The arid slopes of the Wither Hills, Blenheim. Photo / Getty Images
Marlborough local Matthew Large give his top tips for the region.
1 Fish for blue cod in the Marlborough Sounds
Fishing is a huge part of our family. Growing up, my father would always take me fishing and now I take my three children: Thomas, 13, Abbie, 12 and Theo, 8.
We have a place in Pelorus Sounds, so we do a lot of fishing during the summer. Thomas is getting pretty good and even goes out in his own fishing kayak.
We mostly fish for cod, which tastes the best, especially when freshly caught.
2 Walk along Rarangi Beach, watching the sunrise
Every now and then I start the day with a walk along Rarangi Beach with my wife, Adele, and our Hungarian vizsla, Gus. It gives us a chance to catch up without interruptions, although the kids join us more and more these days. It's very stony and rustic, definitely not your usual beach. We spend the time talking, searching for odd things that wash up on the beach and watching the sun come up over the sea.
3 Visit the world renowned Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre
Everyone who travels to Marlborough should visit The Omaka Aviation Museum. It's a world-class facility right on our doorstep, rather than in Wellington or Auckland. Peter Jackson has put so much time and effort into it.
4 Lunch and wine tasting at the Wither Hills Winery Restaurant
Of course, I may be biased, but in my humble opinion The Wither Hills Cellar Door and Restaurant offers great food, wine and company in an amazing setting. You can enjoy a platter outdoors on the bean bags, go up market and treat yourself to a three-course lunch with matching wines or even have a go at blending your own pinot noir. The building has many spaces like our Barrel Hall to explore at your leisure.
