local Chocolate Factory to taste exquisite hand-made gourmet chocolates and watch the staff demonstrate their mastery of the chocolatier's skills. Your tour will end with your safe delivery back to your hotel in Blenheim or ship in Picton.

Discover the beauty of Marlborough your way and enjoy a self-guided wine tour. You will be set up with a bike, helmet, and a wine map before being sent on your way with all the insights you need to craft your own unforgettable Marlborough wine adventure. The terrain is flat, the biking is easy, and the scenery is stunning. Spending the day cycling between vineyards is one of the best ways to take in the beauty of Marlborough. The bike rental base is within 3 kilometers of over a dozen wineries. There are off-road parking and an on-site café where you can pick up a picnic lunch or a drink before your adventure begins. Free transport to the Vines Village from Blenheim and Renwick accommodation is included with all full day bike hire, meaning you can just relax and enjoy your day. Pick-up from Picton can be arranged for an additional cost. 

Discover two world-class aviation exhibitions at the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre. Explore the original "Knights of the Sky" exhibition, featuring Sir Peter Jackson's collection of WWI aircraft and artifacts. Learn about the story of aviation during the Great War, which is brought to life in sensational sets created by an internationally acclaimed production company and a special effects company. Make your way to the "Dangerous Skies" exhibition which features aviaton stories from World War II. Learn of tales of valor and tragedy from the British Isles, the forests of Germany, the defence of Russia, and the steaming hot jungles of South East Asia. Admire the two star attractions of the exhibition, the world's only flyable Mk1 Avro Anson, and a Griffon powered Mk.XIVe Spitfire.

Experience the best of beautiful Marlborough on this full-day tour. Get picked up from Blenheim in the morning and head straight to your first of two wineries. Taste award-winning reserve-grade Marlborough wine, talk with respected winemakers, and explore beautiful Marlborough vineyards at both locations. Afterward, drive to Picton to enjoy a delicious Marlborough Sounds waterfront lunch, then a relaxing seafood cruise for the afternoon, accompanied by fresh local seafood and Marlborough sauvignon blanc as you cruise the stunning Marlborough Sounds. Relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the Queen Charlotte Sound while cruising aboard a luxury boat, and learn about the local history. Visit a salmon and a mussel farm to experience the Marlborough marine farming industry firsthand. Make use of the onboard licensed bar, serving a range of Marlborough wines, along with beers, juice, and bottled water. A range of light snacks, including chips and peanuts, are available to purchase. Enjoy the boat's indoor and outdoor areas for views of the forested hills and clear blue waters from different perspectives.

Enjoy the flexibility of exploring Marlborough at your own pace without the stress of wondering where to go. Spend more time exploring with the conveniently organized transportation of this hop-on hop-off tour.  Sit back and relax on a comfortable coach as your knowledgeable driver prepares you with all the information needed for a fantastic day out.  Visit popular attractions and local gems in Marlborough, including museums, breweries, restaurants, activity centers, shopping areas, and of course, some of the best breweries and wineries in the region.  Jump on and off as you please, visiting as many destinations as you like and choosing your duration of stay at each spot.

Benefit from pickup at your accommodation in Blenheim, and then travel to the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre to look at life-size displays of aviation scenes from World War I and World War II. Explore the times of early aviators of the 20th century and more.  Then, travel through the vineyards of the award-winning Marlborough wine region, known for its fruity Cabernet Sauvignons and zesty Pinot Noirs. Access the barrel rooms and cellars in the valley, and stop for lunch at your own expense at a vineyard restaurant. Sample handmade gourmet chocolates at a chocolate factory at the end of your amazing experience before drop-off back at your hotel.

