Blenheim (New Zealand)

From World travel guide

Blenheim is the largest town in the Marlborough region in the northeast of the South Island of New Zealand. It has a population of around 27,000. It is situated on the Taylor and Opawa rivers.

Contents 1 Get in 1.1 By car 1.2 By plane 1.3 By train 2 Get around 3 See 4 Do 5 Buy 6 Eat 7 Drink 8 Sleep 9 Get out

Get in

By car

A short 20 minute drive from Picton which is the home of the terminal for the inter-island ferry service from Wellington.

By plane

It has a small airport that handles flights from the major NZ centers.

By train

TranzCoastal, +64 4 495 0775 (email bookings@tranzscenic.co.nz , fax +64 4 472 8903 , Freephone 0800 TRAINS (0800 872 467) (NZ only)), [1]. Open 7.00AM - 7.00PM 7 days. The railway station is on Grove Road. Train service operates daily between Christchurch and Picton via Blenheim and Kaikoura. There are stunning views with the Kaikoura mountains on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. It leaves Christchurch at 7:30AM, arrives at Blenheim at 12:20PM and Picton at 12:50PM. The train leaves Picton at 1:40PM, arrives at Blenheim at 2:10PM and Christchurch at 7:00PM.

Get around

See

• Marlborough Information Center, at the railway station, +64 3 577 8080 (email mvic@destinationmarlborough.com).

• Marlborough Provincial Museum, Brayshaw Museum Park (off new Renwick Road), Arthur Baker Place, +64 3 578 1712, (email info@marlboroughmuseum.org.nz , fax +64 3 578 1739), [2]. Open daily 10AM - 4PM (except Good Friday & Christmas Day). There is a huge amount of artifacts and many displays which relate to the local history. Also houses "Beavertown" a replica "early Blenheim" village. Visit the audiovisual theater which shows both local and international history-oriented films.

• Millennium Public Art Gallery, Seymour Square, +64 3 579 2001, (email marlpublicart@xtra.co.nz, fax +64 3 579 2162), [3]. Open 7 days. 10AM-5PM M-F. 12-4:30PM Sa, Su and some public holidays. Celebrates the arts and cultures of the region. Entry by gold coin donation. Children free. (The gold coins in NZ are the $1 and $2 coins. This is a common phrase in NZ).

• Pollard Park, off Parker St. Beautiful landscaping. Don't miss the roses and camellias.

• Seymour Square, corner of Albert St and Henry St. See the formal gardens.

• Visitor Information Center, 2 High St, +64 3 578 9904, (email blm_info@clear.net.nz, fax 3 578 6084).

Do

• Wine Tours by Bike, 106 Jeffries Rd, +64 3 5729951, (email info@winetoursbybike.co.nz, fax +64 3 5729940), [4]. Enjoy the scenery and take a tranquil tour around the wineries by bike. There are around 30 wineries within a 10 km radius of Blenheim that can be explored by bike. Half Day Bike Rental NZ $35.00 pp. Full Day Rental NZ $50.00 pp.).

• DeLuxe Wine Tour, 45 Main St, +64 3 578 5467, (email deluxe@deluxetravel.co.nz, fax +64-3-578 2416, freephone 0800 500 511 (NZ only)), [5]. Departs Blenheim at 11:00AM. Take a wine tour taking in the making of wine at Montana, wine appreciation lesson at Forrest Estate etc. Duration is about 5 hours. Price range from $40.00 to $239.00.

• Mud House Village, 193 Rapaura Rd, +64 3 572 7170, (email ourdogRover@xtra.co.nz), [6]. Open from 10AM, 7 days. Offers wine and coffee tasting. Liqueurs, fruit brandies, infused olive oils etc for sale. Visit the Olive Shop and Quilters Barn (art and craft).

Buy

Eat

• Roccos Italian Restaurant, 5 Dodson St, 03 578 6940. Very popular Authentic Italian. Fresh pasta, with seafood a speciality. A must when visiting Marlborough.

Drink

Marlborough is one of the top wine growing areas in New Zealand. Some of the wineries in the area are:

• Villa Maria, corner of Paynters & New Renwick Roads, +64 3 577 9530, (email enquiries@villamaria.co.nz, fax +64 3 577 9585), [7]. The Cellar Shop is open 7 days 10AM to 5PM; May - October 11AM to 5PM. One of NZ's top award winning wineries. Complimentary wine tasting. Winery tours by appointment.

• Hunters Wines, Rapaura Rd, +64 3 572-8489, (email wine@hunters.co.nz, fax +64 3 572-8457, FreePhone 0800 486 837 (NZ only)), [8]. Won over 80 gold medals including the Marquis de Goulaine Trophy for Best Sauvignon Blanc in the World at the 1992 International Wine & Spirit Competition. There is also a restaurant and a native garden.

• Cloudy Bay, Jacksons Rd, +64 3 520 9140, (email info@cloudybay.co.nz, fax + 64 3 520 9040), [9]. Open daily (except Good Friday and Christmas Day) 10.00AM - 4.30PM for tastings and cellar door sales. Known for its Sauvignon Blanc and sparkling wines.

• Montana (Brancott Winery), RD4 Riverlands (State Highway One), +64 3 578 2099, (email marlwinery@montanawines.co.nz, fax +64 3 578 0463), [10]. Numerous awards including gold at the London International Wine Challenge 2003. Number one selling NZ wine company. The multi-million dollar visitor facility has a restaurant, retail store and the Brancott Theater. Winery tours 10AM to 3PM daily. Cellar door sales 9AM to 5PM on Monday to Sunday.

• Nautilus, 12 Rapaura Rd, +64 3 572 9364, (email sales@nautilusestate.com, fax +64 3 572 9374), [11]. Cellar door sales and tasting Summer 10AM - 5PM. Winter 10.30AM - 4.30PM. Known for its Cuvee NV.

Sleep

Get out

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WikiPedia:Blenheim, New Zealand