Brilliant Every Day
Our region of Marlborough
The region is packed with beautiful scenery, from the sunken valleys of the Marlborough Sounds to the rugged mountains of the Richmond Range. The great outdoors also provide plenty of options for the weekend warrior. Chances are the weather will be great; Marlborough is one of the three regions that claim the highest average sunshine hours in New Zealand.
Over the past half century, Marlborough's economy has diversified from a traditional primary industry base of sheep and stonefruit, to include tourism, aquaculture, wine, aviation and forestry.
World-famous for sauvignon blanc, Marlborough is the largest wine producing region in the country. Wine Marlborough figures show the region accounts for 79% of New Zealand's total active wine production. This won't escape your notice on even a quick visit to the region because vines stretch scenically across the landscape from whichever route you enter the main town of Blenheim.
Marine farmers grow Greenshell mussels, King Salmon, oysters and paua in the Marlborough Sounds. Our up-and-coming aviation industry is right alongside the world-standard Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, which boasts one of the world's largest displays of World War 1 aircraft.
Marlborough has a population of about 45,600 people. Blenheim is the commercial heart of the province, with 30,500 people. Picton, the gateway to the South Island when you cross Cook Strait by ferry, has a population of about 4,000.
Blenheim is 20 minutes by air or three hours by ferry from Wellington; one and a half hours from Nelson and Kaikoura; four hours drive from Christchurch and two hours to the nearest ski field, Rainbow Skifield near the Nelson Lakes National Park.