MARLBOROUGH - HARVESTING THE SUNSHINE
THE GREENS, BLUES AND GOLDS OF MARLBOROUGHS
LANDSCAPE REFLECT THE PROFOUND PLEASURES TO BE
FOUND IN THE WINE CAPITAL OF NEW ZEALAND.
WITH 40 PERCENT OF THE NATION*S VINEYARDS AND AN
INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION FOR ITS DAZZLING
COOL-CLIMATE SAUVIGNON BLANCS AND OTHER RISING
STARS- INCLUDING PINOT NOIR AND RIESLING - THE
PROVINCE IS BECOMING A MAGNET TO WINE LOVERS,
TOURISTS AND INVESTORS.
THE LARGEST AREA OF WINE ACTIVITY IS THE WAIRAU
VALLEY, A BROAD PLAIN EDGED BY THE DARK, BLUE
RICHMOND RANGES TO THE NORTH AND THE TAWNY FLANKS
OF THE WITHER HILLS IN THE SOUTH. ROWS OF
GRAPEVINES MARCH ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE HERE AS
WELL AS IN THE NEIGHBOURING AWATERE VALLEY WHERE
THE SNOW CAPPED MT TAPUE-O-NUKU STANDS SENTINEL.
THE FERTILE ALLUVIAL SOILS WHICH MAKE MARLBOROUGH
WINES SO SPECIAL AND ALSO GROW CHERRIES, GARLIC,
OLIVES AND OTHER PRIME PRODUCE, WERE DEPOSITED BY
THE WAIRAU AND AWATERE RIVERS WHICH CONTINUE TO
PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED IRRIGATION. FROM THE
MOUNTAINS, THE WAIRAU WEAVES ACROSS THE PLAINS
WHILE THE AWATERE HAS CUT DEEPLY INTO SOFT PAPA
ROCK AS IT FLOWS TO THE EAST COAST WHERE PACIFIC
WAVES POUND THE ROCKY SHORELINE.
THERE ARE MANY ORGANISED TOURIST ACTIVITIES, BUT
YOU CAN ALSO CREATE YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE OF
MARLBOROUGH*S ENVIRONMENT. FOR EXAMPLE, TASTING
THE FRUITS OF THE SURROUNDING EARTH SERVED UP
WITH A DOLLOP OF CITY SOPHISTICATION AT RELAXED
CAFES AND WINERIES, CYCLING FROM VINEYARD TO
VINEYARD, WALKING BESIDE THE PICTURESQUE TAYLOR
RIVER, CLIMBING THE WITHER HILLS FOR VIEWS ACROSS
THE WAIRAU VALLEY, CLOUDY BAY AND TO THE NORTH
ISLAND OR STROLLING IN THE NEWLY REFURBISHED
TOWNS OF BLENHEIM, PICTON AND HAVELOCK WHERE
HUSTLE AND BUSTLE ARE A WORLD AWAY.
THE MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS IN THE NORTH ARE A
COMPLETE CONTRAST TO INLAND MARLBOROUGH. HERE
ANCIENT DROWNED RIVER VALLEYS CREATE A LANDSCAPE
OF HIDDEN BAYS AND BUSH-CLAD HILLSIDES LAPPED BY
THE GLEAMING SEA. THE BEAUTY, SERENITY AND
REJUVENATING POWERS OF THIS TIMELESS LANDSCAPE
CAN BE APPRECIATED THROUGH BUSH WALKING, BOATING
OR SIMPLY ENJOYING THE VIEWS AND AMBIENCE.
FURTHER SOUTH, ON THE EAST COAST, THE TOWN OF
KAIKOURA PERCHES ON A ROCKY PENINSULA BESIDE ONE
OF THE NATURAL WONDERS OF THE WORLD- THE KAIKOURA
CANYON WHICH SLICES ONE KILOMETRE THROUGH THE
CONTINENTAL SHELF SURROUNDING NEW ZEALAND. HERE
DEEP SEA TRENCHES TEAM WITH A RICH VARIETY OF
MARINE FLORA AND FAUNA INCLUDING WHALES, DOLPHINS
AND CRAYFISH.
MARLBOROUGH WINES EARNED 188 MILLION DOLLARS IN
THE LAST YEAR BUT THE OPTIMISM AND GROWTH IN THE
PROVINCE IS EVEN MORE DIVERSE AND BROAD BASED.
TOURISM * 130 MILLION P/A*, PASTORAL FARMING
* 114 MILLION P/A * MUSSELS * 90 MILLION P/A* AND
FORESTRY * 50 MILLION P/A* ARE ALL PROSPERING AND
THERE ARE MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO INVEST IN A PIECE
OF THE ACTION.
THE REGION BASKS IN MORE THAN 2400 SUNSHINE HOURS
PER ANNUM. AWASH WITH SUN AND A WONDERFUL QUALITY
OF LIGHT, THE MELLOW LANDSCAPE ENCOURAGES A
RELAXED AND DEEPLY SATISFYING LIFESTYLE.
MARLBURIANS ARE PEOPLE OF THE LAND. LIVING AND
WORKING IN SUCH A MAGNIFICENT CLIMATE AND
ENVIRONMENT MEANS THEY HAVE A HEALTHY RESPECT FOR
NATURE AND WHILE THEY MAY ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE,
NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY, THEY REMAIN
FIRMLY ROOTED IN THE RICH, PLENTIFUL MARLBOROUGH
SOIL. STAY A WHILE, EXPLORE SOME OUR WEBSITE AND
EXPERIENCE WHAT MAKES MARLBOROUGH SPECIAL TO US.
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