ROAD TRIP - Blenheim to Kaikōura

Along the way, the landscape switches from coastline to vineyard. Admire rows of vines storming over the hills with satisfying uniformity – the very depiction of the New Zealand Classic Wine Trail.

Blenheim to Kaikōura via SH 1 1hr 50min, 128km

© AA Traveller 2022

You’ll need to leave a good amount of extra time for this drive if you factor in the stops you’ll be tempted to make to fully appreciate the spectacular coastline and approaches to Blenheim.

Closed by the 2016 earthquake, it’s fascinating to drive this route now – just to appreciate the forces of nature still evident from the gigantic slips, and the magnificent feats of engineering gone into taming the effects of them.

As you approach Kaikōura, the SH 1 between Clarence and Oaro (20 minutes south of Kaikōura) is stamped with 20 sites featuring locally designed sculptures and seven safe places to stop and see them. Also on SH 1 is Ohau Point; a favourite spot from which to view the seal colony.

Watching whales near Kaikōura © Kaikōura Whale Watch

HIGHLIGHTS

ŌHAU POINT Re-sculpted since the 2016 earthquake, seals like to lollop here.

YEALANDS VINEYARD A short drive off the main highway at Seddon leads to the impressive cellar door. So vast is this coastal property, it even has its own driving tour.

Yealands Vineyard, Blenheim © Marlborough NZ

ŌMAKA AVIATION CENTRE This combines the hallmarks of ‘Wellywood’ with magnificent flying machines and nostalgia from both World Wars.

Ōmaka Aviation Centre, Blenheim © Johnny Hendrikus

BLACK-SAND BEACHES Pull up at one of the parking bays and skip down to enjoy the gorgeous black sand beaches pounded by the thunderousPacific Ocean.

PENINSULA SEAL COLONY AND WALKWAY AT KAIKŌURA Walk around this magnificent rocky coastline for panoramic views of the ocean,seals and sea birds.

LLAMA TREKKING Walk with animals and their owner.

COASTAL TREK The Kaikōura Coast Track is a two-day private walk, run by local farming families. Located on Conway Flat 40km south of Kaikōura.

MARLBOROUGH MUSEUM Detailing the area’s history with an emphasis on its wine industry, there’s a mock 1900s village and several carefully curated exhibits.

BLENHEIM

World-renowned for its award-winning wines, Blenheim is surrounded by many hectares of vineyards. Framed by the bleached Wither Hills, the town is a bustling agricultural centre with plenty of class.

Hans Herzog Estate © Jessica Jones Photography

A number of vineyards have impressive properties open to visitors to sample their fare and there are a number of decent eateries in town, too. Book a tour of Auntsfield Estate and visit the original cellar door as well as the site where Marlborough’s first vines were planted in 1873. A good introduction to the region’s rich history can be found at the Marlborough Museum, which features the development of wine making, plus early Polynesian settlement of the region. This sun-drenched valley is well known for its aviation history; visit the Ōmaka Aviation Heritage Centre to fly in a rare WWII V12 Fighter Plane and to find a handful of planes from Sir Peter Jackson’s own collection.

Ōmaka Aviation Heritage Centre, Blenheim © Marlborough NZ

MORE TO DO IN BLENHEIM

> Blenheim Wine Tours

> Heritage and Arts Trails

> Marlborough Museum

> Ōmaka Aviation Heritage Centre

> Pollard Park

> The Vines Village

Want more? Visit https://aatraveller.co.nz/travel-guides and get planning. Looking for a place to stay? Book accommodation at aa.travel.co.nz