Things to do in Marlborough Region
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Fyffe House
Kaikoura’s oldest surviving building is Fyffe House. Built by Scotsman George Fyffe, cousin of Kaikoura’s first European settler, Robert Fyffe, it started life as a small cottage in 1842 (with whale vertebrae for foundations) and was completed in 1860. There’s plenty to see inside and out, including the original brick oven, historical displays and gardens.
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Hislops
This snappy, feel-good cafe maintains its reputation for fresh, wholesome food. Start the morning with fruit salad and toasted muesli, then come back at night for organic meats plus great seafood, veg and vegan choices. The caramelised-pumpkin and blue-cheese salad is delicious.
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Waterways Boating Safaris
It’s a boat tour Cap’n, but not as we know it. Buzz around majestic Keneperu Sound in your own craft, while learning about the area’s ecology and history. A unique and fun way to see the Sounds. Two people per boat and a maximum of five boats per guide. BYO lunch.
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Beach House Café & Bar
Serving the best brunch and coffee in town, this chipper roadside cafe garners more than its fair share of the passing trade. Sit on the front terrace or back deck and reconstitute with green eggs and ham, fish and chips or seafood chowder. Good counter food, too.
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Pelorus Mail Run
Popular full-day boat cruise through the far reaches of Pelorus Sound on a genuine NZ Post delivery run. Bookings essential; BYO lunch. Picton pick-up and drop-off available.
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Dolphin Encounter
Here’s your chance to rub shoulders with pods of dusky dolphins on three-hour tours; wet suits, masks and snorkels are provided. Limited numbers, so book in advance.
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Mayfair Theatre
Resembling a pink liquorice allsorts, this seafront picture house screens almost-recent releases.
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Slip Inn
Feel appropriately maritime in this surprisingly slick restaurant and bar in the thick of the marina. Its signature dishes are the mussels, as well as beer-battered blue cod, pizza, pasta specials and home-made dessert. Good for a cruise-by beer-stop, too.
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Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre
Blenheim’s ‘big attraction’ has always been its wineries, but the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre has blown the wine out of the water. Aided by the creative geniuses that brought us Lord of the Rings (Peter Jackson, Wingnut Films and Weta Workshop), this amazing collection of original and replica Great War aircraft is brought to life with a series of dioramas depicting dramatic wartime scenes such as the death of Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron. Remarkable memorabilia and photographic displays deepen the experience. It’s powerful stuff. There is a cafe and shop on-site.
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Whale Watch Kaikoura
With knowledgeable guides and fascinating ‘world of whales’ onboard animation, Kaikoura’s biggest operator heads out (with admirable frequency) in boats equipped with hydrophones (underwater microphones) to pick up whale soundings. It’ll refund 80% of your fare if no whales are sighted (success rate: 98%). Sailings may be cancelled if the weather turns to custard, so if this trip is a must for you, allow a few days flexibility.
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Wither Hills Farm Park
For grand views across the Wairau Valley and out to Cloudy Bay, you can tour the 1100-hectare Wither Hills Farm Park which could take from 30 minutes to all day. The two main entrances are at the top of Redwood St and the Taylor Pass Rd; pick up a map from the i-SITE or check the information panels at the gates. Ask about fire bans in high summer. You can hire bikes from the Spokesman to tour this park.
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Edwin Fox Maritime Museum
The Edwin Fox is purportedly the world’s ninth-oldest wooden ship (who counts these things?). Built of teak in Bengal, the 48m, 750-tonne vessel was launched in 1853. During its chequered career it carried troops to the Crimean War, convicts to Australia and immigrants to NZ. The Edwin Fox Maritime Museum has maritime exhibits including the venerable old dear, preserved under cover.
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Bellafico
A mainstream, main-street eatery with a huge wine and beer list that makes great reading. The menu drifts from light afternoon fare into evening mains with an emphasis on local produce (shellfish, venison, rabbit, field-mushroom paté) cooked with Italian zest. Beware the easy-listening soundtrack, sometimes emanating from a human.
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Shark Nett Gallery
Overlooking the tidal Pelorus estuary, this unique gallery showcases contemporary Maori carving relating to the local Rangitane iwi (tribes). Tours provide an educational and evocative insight into how carving is used to record tribal tikanga (customs) and whakapapa (ancestry). There is also a cafe on-site.
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Green Dolphin
Quality Kaikoura fish Asian style, and the omnipresent bovine, ovine and lobstery treats, all made with care and a fondness for good local produce. On busy nights, book ahead or nurse a cocktail or aperitif in the pleasant bar or garden. Those with foresight should plump for a table with a view by the floor-to-ceiling windows.
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Eco World Aquarium
The Eco World Aquarium has hundreds of fish and a veritable menagerie of native critters, including tuatara, gecko and giant weta. Fish-feeding time (11am and 2pm) is a hit with kids. Just before dusk watch the resident blue penguins returning from their fishing trips. There’s also an art-house cinema here.
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Raupo
An airy, high-ceilinged timber-and-stone building alongside the Opawa River. During the day there’s a satisfying cafe menu (brekkies, burgers, mussels, lamb shanks) and sweet treats, seguing into slightly more sophisticated fare in the evenings. Sheltered outdoor seating, and soft-jazz grooves on the stereo.
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Floatplane
Floatplane offers transfers and scenic tours (minimum two people) to Ship Cove (track transfer $125; 20-minute tour $140) and into the outer Sounds (40 minute/one hour $210/325). It also runs Cook Strait crossings from Porirua (near Wellington) to Nelson and the Abel Tasman (from $275).
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Café Cortado
A pleasant corner cafe with sneaky views of a harbour through the foreshore’s pohutukawa and palms. Quite possibly your best bet for a ‘sophisticated’ meal in a town with limited, decent dining of an evening. The menu focuses on local fish, steak, lamb, pizzas and salads, with bar snacks available too.
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Wakamarinian Café
Heavenly home baking in a cute cottage. Get in early to grab one of the popular pies, or console yourself with proper quiche and a sweet slice – the raspberry and white-chocolate shortcake defies description. Great coffee and excellent value, too, from Beth and Laurie: Havelock’s culinary saviours.
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Le Café
Due credit for longevity and for food that the locals still favour; the space was a bit tired and the service dicey during research. The food, however, tasted made-from-scratch: salami sandwiches, quiche, pasta and mussels, plus sweet tart for afters. Great Havana coffee and occasional live gigs.
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Marlborough Museum
The Marlborough Museum, passionately celebrates this region’s history. Besides a replica township, vintage mechanicals and well-presented artefact displays, there’s the recently opened ‘Wine Exhibition’ for those looking to cap-off their vineyard experiences.
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Café Encounter
Housed in the Dolphin Encounter complex, this cafe is more than just somewhere to wait for your trip. Good counter food, and coffee plus cakes, crepes, bagels, toasties and daily specials, such as hot smoked salmon on focaccia. Sea and esplanade views from the sunny patio.
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Café le Cupp
The best tearoom in town by a country mile. Ogle your way along the counter (egg sandwiches, mince savouries, luscious lamingtons, carrot cake) or get yourself a brekkie such as the full fry-up, French toast or muesli. Note the presence of the ginger gem… there is a God.
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Store at Kekerengu
A good place for a pit stop, being halfway between Blenheim and Kaikoura. Your best bet is the counter food or coffee and cake, rather than the overpriced à la carte menu. Enjoy it by the fire in the rustic interior, or out on the wide sun decks, with magical sea-peeks.
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