Sights in Marlborough & Nelson
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Neudorf
Moss-covered barnlike complex; gorgeous pinot noir and some of the country’s finest chardonnay.
reviewed
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B
Fyffe House
Kaikoura’s oldest surviving building is Fyffe House, built upon foundations of whale vertabrae. Built by Scotsman George Fyffe, cousin of Kaikoura’s first European settler, Robert Fyffe, it started life as a small cottage in 1842. There’s plenty to see inside and out, including the original brick oven, historical displays and gardens.
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C
Founders Heritage Park
Two kilometres from the city centre, this park comprises a replica historic village with a bakery, chocolatier and museums. It makes for a fascinating wander, which you can augment with a visit to the onsite Founders Brewery & Café, NZ’s first certified organic brewery, where you can get brunch and wood-fired pizza. Tastings are $10; a 'backpacker special' grants park entry plus a tasting of three beers for $12.
reviewed
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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 Peter Jackson and his team of creative types, this captivating 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. Memorabilia and photographic displays deepen the experience. The guided tour is an extra $5 extremely well spent. A cafe and shop are on-site, and next door is Omaka Classic Cars: over 100 vehicles from the 50s to the 80s (adult/child $12.50/5).
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E
Christ Church Cathedral
The enduring symbol of Nelson, the art-deco Christ Church Cathedral lords it over the city from the top of Trafalgar St. Work began in 1925, but this architectural hybrid wasn't completed until 1965.
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F
Edwin Fox Maritime Museum
Purportedly the world’s third-oldest wooden ship, the Edwin Fox was built of teak in Calcutta and launched in 1853. During its chequered career it carried troops to the Crimean War, convicts to Australia and immigrants to NZ. This museum has maritime exhibits, including the venerable old dear, preserved under cover.
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Shark Nett Gallery
Overlooking the tidal Pelorus estuary, Shark Nett showcases contemporary Maori carving relating to the local Rangitane iwi (tribes). Guided tours provide an educational and evocative insight into how carving is used to record tribal tikanga (customs) and whakapapa (ancestry).
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Eco World Aquarium
The primary purpose of this centre is animal rehab, but we're not talking in the Amy Winehouse sense here. All sorts of critters come here for fix-ups and rest-ups, and the odd bit of how's-your-father goes on, too. Very special specimens include NZ's 'living dinosaur' – the tuatara – as well as blue penguins, gecko and giant weta. Fish-feeding time (11am and 2pm) is a splashy spectacle. Sharing the building is the Picton Cinema, bringing the likes of Werner Herzog to town. The manager deserves a medal
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Collingwood Museum
The Collingwood Museum fills a tiny, unstaffed corridor with a quirky collection of saddlery, Maori artefacts, moa bones, shells and old typewriters.
reviewed
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Labyrinth Rocks Park
On the road to Pohara you’ll see a signpost to Labyrinth Rocks Park, two wondrous hectares of limestone canyons and native bush making for a fascinating stroll.
reviewed
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Ngarua Caves
Takaka Hill (791m) butts-in between Tasman Bay and Golden Bay. Just below the summit (literally) are the Ngarua Caves, a rock-solid attraction karst in stone, where you can see myriad subterranean delights including moa bones. Access is restricted to tours – you can’t go solo spelunking.
reviewed
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Bencarri Nature Park & Café
On the Anatoki River 6km south of town, Bencarri Nature Park & Café is home to farm animals including llamas and a longhorn. The prime attraction, though, is feeding the fat, tame river eels, which can live to be 100, and have apparently been here since 1914.
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Marlborough Museum
Besides a replica township, vintage mechanicals, train rides (every first and third Sunday) and well-presented artefact displays, there’s the Wine Exhibition for those looking to cap off their vineyard experiences.
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Golden Bay Gallery
Sharing the same building as the Golden Bay Museum is Golden Bay Gallery, a good example of just one of Golden Bay’s many galleries and artist studios. Collect a copy of the Guide to Artists in Golden Bay leaflet for more along those lines.
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Nelson Provincial Museum
This modern museum space is filled with cultural heritage and natural history exhibits with a regional bias, as well as regular touring exhibitions (admission price varies). It also features a great rooftop garden.
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Höglund Glass Art
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Kaikoura District Museum
This provincial museum houses the old town jail, historical photos, Maori and colonial artefacts, a huge sperm-whale jaw and the fossilised remains of a plesiosaur.
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Maori Leap Cave
Not far from Kaikoura Winery is Maori Leap Cave, a sea-formed limestone cave discovered in 1958. Tours depart the Caves Restaurant, 3km south of town. Book at the restaurant or i-SITE.
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Golden Bay Museum & Gallery
This small museum's stand-out exhibits include a diorama depicting Abel Tasman’s 1642 landing and some dubious human taxidermy. Ask about the albatross. The adjoining gallery offers satisfying browsing of local and national knickknackery and quite possibly the purchase of a quality souvenir. For additional arty ambling, look for the free Artists in Golden Bay pamphlet.
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Miyazu Japanese Garden
This serene garden is full of sculptures, lanterns and ducks on placid ponds. Sit for a while and ponder something profound.
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Point Sheep Shearing Show
The 30-minute Point Sheep Shearing Show at the Point B&B is fun and educationally ovine. You can also feed a ram, and lambs between September and February. Classic NZ!
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Suter
Adjacent to Queen’s Gardens, Nelson’s public art gallery presents changing exhibitions, floor talks, musical and theatrical performances, and films. It also houses a small but good art store and a popular cafe.
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Millennium Art Gallery
Conspicuously blue opposite Seymour Sq, the Millennium Art Gallery is a contemporary gallery presenting changing exhibitions by local and national artists.
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Q
Picton Museum
If you dig local history – whaling, sailing and the 1964 Roller Skating Champs – this will float your boat. The photo displays are well worth a look, especially for five bucks (funds go towards much-needed development).
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Touch the Sea
With the kids in tow, nip into Touch the Sea, a small aquarium where you’re allowed to touch anything you can reach in the tank.
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