Blenheim is our next stop on this tour and we had a couple of hours drive later in the afternoon from Kaiterikerit to our accommodation which was the very new and very gorgeous Urban hotel called 14thLane. It is run by Janet, Vicki and Craig and they made sure we felt at home instantly . They generously gave us use of the breakfast room to use for drinks and meals if we wanted. A change from eating out tonight it was Thai takeaways from across the road. They even delivered and turned out to be a perfect choice after a long day.
Blenheim is the home of one of my oldest friends, Lou and she along with her husband Peter helped me plan this tour. They drove me all over the place and provided the all important insider information . It’s essential for all my tours that visit and research each region and helps me prioritise the itinerary.
For Blenheim I really wanted to visit their famous Gardens and I was spoilt for choice. Besides, the biggest wine region in New Zealand can keep you busy for many days alone.
We started with Welton House and Garden. This stunning property was a combination of the creative sister and brother team, Wendy Palmer and her brother Ross. The planting here was ingenious and very clever. The garden wrapped itself around Wendy’s artistic modern inspired Villa and the show stopper of topiaried native hedges were imaginative and inspirational. Someone with a very imaginative eye!!! But there was no-where in this garden untouched and all areas had an ingenious touch . I think this is one of the most inspiring gardens I have visited and just wanted to sit much longer on the large outdoor lounger and take it all in.
Waiarau Vineyard was the obvious choice for lunch because of the recommended cheese soufflé and if there is anything I love is this gooey rich soft rich delight. I was keen to see if it is as good as Number 7 Balmac’s soufflé in Dunedin. It was absolutely delicious and met all my expectations.
The afternoon was spent with a local guide called Karen who runs her own wine experience but usually on bikes. We visited 3 wineries – Cloudy Bay, Forest and Framingham’s and by tasting with the winemakers could gain an understanding of the popular varietals. Of course this is Sauvignon Blanc country and 80% of all the vines that stretch as far as you can see in all directions is Sauvignon Blanc. With over 150 wineries and many with cellar doors and restaurants you can spend many days tasting not only the Sauv but a host of other varietals.
Within walking distance is the restaurant Scotch. It’s a Tuesday night and it is packed with women. Not sure what that was about but it seems we coincided with a large golf tournament and what looks like girl’s night out. The food and wine was delicious but a muck up with our booking didn’t help and the older I get I find the noise level with table chatter hard to cope with.
Day two in Blenheim took us south to the Seddon area which was particularly badly damaged in the earthquake of 2018. Today its two gardens – Carolyn Ferraby’s garden Barewood in the morning and Rosa Davisons native garden in the afternoon.
I have wanted to visit these two gardens for many years and have never managed to get to the Marlborough garden Festival in November. Of course we are seeing them in late summer and I love the ‘long laster’s’ that make this time of the year so colourful.
Carolyn’s garden is a lesson in structure and garden rooms – each unique and clever. She has gardened here for a long time and what started as a dry barren landscape now is a leafy haven full of mature trees and under planted with many treasures.
In comparison Rosa’s garden is on a grand scale. It is accentuated by a very long wide walk from the house to the ocean and lined on both sides by natives. You can duck in and out to secluded lawns and ponds and near the house Rosa has created a sanctuary for Monarch butterflies.
Our garden visits were based around lunch at Vavasour Vineyard. Brad Newton from Dunedin and a long family friend has worked here for a number of years and when I approached him about lunch he offered their picnic garden and a wine tasting. He excelled himself and had a table set complete with a table cloth, glasses, bunches of grape varieties and even flowers. It was an idyllic setting and perfect for our delicious packed lunch prepared by Vicki back at 14thLane.
It was a magical day – the weather, the visits and the wonderful hospitality of Carolyn, Rosa and Brad certainly made it one to remember.
No visit to Blenheim is complete without going to the Aviation Museum set up by Peter Jackson. This can be many hours well spent and such an asset to Blenheim. It provides an educational insight into the planes and conditions of World War One and now the recently opened World War Two exhibition.
On my research trip I visited a vineyard called Clos Henri. Not only did I love the little church tasting room, but I wanted everyone to taste a Sauvignon Blanc which is not to everyone’s taste made in the French style. We sat outside and shared a couple of bottles of wine with very simple sandwiches and French fruit tarts which I spotted at a French Bakery in Blenheim in the morning. It was out last day in Blenheim so there needed to be shopping time before dinner.
Back in amongst the vineyards is Arbour. Awarded two hats in the Cuisine Food awards this is a treat. Liz Buttimore and Bradley Hornby offer an ever-changing tasting menu that showcases their strong connection to Marlborough growers and artisan food producers, and including seasonal ingredients. The food was thoughtful and delicious and I was delighted with the interesting food and impeccable service.
Four nights at the new Urban Hotel – 14th Lane was a lesson in superb hospitality. This venture by Janet and Vicki has been expertly designed and created with a thought given to every aspect. All the rooms are exquisite and they have expertly fashioned a beautiful boutique hotel that New Zealand need a lot more of .
Before heading south Christchurch, we have one more day and night. This was our second day on the water and I hired the launch Lady Karen with Skipper Gordy once again to take us up Queen Charlotte sound to Furneaux lodge at the top of Endeavour inlet. We had a terrific family day with him a few years back and I was thrilled he could be with my group.
Once again the day was perfectly, calm and sunny. We had a birthday girl on board and Claire couldn’t have had better surroundings to celebrate her 86thbirthday. A Chacuterie lunch with fresh baguettes followed by French fruit tarts (loved that bakery) along with wine from Vavasour. It was a fun day – I think most of us may have had a quick sleep when we arrived at Furneaux Lodge before Champagne and dinner. Most people here were walking the Abel Tasman track and in the morning it was busy with people preparing boots, packs and walking poles. We made a quick trip back to Picton by water taxi and started our journey to Christchurch down the Coast road. I was very keen to see the extent of the huge earthquake which closed the road for so very long. It has definitely changed – but the road is now amazing and it was obviously a mammoth effort to get it opened again. No trip down the coast ever goes by without a stop at ‘The Store’ at Kekerengu and we were in perfect time for lunch.
Arriving in Christchurch by late in the afternoon at the new ‘Muse Art Hotel’ was just time enough for a quick drink before catching a taxi to my favourite Japanese suburban restaurant called kinji. It is always delicious, unpretentious and obviously very popular because it is always full.
By the end of the night and a such lovely tour some of us enjoyed a late night whisky on the roof top bar in the hotel – With Christchurch glittering below we had lots to reminisce about over the past 10 days.
I had a very wonderful tour with an amazing group of impressive sparkling women. They were a delight to travel with and our 10 days together will provide lots of memories to look back on.
