Marlborough Lodge

Visitors to The Marlborough Lodge often report having a recurring dream, or is wish a more accurate description? They dream that this breathtaking property is their own and they need never do more than relax and drink in the impossibly serene surroundings.

And who wouldn’t wish for such a bolt hole, nestled as it is among magnificent private parklands with manicured lawns, tall shady trees, a pond, lavender bushes and English knot rose gardens, Marlborough Lodge, exudes a sense of grandeur, without being over doing it.

It’s had quite a history – built in 1901 it was a convent for the Sisters of Mercy at nearby Blenheim and was dismantled and transported to its new site in 1994.

Step through the doors of the newly renovated main house and you wish those walls could talk.

The 10-suite two-storey country-style lodge now features contemporary decor by Auckland interior designer Peter Lloyd, combining nostalgia with style. The elegant suites with spacious bathrooms are all different and some retain the stained glass convent windows as a discreet nod to the past.

An original carved staircase made from native kauri wood features while the newest additions include dining areas, sitting room and an outdoor fire area where guests enjoy canapes and sip some of New Zealand’s best wines on a balmy evening or rug up and enjoy a more hearty drop in front of a roaring fire.

Dining is an adventure with head chef Jason Brown, who picks vegetables, herbs and fruit from the garden that end up in superb dishes. Local lamb, trout, quail and duck feature on the menu and dining can be enjoyed at the “bench” watching Jason cook, in the formal dining room or cosy library. 

“I like letting produce talk for itself with simple dishes but intensive flavours,” he says. Standout dishes include spiced mallard duck breast with oyster mushroom, Taranaki Sand flounder with shaved squid and potato and a finale of salted peanut parfait with bitter chocolate and local honey.

Guests can also venture out on the lodge’s luxurious private launch, MV Tarquin that leaves from nearby Picton to get a different perspective on this glorious park of New Zealand.

Huge pods of dolphins are often seen surfing the waves beside the launch these outings through the pristine Marlborough Sounds with scenery that leaves all comers in awe.

Back on dry land, the Marlborough area is a wine lover’s paradise with 120 wineries and 33 cellar doors including the iconic Cloudy Bay that put the area on the wine map years ago. Even the most dedicated would need weeks to properly explore and experience each of the distinctive wines on offer – but then, that would be time well spent.

For another great dining experience head to Arbour, where owner/chef Bradley Hornby and Liz Buttimore, showcase local producers and retell Marlborough stories. The nearby outstanding Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre traces fascinating stories of the past with well-preserved aircraft and memorabilia. Or, if looking at aircraft is not enough for your sense of adventure, you can also take to the skies for a great bird’s eye view over the vineyards.

But this is not a part of the famed ‘adrenalin trail’ for which places like Queenstown are renowned. This is life designed to be lived at a more sedate and refined pace. Back at the lodge, take a dip in the pool, play tennis or go for a bike ride – or simply settle for a fireside seat, wine in hand and contemplate what you’ll do on ‘your estate’ tomorrow – heaven.