Marlborough Trade Mail – Spring Edition
Welcome to the Spring Edition of the Marlborough Trade Mail, our way of keeping you in touch with what is happening in our own little piece of paradise at the top of the South Island in New Zealand. Marlborough is renowned for its world famous Sauvignon Blanc and we have some great new tours that will take you to the heart of this exciting industry. We are also home to the stunning Marlborough Sounds and the Queen Charlotte Track, Molesworth Station - New Zealand’s largest and most iconic high country station, as well as some extremely talented artists. So if you are looking for a destination that can provide food for the mind, body & soul you’re going to Love Marlborough!
Up & Coming Events
Marlborough Wine Weekend – 31 Oct-02 Nov
Hunters Garden Marlborough - 4-9 Nov
2009 Queen Charlotte Classic – 7 Nov
www.queencharlotteclassic.co.nz
The Moa Beer Kekerengu Moa Hunt – 28 Nov
New & Improved: Things to See & Do
Dinner in the Sounds
Lochmara Lodge Wildlife Recovery & Arts Centre is offering a new dinner and cruise from 18 September. Includes return Queen Charlotte Sound cruise ex Picton, three course a la carte dinner in the fine dining restaurant and entry to the Wildlife Recovery & Arts Centre. Highlights include twilight views, glow-worm grotto, art galleries, and opportunity to swim with the phosphorescence.
Departs Picton: Daily @ 5.30pm from $115 pp (Min. numbers apply) from 18 Sep 2009.
Lochmara Lodge / marketing@lochmaralodge.co.nz / marketing@lochmaralodge.co.nz.
Behind the Scenes: Meet the Winemakers
Marlborough Travel are introducing an exciting new wine tour product “Taste Marlborough”, starting November and operating year round. Designed for wine lovers, all of the winery visits are hosted privately, behind the scenes, with lots of special treats along the way. Enjoy winemaker hosted tastings, tour through wineries, enjoy barrel samples, taste some stunning wines, and learn lots of secrets from the people behind the labels.
Full day Tour @ NZ$225 pp. Departs: Daily with a min of 2 pax/ max 10
Marlborough Travel. Ph:+64 3 577 9997 / info@marlboroughtravel.co.nz / www.marlboroughtravel.co.nz
Marlborough for Foodies
Explore Marlborough’s Heart of Marlborough Food Forage & Cooking Class, takes clients through the beautiful Marlborough countryside to visit local food growers and producers who will share their enthusiasm and stories as they sample their mouth-watering products. On the way pick up fresh ingredients for a delicious platter-style lunch served with a glass of Marlborough wine on a private balcony at the stunning Wither Hills Winery. Then head to the kitchen for a hands-on cooking class to learn the secrets of how to make delicious platter foods as well as a decadent sweet treat to share with coffee.
Full day Tour @ NZ$295 pp. Departs: Daily with a min of 2 pax/ max 8
Explore Marlborough Ph: +64 21 846607 / info@exploremarlborough.co.nz / www.exploremarlborough.co.nz
Forrest Estate Winery - New Personalised Tour
Forrest Estate now offers a premium tasting experience which commences daily at 11.00am. This will include a tour of the vineyard, the winery, meet the winemakers and taste through our super-premium range of wines, finishing with a picnic lunch. Bookings are essential. For more details click the link: http://resources.forrest.co.nz/_Newsletters/Forrest%20Premium%20Tasting%20Promo%202009%20Summer.pdf
Ph: 03 572-9084 or email: cellardoor@forrest.co.nz
Steadfast Traditional Sail – new products
Hard Tack Lunch Cruise: A new lunch cruise taking in the sights of Admiralty Bay and the D’Urville Island coast. BYO lunch, or order a delicious box lunch prepared with loving hands. This is our kiwi special, cheap as chips, and great value. Departs French Pass daily @10.30am. Fare: NZ$59 pp; optional box lunch NZ$15 . Salty Dog Cruising: Overnight coastal cruising for the young at heart. Pitch in with sail handling, meal preparation and cleanup, BYO sleeping bag or linen, and explore the many bays and islands of the Marlborough Sounds, D’Urville Island and Tasman Bay. NZ$150 per day (min numbers apply) flyer: http://www.steadfastsail.com/images/HardTackSaltyDogFlyer.pdf
Steadfast Traditional Sail Ph: +64 3 576 5298 / sail@steadfastsail.com / www.steadfastsail.com
New & Improved: Places to Stay
Lochmara Lodge – New Day Spa & Bath House
The new day spa at Lochmara Lodge Wildlife Recovery and Arts Centre will be opening on 18 September. Treatments available include hot stone therapy, relaxation massage, hikers massage, and ear candling therapy. A range of herbal bath treatments are available in the new bath house, which is open to the bush with views overlooking the bay. Please note the Lodge no longer has a spa pool.
For details email Allanah Robinson on marketing@lochmaralodge.co.nz
Cnoc na Lear – Refurb
This cosy 5 bed backpackers, 50 metres from the water in Endeavour Inlet, is the perfect first night stop on the Queen Charlotte Track and is reopening in style, with a new kitchen, dining and bathroom facilities. Cook your own meals or have them made to order and sit on your choice of two new decks and enjoy the view while you dine.
Tel: +64 3 579 8444 / stay@cnocnalear.co.nz / www.cnocnalear.co.nz
Best Kept Secrets (not strictly new but maybe new to you!)
