Marlborough may seem to be all about wine tasting and seafood sampling, but it is, in fact, a great family holiday destination. Offering things to do and places of interest for visitors of all ages, parents with kids in tow won’t struggle to find activities to keep young ones occupied with an array of both natural and manmade attractions on offer. The appeal of the great outdoors is perhaps the region’s most obvious attraction, with any number of activity possibilities for families to pursue. Indoor attractions such as Blenheim and Picton’s cinemas plus the Seahorse World Aquarium are ideal places to visit on rainy days.

Beaches
Marlborough has some lovely beaches where kids will find numerous ways to entertain themselves while parents relax with a good book or some audio entertainment. The best beaches in the area are found within the Marlborough sounds and include Ruakauka, Nydia, Mistletoe and Waitata bays.

Camping
Young visitors are always excited by the prospect of spending the night under canvas. In light of this, parents might want to take advantage of the region’s great selection of campsites and spend a couple of days getting back to nature. Some campsites offer games rooms for children and many are located close to or overlooking natural sources of water, offering water-based activity opportunities.

Cinema
Both Blenheim and Picton have their own movie theatres, the latter located at the Seahorse World Aquarium. Pay a visit and catch one of Hollywood’s latest releases on a day when the weather isn’t so great or pass an evening here. Phone: +64 3 573 6030; website: www.pictoncinemas.co.nz/ (Picton). Phone: +64 3 577 8273; website: www.toptowncinemas.co.nz/now_showing.php (Blenheim).

Outdoors
Kids are full of energy and what better a place to expend some of it than in the beautiful Marlborough sounds. There are dozens of activity possibilities here from games of hide and seek in the bushland to swimming in the marinas and other natural pools on offer.

Seahorse World Aquarium
Kids and adults alike will be fascinated by the huge array of sea life on show at Picton’s Seahorse World Aquarium. The highlight of the centre for most visitors is the seahorse collection, which features literally hundreds of these wonderful creatures in various stages of development. Also notable are the sharks, crayfish, rays and octopi, as well as an impressive collection of marine fossils. Phone: +64 3 573 6030; website: www.seahorseworld.co.nz/.

With Marlborough being such a significant wine-producing region, it’s not surprising that the glut of wineries distributed across it contribute considerably to the list of cultural attractions on offer. Whether you are an expert or just fond of a glass or two of the good stuff, you’ll find the wineries are great places to while away many a pleasant hour and pick up some fantastic vintages to take home for consumption at a later date. For those visitors wanting an alternative to pursuing the winemaking trail, there are a couple of museums on offer and some quality cultural entertainment.

Cloudy Bay
Hailed as one of the best wineries in the country, Cloudy Bay is one not to be left off any self-devised vineyard-visiting itinerary. It’s here that visitors can sample a highly reputable Sauvignon blanc, but there are a variety of other wines that are also likely to please the palates of both connoisseurs and budding enthusiasts alike. The onsite shop gives visitors the chance to purchase any wines they are impressed by. Phone: + 64 3 520 9140; website: www.cloudybay.co.nz/home_fr.html.

Havelock Museum
Based in a building that was originally constructed for use as a Methodist church in 1899 (and has undergone various renovations since 1973), the Havelock Museum is a small facility that offers visitors an insight into the past of this small Marlborough town. The museum is located on the town’s main road, next to the Clansman restaurant, and features artefacts relating to the gold mining days. Also housed here are the honour rolls of Havelock School which contain the name of Ernest Rutherford, one of the country’s most famous scientists who was schooled at Havelock between 1886 and 1894.

Marlborough Centre
The Marlborough Centre in Blenheim is the perfect place to enjoy a night of live performance, be it of traditional theatre, music, comedy or dance. The centre is open all year round and offers a varied programme of entertainment with something to suit all performance art enthusiasts. Phone: +64 3 520 8558; website: www.marlboroughcentre.com/.

Marlborough Provincial Museum
Located at Brayshaw park, the Marlborough Provincial Museum complex appears small but is, however, home to an impressive collection of artefacts, exhibits and displays which document the local history of the area. A theatre inside shows short films with local historical themes, while the replica village of Beavertown gives visitors a good insight into what early Blenheim was like to live in. Phone: +64 3 578 1712; website: www.marlboroughmuseum.co.nz/.

Millennium Public Art Gallery
Blenheim’s chief facility for public art viewing offers regularly changing exhibitions of works by both local and national artists. An onsite shop sells postcards, art books, prints and other art-related merchandise. Phone: +64 3 579 2001.

