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Festival weekend planner

Marlborough Wine & Food Festival — a 3-day weekend in Marlborough

Second Saturday of February. Blenheim, New Zealand.

The weekend, day by day

  1. Day 1

    Arrive in Blenheim

    Land at Blenheim Airport (BHE), settle in and walk the old town in the afternoon. Light dinner near your accommodation — save your appetite for the festival day.

  2. Day 2

    Marlborough Wine & Food Festival

    Festival day — arrive early to avoid the lunchtime crowd. Pace yourself across the tastings and break for a long lunch mid-afternoon.

  3. Day 3

    Wine country day in Marlborough

    Use the third day for a single winery visit (booked ahead) and a long lunch before heading home.

Where to stay

  • Hotels in Blenheim

    Live availability around the festival dates. Festival hotels book out 6+ months ahead, so check early.

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Practical

Nearest airport
Blenheim Airport (BHE)
Festival site
Visit official site

Insider tip

Seek out the small-production Sauvignon Blanc tables from Greywacke and Cloudy Bay's experimental batches—they rarely appear elsewhere. Book a Thursday evening pre-festival tasting at a boutique producer like Fromm or Seresin; the festival crowd doesn't hit until Friday, giving you private access to winemakers.

Want a longer trip than the festival weekend?

The milestone-trip planner builds a 3–10 day Marlborough itinerary with accommodation, tours, and pacing options.

Plan a Marlborough trip →