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About Blenheim!
The largest town in Marlborough, Blenheim is 29km South of Picton. Small and friendly, with a superb climate, good parks and gardens it is the gateway to the world-famous wineries.
Blenheim’s focal point is the attractive Seymour Square, with its well-tended flowerbeds, memorial clock tower and fountain. The town is well serviced with many cafes, several fine restaurants focusing on local food and wine, a stylish public art gallery, a museum as well as theatres and cinemas.
Blenheim has a reputation for its lovely gardens, including Pollard Park and Waterlea Gardens. Of historic interest are the Riverlands Cob Cottage and the Brayshaw Museum Park with its reconstructed colonial village.
There are plenty of walks around the area including the Wairau lagoon walk and the Wither Hills walkway, a network of trails over the hills behind Blenheim, offering great views of the town and surrounding areas.
There's white water rafting, plenty of arts and craft trails and the Rainbow Ski area is only one and a half hours West of Blenheim with local transport available to take you there.
During the second week in February Blenheim hosts the now-famous Marlborough Food and Wine Festival at Montana's Barncott Estate.
Attractions
Wineries
Blenheim's big attraction is its wineries, and no visit is complete without a trip to the vineyards — either to sample or buy, or to dine at one of the vineyard restaurants. Tour possibilities range from a self-guided drive to a coach and horse ride around the region's many vineyards and art studios.
Here is a list of local wineries:
Hertzog, Drylands, St Clair, Hunters, Bladen, Alan Scott, Cloudy Bay, Framingham, Montana
Prenzel Distillery
Located on Sheffield Street south-east of the town, the distillery specialises in fruit wines, brandies, schnapps and liqueurs.
Millennium Art Gallery
The best of local, national and international arts just a few minutes stroll from Blenheim's town centre.
The Forum
A compact shopping heart in Blenheim with an open market place atmosphere.
Pollard Park and Waterlea Gardens
With a year-round floral display, Pollard Park has gardens, a playground, fitness trail, tennis courts, a nine-hole golf course and croquet greens.
Marlborough Sports & Events Centre
A national eventing centre at Blenheim with indoor and outdoor pools, squash courts, gymnasium, rock climbing wall and indoor sports centre.
Blenheim Riverside Railway
A 45-minute, 9km train trip.
Brayshaw Museum Park
A reconstructed colonial village 2.5km south of Blenheim offering historic buildings, miniature railway and a world-renowned vintage farm machinery collection.
Wither Hills Farm Park
A network of wilderness trails through a working farm park on the outskirts of Blenheim, incorporating the Mount Vernon Loop mountain bike trail (1.5hr).
Knights of the Sky - Aircraft museum
Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre houses a display like no other and you don’t have to be an aviation buff to enjoy it!
Other useful information
Molesworth tours
Wine tours by bike
Knights of the sky
Bubbly grape wine tours
Boutique Chocolate factory
Destination Marlborough
Marlborough Wine Tours
Rainbow skifield
Brian Badcock - Blenheim Artist
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