Discover New Zealand’s South Island

Enjoy a peaceful retreat along the serene waterways of New Zealand’s South Island.

- Elizabeth Wood

Marlborough is renowned for its winding waterways (sea-flooded valleys known as “sounds”), rugged wilderness and fine wines.Situated on the northeastern tip of New Zealand’s South Island, this sunny region only landed on modern tourist maps in the 1980s after the international success of its zesty sauvignon blanc – a wine revered for its intense flavors and robust character. Awash with expansive vineyards, rolling hills and sleepy towns, it is a region of unparalleled beauty and a relaxing escape for business travelers in New Zealand.

Visitors can take a short 30-minute flight from Wellington, on a small plane the locals affectionately call “white knuckle airlines” for its hair-raising maneuvers across the straits. For those who choose to travel by water through the magnificent Queen Charlotte Sound, there are regular ferry services connecting the North and South Island.

I flew in for a relaxing three-day break from the commercial hub and international gateway of Auckland. The national carrier, Air New Zealand, offers daily services to Marlborough’s main township of Blenheim, which is where my memorable adventure began. What follows is a taste of the many delights the region has to offer, from treks in the native forests to the sheltered bays of the sounds and tours of world-famous wine cellars.

Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre

A few minutes drive from Marlborough Airport Blenheim is the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, showcasing one of the world’s largest private collections of WWI aircraft and artifacts. On long-term loan from Kiwi film director Peter Jackson (the man behind The Lord of the Rings trilogy and its prequel The Hobbit trilogy) the collection includes original and full replica WWI aircraft – both static and flyable, such as the Curtiss MF Flying Boat and the single-seat German fighter Halberstadt D.IV model.