Cloudy Bay; Havelock; The Secret Shack: a week well spent in Marlborough

Marlborough is often treated as a stop between destinations. A cellar door or two, a long lunch with a glass of the region’s signature Sauvignon Blanc, then back on the road. But spend a little longer here, and there’s considerably more to discover.

Our founder Jacqui and Travel Designer Caroline recently spent a week exploring the region, with The Marlborough Boutique Hotel & Vineyard as their base. Between wine tastings, days on the water, a walk along the Queen Charlotte Track and some particularly good dinners, they were reminded just how much Marlborough has to offer beyond its famous wines.

With The Marlborough’s new Junior Suites opening in January 2027, there’s even more reason to make a stay of it.

Where to stay: The Marlborough

Set among 16 acres of gardens and vineyards on Rapaura Road, The Marlborough is the perfect base for exploring the region. It is 10 minutes from Blenheim Airport and 15 minutes from town, yet once you turn through the gates the only neighbours are vines, and some of New Zealand’s best-known cellar doors are a few minutes’ drive away.

The historic House began life as a convent in 1901, designed by Thomas Turnbull for the Sisters of Mercy and built from native matai, rimu and kauri beside St Mary’s Church in Blenheim. In 1994 it was cut into five pieces, moved to Rapaura and restored under architect Sir Michael Fowler. The details survive: a carved kauri staircase at the centre of the house, high ceilings, and in one top-floor suite, the convent’s original stained-glass windows. Today, its original architecture sits alongside vineyard views, mature trees, Spring Creek and beautifully considered gardens.

With just ten rooms, it has a wonderfully intimate feel, closer to staying in a private country house than a hotel. Each room is named in te reo Māori after a native tree or bird, and each has its own ensuite, a balcony or garden outlook, premium bedding and a minibar stocked with complimentary local treats. The House holds no more than 20 guests at a time, and it can be taken over entirely for a family celebration or small group.

The rhythm of a stay is set by the estate. Breakfast, included in the rate, is served in a light-filled dining room using produce from the gardens. At 9am each day the gardener leads a walk through the vineyard and the acre of organic vegetable beds that supply the kitchen, past more than 400 native and exotic trees and down to the spring-fed creek, where the birdlife is constant. Afternoons are for the heated outdoor pool, the courtyard or one of four grass tennis courts. Each evening, House guests gather in the Chapel Bar, a 1911 chapel moved here from nearby Grovetown, for cocktails and seasonal canapés beside a large outdoor fire.

Dinner is at Harvest, the estate’s restaurant, which holds a hat in the Cuisine Good Food Guide. The à la carte menu follows what the gardens are producing that week, much of it cooked over a Mibrasa charcoal oven, and the sommelier pairs from a list of Marlborough and New Zealand wines, including the estate’s own Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Merlot and Malbec. The sommelier also runs an hour-long tasting that ends with a walk through the vines. For a special night, The Secret Shack is a table for two hidden in the gardens beside Spring Creek, with a private chef cooking three courses and views over the vines to the Wither Hills.

The concierge team handles the region as carefully as the house: wine touring, boats into the Sounds, transfers to the Queen Charlotte Track. Families are well looked after too, with a children’s programme of farm animals, vegetable gardening and lawn games for guests aged five and over.

The new Junior Suites, opening January 2027

The estate is also growing. Opening in January 2027, the new Junior Suites will introduce 20 suites across six garden and vineyard pavilions, set well away from the House so its character stays exactly as it is. With only a few suites to each pavilion, privacy is built in.

Arrival changes for Junior Suite guests: check-in is at a new reception and dining hub, followed by an electric cart ride through the estate to your pavilion. Each suite is 48 square metres, with a king bed, a separate living area, a freestanding bath, a large walk-in rainfall shower and a private patio opening onto either the gardens or the working vineyard. The interiors take their cues from the estate, with natural textures, warm autumnal colours and contemporary furniture. Families and friends travelling together can take the Family Suite, 80 square metres, across two interconnecting rooms with two bathrooms.

A new wellness space, gym and restaurant, The Source, join the offering. The wellness space has four treatment rooms, a sauna, a cold plunge and a studio for private Pilates and yoga, with a separate gym alongside. The Source, led by Executive Chef Wieland Matzig, is the relaxed counterpart to Harvest: wood-fired pizzas and simple seasonal dishes built on the estate gardens, open to every guest.

It’s an exciting addition for anyone looking to spend a little longer in Marlborough, with the space to settle in between exploring, and enough on the estate itself that a day without leaving feels like part of the trip.

Day one: Arrive, settle in and dine at Harvest

With Blenheim Airport just ten minutes away, getting to the estate is straightforward.

The first afternoon is best spent getting acquainted with the grounds, perhaps with a wander through the gardens and down towards Spring Creek before dinner at Harvest. The hotel’s restaurant makes the most of the estate’s produce, with much of the menu cooked over a charcoal oven and a wine list that gives plenty of attention to Marlborough.