Marlborough's wine and gourmet experience is something you should not miss. Plus, you will have complimentary wine for couples and single travelers. Enjoy an all-inclusive tour with your own chauffeur/ guide. This is a small group tour for only up to six persons. Single travelers are welcome.  Your Progressive Wine and Gourmet Trail has been designed for you to get the best Marlborough has to offer, departing from Blenheim or Picton. Marlborough provides a superb selection of winery restaurants and cafes that can offer the most amazing experiences and what better way to enjoy and taste your wine. A menu will be created for you to enjoy with the best Marlborough wine match. it is recommended that you book in advance so your chauffeur/ guide can plan the best selection for you and ensure catering is observed for any special requirements. Your perfect day will include up to five course selections for your gourmet and wine trail. Spend a little more time to relax over your main course and for your end of day stop, relax with a wine and tapas and a view of a beautiful Wairau Valley sunset.

Enjoy a gourmet tour of the Marlborough Region of New Zealand's South Island on an itinerary that can be customized to suit your interests. Visit wine cellars offering a variety of unique styles, and experience stunning landscapes that are a treat for the eyes.  Depart Blenheim at 10:00, and embark on a journey through the award-winning wines of the region. Meet the wine makers and exceptional hosts at wineries that stay open all year round for your convenience. Benefit from the services of a local chauffeur/guide with extensive knowledge of the region. Venture through the Wairau Valley, and fall in love with the wines as you experience new varietals. Get spectacular views of the rolling hills and see how they contrast with the vineyards, market gardens and farms. Stop for seasonal produce (December through February) of juicy strawberries, cherries, apricots and nectarines, along with local cheeses, oils, liqueurs, Manuka honey, peanut butter and black garlic. Make a special stop at the Makana Confections Boutique Chocolate Factory for some divine chocolate treats! As wine is the main attraction of the Marlborough Region (it's New Zealand's largest wine producer), you will want to taste the produce. Acclaimed for its Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir wines, the region is also home to wineries that specialize in Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Viognier, Gruener Veltliner, Arneis and even Malbec wines. Relax in a picturesque winery garden café or at a chateau on the hill with magnificent views of the valley and vineyards. Enjoy a cheese, meat and seafood platter or tapas. Then, as you near the end of the day, benefit from beautiful views that create a perfect ambiance for a dinner with your favorite wine of the day. Get the chance to include a trip to the Omaka Aviation Heritage Center to see Peter Jackson's amazing displays of classic World War I and World War II aircraft and the most life-like scenic backdrops of the era. Your guide can drop you off at the center and continue with the rest of the group to return within 1-5 hours if you prefer. This would be the minimum time to really take advantage of the exhibition, and a café and memorabilia store are available for your comfort and convenience.

The day is all about you. Your guide will meet you at your hotel at an agreed time (usually around 10:00). Your day starts with a short drive to a local vineyard to get a taste for the bouquet and texture of the styles of wines you will enjoy throughout the day. Learn about local viticulture and the unique combination of soil and climate (the Terroir), and wine maker's art, which create the unique aromas and textures of these award winning wines. An air-conditioned minibus will then transport you to a winery where you'll visit the barrel room and soak in the atmosphere of wine maturing in French oak barrels. Their expert staff will then guide you through the process of blending samples of Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Noir wines, to produce your own unique vintage to perfectly match your personal idea of the ideal wine. Those proportions will never be matched again! You'll move on to lunch at a carefully selected vineyard restaurant, where you can indulge in local gourmet seafood – oysters, green-lipped mussels or salmon – or a selection of other local fare. The food is outstanding, the views unsurpassed and the wine out of this world. You'll then move on to taste the wide variety of wines available at the cellar doors of Marlborough. You dictate the pace, as your tour guide will be happy to visit those wineries which have come to your notice if you have enjoyed their wines before. The bright Sauvignon Blancs, delectable Pinot Noir and tropical Aromatics have won awards throughout the world and you'll visit a range of the large branded vineyards and the smaller boutique, family-run wineries. The subtle variations in aroma and texture will amaze you. There is a limit to every wine palate, and you will visit between 5 and 7 wineries. You will then be guided safely back to your accommodation, but the chocolate factory along the way may tempt you with their handmade gourmet masterpieces; a wonderful way to end this truly exceptional day in Marlborough.