Blenheim Travelers Recommend

Vines stretch from Blenheim across the Marlborough Region, guiding thirsty visitors to the town’s many good wineries. Wine is Blenheim’s big draw, but the town doubles as a base camp for visiting the Marlborough Sounds, where you can cruise remote coastlines, spot marine wildlife, and get a glimpse of island life. Here’s how to plan two days in Blenheim.

Day 1: Discover Marlborough Wine

**Morning:**With so many vineyards and wineries to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. Wine tours do the research for you: Choose an excursion that visits a handful of spots, and you’ll get a good introduction to local styles, pick up tips on tasting Marlborough wines, and find out which the places you want to return to.

**Afternoon:**Trade wine for wartime history at the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, a museum with galleries devoted to aircraft from the First and Second World Wars. Book a ticket for the one that interests you most, or buy a combination ticket for access to both wings of this fascinating museum.

**Night:**In the hours before sunset, rent a bike for a leisurely cruise on the flat roads and bike paths around Blenheim. Bring along a picnic for an alfresco dinner, or make your destination one of the many local vineyards with on-site restaurants.

Day 2: Explore Marlborough Sounds

**Morning:**Today, head for the nearby coast of Marlborough Sounds. The landscape here splinters into a maze of islands, bays, and inlets, and your options for exploring range from high-speed jet boats to the mail boats that link up remote island communities.

**Afternoon:**As you continue deeper into Marlborough Sounds, watch for the abundant marine wildlife that can be spotted from the boat. The winter months bring humpback whales, but there are seals, dolphins, stingrays, and orcas, as well.

**Night:**With your final night in Blenheim, choose one of the town’s wine-focused restaurants for an evening of local flavors. If you are planning to make a final vineyard visit in the morning, sampling wines over dinner is a great way to discover lesser-known names.

Lush vineyards with award-winning wines put Blenheim on the travel map, and it’s a great home base for visiting producers in the Marlborough Wine Region. Whether you’re riding a bike between the vines or tasting your way across the countryside, there are a wide range of ways to experience the area. Use these tips to plan your 1-day trip. 

Morning: Discover the Marlborough Wine Region

Taste your way through the Wairau Valley and other Marlborough favorites on a half-day tour that explores the region’s most distinctive wines. Tour options range from wine-only trips with tastings at multiple vineyards to gourmet excursions that include some of the cheeses, farm-fresh produce, and other treats made here, so choose an itinerary that’s tailored to your group. If you plan to purchase bottles of wine, take advantage of tours with included transport that can whisk your finds from place to place as you enjoy a morning of tastings.

Afternoon: Visit the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre

Historic and replica aircraft from the First World War and Second World War are on display at the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre in Blenheim, which is home to director Peter Jackson’s personal collection. Vivid dioramas put those planes in the heart of the action, reenacting some of those wars’ most famous events. Securing tickets online is a time-saving strategy that lets you take care of planning in advance; you’ll have the option to buy tickets for just the WWI section, just the WWII section, or select a combined pass to both sections of the museum. 

Night: Take an Evening Bike Ride

Blenheim’s mostly flat terrain makes this a leisurely place for a laid-back bike ride. Rent a bike and get tips on quiet roads and car-free bike paths in the area, with the option to stop and visit more vineyards. Some bike rentals even include the maps and area information you need for a self-guided tour, so you can plot out the perfect route before the sun sets. If you’re rather ride alongside a guide, opt for a guided bike tour that takes care of all the planning.

With three days in Blenheim, slow down to the leisurely pace of life in this wine-growing region, exploring by car, cruise boat, or even bicycle. Then venture beyond the vineyards, and you’ll find marine wildlife, winding paths, and wartime history. Here’s how to plan your time.

Day 1: Wine-Tasting 101

There are more than two dozen wineries on the Marlborough Wine Trail, and guided tours can help you find the most appealing stops: You’ll likely see sauvignon blanc, pinot noir, riesling, and pinot gris, along with a range of lesser-known varietals. Most wine tours offer multiple stops with wine tastings included, as well as round-trip transport. To combine wine with some of the region’s gourmet treats, consider a tour that features food stops, as well. If you’re still up for exploring afterward, head to Blenheim’s Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, where exhibits feature vintage aircraft from the First and Second World Wars.

Day 2: Run Off to Sea

Where the vineyards end a gorgeous coastal landscape begins, and Blenheim makes a great home base for visiting the scenic Marlborough Sounds. Options for exploring the inlets, islands, and coves here range from speedboat trips to slow journeys by mail boat, on which you actually travel with the mail to far-flung island communities. However you visit, keep an eye on the water, since the Marlborough Sounds are home to dolphins, whales, and other remarkable marine wildlife. Visiting during the summer months means warmer temperatures for swimming, but there’s gorgeous sightseeing at any time of year—enclosed boats ensure even wintertime cruises are cozy.

Day 3: Ride the Marlborough Wine Trail

Now that you’ve experienced the basics of Marlborough wines, graduate to a next-level wine-tasting tour. For your last day in Blenheim, rent a bike to explore a few more vineyards; options for cycling include guided bicycle tours and independent rentals that give you a full day of freedom. If you opt for cycling on your own, look for rentals with options that could include packed picnic lunches, wine-themed maps of the area, and hotel transfers. Many operators offer both half- and full-day options, so you can make the day as active—or as leisurely—as you want. After a day or an afternoon of riding, enjoy a well-earned dinner in one of Blenheim’s vineyard restaurants, many of which pair their own wines with farm-to-table cuisine.