Montana Winery
A wine producer of international repute, the Montana Winery is famous for its Sauvignon blanc and has been successful in gaining recognition for its wine across the globe. Visitors are given the opportunity to sample Sauvignon blanc as well as other wines for which the winery has gained a good reputation, including its full-bodied, award-winning Pinot noir.

Spy Valley Wines
With a name taken from the 'Spy Station' located in nearby Waihopai valley, Spy Valley Wines is a visually interesting venue, set in a building with a shape that resembles a large golf ball. The winery has its name written in code across the facility as a tribute to the place after which it was named. The Pinot gris is among the most reputable vintages produced here, but there are plenty of others to try and buy during your time at this small and pleasantly intimate winery. Phone: +64 3 572 9840; website: www.spyvalleywine.co.nz/.

Te Whare Ra Wines
Whether you visit the Te Whare Ra Winery independently or on an organised tour, this winery is as likely to impress you as much as any of the other wine producing facilities in the region. In fact, a number of its wines have won awards over the years. Of note are the Reisling and Gewurztraminer, the latter being an award-winner, but be sure to try the full range as you may be pleasantly surprised by some of the lesser-known varieties. Phone: +64 3 572 8581; website: www.te-whare-ra.co.nz.

Marlborough’s reputation for wine production has helped foster an excellent dining scene. High quality cuisine is prepared by dedicated chefs at everything from upmarket restaurants to chic little cafés. Local delicacies include green shell mussels which are hauled in from the shores of Havelock and prepared by restaurants across the region.

If you are dining in Blenheim and are looking for a quality establishment, try the Herzog Winery and Restaurant on Jeffries road where the cuisine is worthy of five stars. Alternatively, the Hotel d’Urville on Queen street is of a similarly high standard. For a slightly more casual environment try the Black Creek Pizzeria and Boutique Brewery or Roccos Italian Restaurant on Dodson street. Blenheim has its fair share of ethnic eateries too and fans of foreign cuisine can dine on Indian, Japanese and Chinese food among other fare.

In Picton, Le Café at London quay is notable for its good food and live music in the evenings. Gusto on High street is a small establishment with good food and a trendy ambience. In Havelock, try the Slip Inn located at Havelock marina.

Shopping is a mixed affair in Marlborough with an emphasis on small independent shops and arcades rather than huge malls and factory outlets. There are numerous opportunities to buy wine as well other locally produced products.

With Blenheim being the region’s most significant urban development, it has the greatest retail selection. Here you’ll find everything from supermarkets to department stores plus a weekly farmer’s market every Sunday from 09:00 to 12:00, where you can pick up cheap, fresh produce and handmade goods.

Marlborough is one of New Zealand’s top regions for outdoor enthusiasts, offering a wealth of activity possibilities. The Marlborough sounds is perhaps the most scenic location in the region with its wide variety of terrain and scenic landscapes. Visitors will find every popular activity covered by local tour operators, many of which can be enjoyed without the need for your own equipment. Those visitors who wish to get active independently can make use of local maps and set off under their own steam.

Bird Watching
The Marlborough sounds is teeming with bird life and enthusiastic ornithologists will find a wide variety of species available for viewing. With a good map, a pair of binocular and some patience, there’s every chance you will see a number of different kinds of species of petrels, herons, shags, prions, shearwaters, oystercatchers and mollymawks.

Fishing
With easy access to fresh and saltwater sources, angling enthusiasts have some excellent opportunities to indulge their passion. Visitors can go at it alone if they have their own equipment or hire gear from an angling supply. For convenience, take advantage of the fishing tours offered by companies such as Top Catch and Seabird charters. Trips range from deep sea and big game fishing to fly, salmon and trout fishing. Phone: +64 3 319 6306 (Top Catch); phone: +64 3 545 1501 (Seabird).

Mountain Biking
Marlborough offers some excellent terrain for mountain biking with a number of well established tracks including the popular but somewhat gruelling Queen Charlotte track. Cycling tours are available, while visitors with their own bikes can get useful information on trails at the Marlborough i-SITE Visitor Centre. Phone: +64 35 778 080.

Walking and Hiking
The Marlborough sounds is the perfect destination to take either a leisurely walk or a strenuous hike, depending on how active you are feeling. Stretching a lengthy 44 miles (71kms), the Queen Charlotte Track is one of the most popular places to enjoy this activity with visitors able to walk it alone or take an organised walking trip lasting several days with overnight accommodation provided.

Waterskiing
There are numerous locations in the Marlborough sounds where waterskiing can be pursued. Visitors with experience and their own equipment can pursue this activity unassisted, while others can take advantage of the services of local water sport companies.