High Country Farm Tours – Exploring the Heartland of Marlborough
The Molesworth Tour Company offer guests a wide range of tour options to visit New Zealand’s largest cattle station set in the heart of the South Island back country. Escorted tours depart from Blenheim and range from 1-4 days. Guests learn about the history of the region whilst enjoying magnificent scenery from comfortable air-conditioned mini coaches and opportunities to meet local farmers on the longer tour options. Also available is a 4 day Biking Tour and a 4 day self drive Molesworth Tag-along Tour.
Tel: +64 3 577 9897 / info@molesworthtours.co.nz / www.molesworthtours.co.nz
Marlborough Vintners Hotel (MVH) & The Vintners Retreat
Please note that the first property consists of 13 self-contained suites with a separate restaurant, function room and meetings facilities. The Vintners Retreat consists of 12 2-bedroom self-contained units, 2 3-bedroom Lodges, a swimming pool and tennis court. The 2 bedroom units are available in the types; Stables, Manor, and Lodge.
Marlborough Vintners Hotel, Tel: +64 3 572 5094 / www.mvh.co.nz / dave@mvh.co.nz
The Vintners Retreat, Tel: +64 3 572 7420 / www.vintnersretreat.co.nz / info@vintnersretreat.co.nz
Marlborough Classic Motoring: more than just getting from A to B
Classic style modern sports car fleet includes replica Jaguars and MG two-seater open-top cars.
Self-drive hire: half-day / full day / extended hire available for touring NZ. Personalised tours and packages including vineyard lunches / gourmet traditional picnic hampers. Classic luxury Daimler available for exclusive hosted wine tours, transfers, special occasions, and extended self-drive hire. Based near Picton airport and convenient to SH1. Cars can be delivered/collected elsewhere by arrangement. Maps & itineraries provided. AA Roadside Assistance. Qualmarked Endorsed.
Tel: +64 3 573 7518 / www.marlboroughclassicmotoring.co.nz / drive@marlboroughclassicmotoring.co.nz
In Brief: Dates to note
Herzog Winery Restaurant – Re-opens 13 October
Weekend Farmers Market – Starts again Sunday, 04 October at 9am
Raupo Riverside Café – Opening for dinner from 28th September.
This Spring: Focus on the Arts
A contemporary fine art tour of Marlborough
Marlborough offers a small but diverse range of fine art galleries of national quality, all within 15 minutes’ drive of Blenheim. Start with the Millennium Public Art Gallery in Seymour Square, central Blenheim, for touring and curated exhibitions of contemporary and historical art, and a gallery shop offering local paintings, jewellery, and craft, plus information on other local exhibitions. About 10 minutes from town, the MVH Gallery in the entrance hall of the Marlborough Vintners Hotel in Rapaura Road presents the affordable work of emerging New Zealand printmakers, from the funky to the exquisite. Turn right at the end of Rapaura Road and you’re at Riverlore Gallery, featuring the dramatic landscapes of Joanna Dudson Scott, and guest artists. Turn back towards Renwick, take State Highway 63 west for about 2km to The Diversion Gallery at Grove Mill Winery at 13 Waihopai Valley Road, a surprising discovery exhibiting the cream of New Zealand’s most collectible senior fine artists – contemporary painters, sculptors and printmakers (and you can taste carbon-neutral wines or visit the award winning wetland there). Return to Blenheim via the foothills of Fairhall, and the studio of prominent ceramic artist Fran Maguire, known for her colourful one-off domestic ware and sculptural pieces which test the boundaries of clay. You can also visit other local artists in their studios, or view at the Marlborough Art Society’s gallery in High St.
This tour can be self drive, or could be set up with a tour operator in Marlborough. Floor talks may also be possible by prior arrangement.
Liaison for more information: Barbara Speedy, bspeedy@thediversion.co.nz
Opening Hours & details:
The Millennium Public Art Gallery: Mon-Fri from 10.30am-4.30pm; Weekends 1-4pm
Where: Seymour Square (opposite the clock tower), Blenheim
Contact: 03 579 2001 or www.marlboroughart.org.nz Director Cressida Bishop.
The Diversion Gallery: Mon-Sun 11am-5pm (Oct-May) w/days 1-4.30pm; w/ends 11am-5pm (Jun-Sep)
Where: Grove Mill Winery, Cnr SH63 & Waihopai Valley Road, Renwick, 15 minutes west of Blenheim
Contact: Director Barbara Speedy 0274 208 121 or Grove Mill 03 572 8200, bspeedy@thediversion.co.nz, www.thediversion.co.nz
MVH Gallery: Every day 10am-5pm.
Where: Entrance hall of Marlborough Vintners Hotel, 190 Rapaura Road, 10 mins NW of Blenheim.
Contact: MVH on 03 572 5094, or curator Barbara Speedy, 0274 408 121, bspeedy@thediversion.co.nz or www.mvh.co.nz
Riverlore Gallery: Summer (Sept-April), Tues-Sat 12-5.30pm; Winter by appointment
Where: State Highway 6, near Wairau bridge
Contact: Joanna Dudson Scott (artist), tel 03 572 8755 or 021 165 5468 joanna@riverlore.co.nz
Fran Maguire Studio: Most days 12-4pm; open longer in summer (best to call first)
Where: 18 Morven Lane, Fairhall, about 10 mins from Blenheim.
Contact: Fran Maguire (artist) 03 577 8243, fran@franmaguire.co.nz, www.franmaguire.co.nz
For more information on any of the above please do not hesitate to contact:
Rachael Brown – Marketing Manager rbrown@destinationmarlborough.com
Olivia Bowers – Marketing Executive obowers@destinationmarlborough.com