If there’s one thing to do before heading out to explore, it’s a walk through the gardens and vineyard. It adds a little more context to everything that follows.

Day two: Marlborough’s cellar doors

You can’t spend a week in Marlborough without getting to know its wine.

Rapaura Road is a particularly good place to start, with some of the region’s most recognised wineries within easy reach of the hotel. Cloudy Bay, Hunter’s, Rock Ferry and Clos Henri each offer something different, from classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc to organic wines and more considered, French-inspired varietals.

The easiest way to see them is with a private tour, created by Marlborough locals Kat Walker and Roo Allan, who have spent decades in the region’s wine and food. Their Deluxe Wine Tour pairs a local guide and premium vehicle with five winery visits, including one deeper experience such as a masterclass, food pairing or winery tour, and a two-course lunch with wine, all shaped around what you like to drink.

For lunch, Saint Clair’s Vineyard Kitchen is a favourite for its setting against the Richmond Range, while Wairau River offers another lovely option among the vines.

And for something a little different, Makana Confections is worth a stop. Its handmade chocolates make a very good addition to the afternoon’s tasting itinerary.

Day three: The Queen Charlotte Track

Marlborough’s landscapes extend well beyond the vineyards, and the Queen Charlotte Track is one of the best ways to experience the region’s coastal scenery.

A water taxi from Picton takes you to Ship Cove, the starting point of the track, before a walk through native forest and along ridgelines overlooking Queen Charlotte Sound. The section towards Furneaux Lodge is particularly rewarding, with beautiful views throughout and a welcome lunch stop at the end.

There’s no need to tackle the entire 70-kilometre track to appreciate it. A day walking, followed by a boat ride back to Picton, is a lovely way to experience the Sounds.

Day four: Out on the Marlborough Sounds

For a change of pace, head to Havelock and spend the day on the water.

The Pelorus Mail Boat is a particularly memorable experience, travelling through Pelorus Sound to deliver mail and supplies to homes and farms that can only be reached by boat. It’s a fascinating glimpse into life in the Sounds, with the scenery along the way every bit as good as you’d hope.

Alternatively, a Greenshell Mussel Cruise offers a shorter outing, with freshly steamed mussels served on board and plenty of time to take in the surrounding waterways.

Either makes a good case for putting a day aside for the Marlborough Sounds.

For a day to remember, Woven’s Air, Land & Wine takes in the Sounds from above, with a scenic helicopter flight followed by a degustation lunch and wine pairing at Bay of Many Coves, guided throughout by a respected Marlborough winemaker.

Day five: A slower day at The Marlborough

One of the advantages of staying for a week is having time to enjoy the hotel itself.

Spend the morning exploring the estate, arrange a tasting with the sommelier or simply take a little more time over lunch. The new Junior Suites will make this particularly appealing, with a wellness space offering treatments, a sauna, cold plunge, private Pilates and yoga, alongside a gym.

It’s a lovely way to spend an evening without leaving the estate.

Day six: Blenheim and a little local shopping

Blenheim is worth a visit in its own right, particularly if your stay falls over a weekend.

The Saturday Artisan Market and Sunday Farmers’ Market are good places to pick up local produce, ceramics and other finds. In town, Thomas’s offers an independent edit of fashion and lifestyle labels, while the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre is well worth making time for if you’re interested in aviation history.

For something a little more wine-focused, Astrolabe’s Small Town Winery brings the cellar door experience into central Blenheim, with tastings available later into the evening.

As an overnight, or several: stay at The Palm Residence and the island stops being a day out and becomes a base.

Day seven: The Southern Valleys and a final long lunch

Before leaving, head south into the Wairau Valley for a final look at Marlborough’s wine country.

Brancott Estate’s hilltop cellar door offers sweeping views across the vineyards, while Greywacke and Framingham are excellent additions for anyone keen to explore a little further.

For a closer look, Woven’s Behind the Scenes: A Journey with the Winemakers opens the doors to vineyards and wineries not open to the public, with time spent alongside the winemakers themselves. A day might begin at Auntsfield, one of Marlborough’s heritage vineyards, continue with a private chef-prepared lunch with the winemaker, and finish with barrel tastings in ‘The Cave’ at Mahi.

For a final dinner, Arbour is one of the region’s standout dining experiences. Its seasonal menus showcase local growers, fishers and producers, making it a fitting way to finish a week spent getting to know Marlborough.

Marlborough, with a little more time

A week in Marlborough offers a different perspective on the region. There’s time for the cellar doors, certainly, but also for the coast, the Sounds, the walking tracks and the quieter moments in between.

And with The Marlborough’s new Junior Suites opening in January 2027, there’s even more reason to stay a little longer.

Our team knows the region well and can arrange everything from private wine touring and water taxis to guided walks, dining reservations and time spent enjoying the estate itself.

For a stay that brings together some of New Zealand’s best wine, scenery and hospitality, Marlborough is well worth more than an afternoon.

Planning a stay in Marlborough? Our Travel Designers can help create an itinerary around the region’s highlights, with The Marlborough as your base.