Blogs from Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 3

Geo: -41.5116, 173.956Sixteen days in Middle Earth isn't very much, and barely enough to fit in a decent tour of the highlights of NZ's North Island, yet we felt compelled to squeeze in at least a couple of days in the South Island. Why, you ask? It's because of Middle Earths premier wine-growing region, Marlborough! A visit here would be incomplete without at least one day of wine touring, so we made sure to schedule at least four days of it while we are traveling throughout Middle Earth!We've gotten into a bit of a habit before touring wine-producing countries, sampling some of their wines in Calgary, before even setting foot on a plane. It's a nice introduction to that country, and is a great way of building anticipation. We were pleasantly surprised by the wines on ... read more

Howdy folks, I'm a bit behind with my blog, just couldn't face doing it last night due to a WHOLE day of wine tasting, so really wasn't in a fit state to write a blog !! Stu and I decided to get someone to drive us around The Marlborough Wineries, so we hummed and Arhhhd, shall we do a half day tour or a full day, who were we kidding, I said, 'why are we even having this conversation so we booked the whole day, pick up at 10.00am. A friendly kiwi lady called Helen came and picked us up from our accommodation and we met another couple in the van called Paula and Colin from Glasgow. Say no more, knew straight away we were going to get on with them. The sun was shining as ... read more

Packed up and rolling out of the cabin by mid-morning. A couple of hours' drive brings me to Kaiuma Bay. I park the car next to a frustrated draught-horse and head off into the heat. And it is hot. Half an hour in and I'm drenched in sweat again. Maybe I need to change swap to cold hikes. When does sweating become bad for you? I don't remember ever being this wet on a track (when it wasn't raining). On through the weird mix of ruined sounds landscape with large areas of (lethal) pine forest where once there would've been podocarp and diversity. Three and a bit hot hours later and I'm at the Nydia hut. This is no ordinary DOC hut - it was built as a youth centre (some of the maps still show ... read more

Slow start from Picton having collected some supplies for the next couple of days then drive out to the sounds. The cabin for the next two nights is on Pelorus sound (the north side of the more famous Queen Charlotte sound). I've already communicated with the hosts (they live in the house next door to the cabin) and they won't be around but the cabin's open (like most houses are anyway on South Island) so I stop off and place some items in the fridge before driving up past the head of the sound, to the Kenepuru saddle and beyond to the beginning of the Mt Stokes track. Only when I get there do I realise I have (of course) been here before. More importantly, cloud is blanketing the summit (and has been all the way ... read more

Geo: -41.5116, 173.957Well what an awesome day today has been. I'm sitting here now at our comfy room at the Two Tree Lodge in Blenheim, with slight sunburn, a full stomach and half a bottle of Shingle Peak wine to finish. After-all, we have now arrived in the Marlborough region!The day started off in Christchurch. We were up (barely) with weary eyes around 8.30am to grab breakfast and explore Christchurch. I found a nice spot called Vics Bakery and Cafe. Wasn't a bargain at 45nzd for us both but our eggs Benedict/Florentine and freshly squeezed juices hit the spot. Subsequent exploration of Christchurch was actually a brisk, sad and largely uneventful affair. Of course Id read/heard about the extensive damage done by the 2010-11 earthquakes, but actually exploring the CBD and seeing it for myself first ... read more