Blenheim, Renwick and Wine

Blenheim

Our first stop on the South Island was a Department of Conservation campsite in Blenheim – a bargain at just $20 NZD per person per night. Unfortunately, there is a different sort of price to pay. Generally, no power is available at DOC sites, so if you don’t have a diesel heater, you will get cold, as we know.

That aside, it’s a lovely spot to stay. The sea is nearby if you fancy going all Wim Hof, and there’s a bit of history in the form of the White’s Bay cable station, which received the first message through the Cook’s Strait in 1866.

Renwick

We couldn’t find a camping ground or car park like the one on Cuba Street anywhere near Renwick. So, I booked an Airbnb for the evening – ironically, a caravan. But it was close to the wineries and the bike-to-wine place, from which we hired bikes to wander around the wineries.

We stumbled across the machine in the above photo by pure happenstance. I had overshot the turning for the Huia winery (it might have been something to do with the wine) and came across an automated harvester. It’s a fascinating piece of equipment. It works by shaking the grapes off the wines.

We did manage to find the Huia winery. Although it is small, its wines are fabulous. It’s a pity I didn’t get a photo. We did get a lot of wine though.

In the evening, as a cultural treat, we visited the Cork and Keg “Old English Pub. And the next day, we rounded off our mini-tour of the Marlborough wineries with a visit to Cloudy Bay because it would be rude not to.

Next, we are off to Abel Tasman.