Blenheim with Kids: The Complete Family Guide to Marlborough, New Zealand
Blenheim is located in the heart of the Marlborough wine region, which is one of the most famous wine producing areas in NZ. Turns out it is also a fun place to take kids, too!
Marlborough’s wineries have something most don’t: sprawling lawns, dedicated playgrounds, genuinely welcoming staff, and the kind of unhurried outdoor space where children can run free while adults actually relax with a glass of world-famous Sauvignon Blanc.
When we were looking for kid-friendly wineries to try in Blenheim, we prioritized places with outdoor space for our toddler to play while the adults enjoyed a glass of wine — and Blenheim delivered on every count.
And that’s before we even got to the World War I aircraft museum, the riverside miniature railway, the outstanding playground at Pollard Park, and one of New Zealand’s most significant archaeological sites just down the road.
Here’s what you need to know to plan your trip!
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Jump To...
- Why visit Blenheim with kids
- Getting there
- What to pack
- Wairau River Wines
- The Vines Village
- Nautilus Estate
- Ride the Riverside Railway
- Find the playground at Pollard Park
- Where To Eat
- Where to stay with kids in Blenheim
Why Visit Blenheim with Kids
Blenheim is a wonderful family-friendly destination for:
Our Experience
- Destination: Blenheim, NZ
- age of our kid: 18 months
- Length of stay: 2 Days
- time of year: December
Quick Tips
Before You go
- Check the weather - it can change quickly.
- Rent a car or get tickets for the train in advance
What To Pack
- Passports
- Standard diaper bag essentials
- Sunscreen - it is NZ's sunniest city!
- Camera
- Ergobaby or soft baby carrier, most of Sintra is cobble stone streets and using a stroller would be difficult
Getting There
Blenheim is about a 30 minute drive from Picton, or a 4 hour drive from Christchurch.
You can also catch the Coastal Pacific train from Christchurch – a scenic train journey along New Zealand’s coast through kaikōura and clifftop tunnels. We didn’t do this, but it sounded amazing!
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Family-Friendly Wineries in Blenheim
Our top three recommended wineries in Blenheim that were safe, fun, and welcoming for families
Wairau River Wines
Wairau River winery is known for their Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, which happen to be my favorite wine.
We decided to visit this winery to taste their delicious wines and try their restaurant for lunch. The staff allowed us to sit our toddler on top of the bar while we wine tasted, were very friendly with our little one, and laughed as we practiced “cheers” with each other (our toddler gave a “clink” with her water bottle, of course).
Lunch and the suggested wine pairings were served on long picnic tables with shade on the outdoor patio, with views of green grass and vines all around. When our toddler was done eating and ready to move, we walked her around the grounds and through a display of outdoor sculptures.
The Vines Village
If you’re looking for a less formal way to explore the Malborough wine region, check out the Vines Village.
It is a smorgasbord of restaurants and wine cellars, all with outdoor seating on a lake.
We stopped here to grab dessert at the Vines Café Larder and Gifts and play on the playground.
Nautilus Estate
Nautilus Estate is located just across the street from Waiaru Wines.
It is a small winery, with a small tasting room, and tasty wines.
We arrived right when it opened and were the only wine tasters at the time. The wine staff were very friendly with our little family, and very patient with me while I took my wine outside to entertain our kiddo.
For some reason, our toddler loved playing with the decorative rocks just outside the front door of the winery. I loved the Chardonnay so much that we took home a few bottles as gifts.
Top things to do
If you’re not into wineries, or are looking for something else fun to do – check out these kid-friendly activities in Blenheim
Riverside Railway
Great to learn about local Indigenous history
- $23 Adults | $11 Child for both train lines
- 2 hours
Steam trains, railcars, diesel locomotives – if your kid is a train fan, they will be thrilled by this park!
Our kid was only 18 months, but she (and her grown-ups) loved riding on all of the trains.
Pollard Park
Great to learn about local Indigenous history
- $23 Adults | $11 Child for both train lines
- 2 hours
Take a stroll along the many walkways of Pollard Park with your kids in Blenheim. Make sure you check out the rose garden, and the playground.
Where to Eat in
Blenheim with Kids
Wairau River Estate Wines Restaurant
Beautiful outdoor seating with delicious estate-grown produce, you can’t miss spending a day with your family enjoying food and wine in the summer NZ sun.
Lucky for us, the food came quickly and our kiddo had space to roam while we enjoyed our wine.
Vines Cafe
Enjoy $20 box lunches to enjoy on a picnic with your family.
Our kiddo loved eating lunch here while we enjoyed a glass of wine at the Vines Village.
History Corner
Blenheim sits in the heart of Te Tau Ihu — the Māori name for the top of the South Island, meaning “the prow of the canoe of Māui.”
The Ōpaoa River — which winds through modern Blenheim — was an important food source and part of daily life for Māori, and the Wairau Bar at its mouth is considered by many archaeologists to be the first settlement in Aotearoa, where New Zealand’s earliest inhabitants arrived some 800 years ago.
According to local iwi Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Rārua and Rangitāne o Wairau, the Ōpaoa River has been a landmark on a major travel and trading route for centuries — the very waterway that now meanders past Blenheim’s cafés and parks.
The Wairau Valley is also the site of the Wairau Affray of 1843 — one of the most significant and sobering events in New Zealand colonial history. Nine Māori and 22 Europeans died in what was the first serious armed clash between Māori and British settlers after the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The dispute arose over Wairau land that had been included in a fraudulent deed by European settlers, which Ngāti Toa rangatira Te Rauparaha and Te Rangihaeata tried to protect for their people — and in 1844 the rangatira were officially found to be right: the Wairau had not been sold.
Today Blenheim and Marlborough are home to a growing Pacific Islander and Filipino community whose members work across the region’s wine, food, and hospitality industries — making the Marlborough food scene one of the most quietly multicultural in the South Island.
Our Experience
We were one of the few BIPOC families traveling in Blenheim at the time of this writing. All staff, predominantly white, were friendly and kind to us during our stay.
Learn More
- Learn more about the host iwi Rangitāne o Wairau, click here
- To support the community, consider donating to Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu
Antiracist Travel Considerations
Where to stay in Blenheim with Kids
Although there are many options of places to stay in this region, we decided to try a farmstay.
Great for clean accommodations and peaceful stay | $$
- free breakfast
- close to wineries
- pool
The Antares Homestay is a treat – the accomodations are nothing to brag about, but the peaceful farm surrounding you seals the deal. We felt truly immersed in the Blenheim wine life when we woke up to the beautiful grounds surrounding the property.
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Looking for more?
Browse our list of local New Zealand author children’s books recommendations.
Final Thoughts
The Blenheim wine scene did not disappoint. We were happy to find at least a couple wineries that had ample outdoor space and welcomed families like ours. While we saw other families enjoying the sunshine and wine at both of these wineries, we did not meet any other families of color.
Evenso, as a mixed race family I felt overall safe and welcome at the wineries we attended. Staff were always kind and flexible with our toddler, and even let her sit at the bar with us to “cheers” our wine glasses or water bottles, for the toddler, of course.
I only wish I had more room in my luggage to bring home more wine!
Have you been to Blenheim to wine taste with your kids in tow? Where are your favorite places to take your family? Share in the comments below.
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