Located in the heart of Marlborough wine country, Blenheim is known as a hub for wine tourism.

With more than 50 wineries located along the town’s edges and many more within a short driving distance, it’s hard to imagine visiting here and not imbibing.

The region is also famous for the annual Marlborough Wine and Food Festival, held in February each year at the Brancott Estate.

However wine tasting and tours aren’t the only attraction in Blenheim, there are lots of other fun activities to occupy your time while visiting.

Where to Stay

Sunny Blenheim is a great place to base yourself to explore the Marlborough region.

Stay at Blenheim TOP 10 and introduce yourselves to friendly hosts Arnold and Chile Kremer. Hire bikes from the park to explore the town, or do your very own winery tour, equipped with your phone’s GPS, a local map and winery guide.

Cycle through the quiet countryside and explore the vast array of wineries in the district. There are plenty of wineries within 10 km of Blenheim and  the roads are flat, so you don’t need to be a trained cyclist to enjoy yourself. Choose a sunny day and head out with friends, as a group or solo, either way you are guaranteed to have plenty of fun.

Your other TOP 10 option in the region is Picton TOP 10 Holiday Park, located at the head of Queen Charlotte Sound, which gives you access to the Marlborough region as well as the beautiful Marlborough Sounds, and of course the Cook Strait Ferry terminal for travelers heading to the North Island.

1. The River Queen Riverboat cruises

Iconic to Blenheim, the River Queen is a family owned and operated river boat that travels up and down the Opawa River. Relax on the purpose built boat as you wine and dine while enjoying the peaceful journey along the most scenic sections of the river. Even when the River Queen isn’t traveling, you can pop in while she’s moored at the dock for coffee and light refreshments.

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2. Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre

Peter Jackson, Wingnut Films and Weta Workshop came together to produce this amazing attraction which is also filled with rare and unique memorabilia and dramatic depictions of past war-time events. The showmanship and quality of the exhibitions at Omaka is enough to captivate any visitor and incite an interest in aviation. This is a definite must-do!

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3. The Millennium Art Gallery

Located right in the centre of Blenheim, the Millennium Art Gallery is filled with stunning art ranging from photography and paintings to sculptures and crafts. The Millennium Art Gallery is dedicated to hosting and promoting locally produced exhibitions, making this the perfect stop for anyone who wants to see the direct result of the area’s scenery on the artistic imagination.

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4. Blenheim Dive Centre

Sure, the town itself is landlocked, but that’s not say you can’t organise a great diving trip from Blenheim. For scuba diving, free-diving or spearfishing, pop into the Blenheim Dive Centre. Operating for over two decades, the crew cater for experienced divers as well as first-timers. With a variety of dive options, including the famous ‘Koi’ dive you’ll find a great dive to suit you. One of the most popular options is the ‘Twin Wrecks’ dive, which will take you to see the Koi—a sunken 84ft steamer that once plied the waters of the Nelson region during the early 1900’s.

5. Makana Confections

Wine isn’t the only indulgence in the region. To satisfy your sweet tooth, pay a visit to Makana Confections. This company produces fine, gourmet chocolates and candies. From Marlborough Pinot Noir Truffles to chocolate dipped apricots, you’ll find some great treats to share (or not).

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6. Delights for Connoisseurs of Caffeine and Gourmet Foods

Hunters Garden Cafe is nestled in a picturesque garden setting at the famous Hunters Winery, allowing diners to enjoy an alfresco meal with a glass or two of Hunters’ best.

The Fix Cafe in Market Street is regarded to have the best coffee in Blenheim as well as great food for a light lunch or anytime break.

Figaro’s is another great place for coffee, with the added bonus of a great little tapas menu for Friday nights. Figaros are licensed, so you can choose from a selection of beers and great Marlborough wines to have with your meal.

If you are in Blenheim over a weekend, one of the best ways to sample all of the local gourmet delights is a visit to the Marlborough Farmers Market on a Sunday morning. Stallholders sell everything from oysters to empanadas, locally grown pinenuts to Riverina almonds and figs.

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With school holiday season over, now is the time that many in the know choose to take their annual break, with plenty of summer days and daylight saving left to make the most of.

If you haven’t yet planned your annual “escape”, why not consider a trip to the very beautiful Fiordland region at the bottom of New Zealand’s South Island.

Fiordland is one of New Zealand’s most famous regions, notable especially for the stunning Milford and Doubtful Sounds. These fiords, in which waterfall festooned mountains rise dramatically from the water, are considered among the world’s top tourism destinations, and a regular drawcard for tourists.

Though many visitors come through the area with only enough time to take a boat tour, there is plenty to see and do. The charming town of Te Anau makes a great base for some of Fiordland’s finest activities.

Where to Stay

The award winning Te Anau TOP 10 is a great choice for a base if you are planning to spend some time in this spectacular part of New Zealand.

Boating

Of course, there’s no sense in coming all the way to Fiordland and not taking a boat tour of the Sounds. Spend a day at Milford Sound, or take an overnight trip to Doubtful Sound which takes you right out to the Tasman Sea, to get an understanding of why so many people have listed the region as a must-see destination.

You can also choose to see the Sounds via sea kayak. Tour operators Sea Kayak Fiordland will pick you up in Te Anau and take you on day or multi-day kayaking trips to explore the area.

Tramping

Fiordland is home to some of New Zealand’s best tramping trails, including three of the country’s nine ‘Great Walks’: the Milford, Routeburn and Kepler Tracks. All of these are multi-day tramps, and should be booked in advance as the trails and huts get crowded in the summer. Experienced hikers looking for a less popular, but equally beautiful trail, might also enjoy the Dusky Track or the George Sound Track.

If you only have a few hours to spare, rather than days, take a look at the Key Summit (part of the Routeburn Track) or Lake Marian Tracks—you can get a look at the area’s beautiful scenery and still be back in time for dinner. There are even shorter walks around Te Anau, including a trip to the Te Anau Wildlife Centre.

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Wildlife: Native Birds and Glowworms

The Te Anau Wildlife Centre, operated by the Department of Conservation, is a great opportunity to see some of New Zealand’s endangered, native birds. The enclosures are scattered around the park, giving you the opportunity to stretch your legs while you view the birds. You might even see a rare takahe.

In addition to native birdlife, the caves around Lake Te Anau are populated by tiny, luminescent glow worms. Book an evening Glowworm tour for a memorable outing.

Lake Manapouri Power Station

Close to Lake Te Anau is the equally beautiful Lake Manapouri, home to New Zealand’s largest hydro power station. Take a trip across the lake for a guided tour of the underground station – but make sure you take plenty of insect repellent, the blackflies (sandflies) are prolific on the far side of the lake.

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Eating and Drinking

Not known as a cultural capital, it comes as a surprise to many visitors that there are so many excellent dining options available in Te Anau. The Fat Duck and The Ranch Bar & Grill are area favourites. Be sure to try locally farmed venison while you are in the area, as well as a glass of Otago Pinot Noir.

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Located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by spectacular mountain ranges, Queenstown has the perfect combination of snow, clear mountain air, river rapids and lofty peaks and bridges to create the perfect playground for anyone who loves an adrenaline rush!

But Queenstown is not just for young thrillseekers who want to jump off bridges during the day and party all night – this is a great place for families too.

Where to Stay in Queenstown

When you are looking for accommodation in Queenstown, TOP 10 has two great options to choose from: Queenstown Top 10 and Shotover Top 10. The Queenstown park is located just a five minute walk from the town centre, while Shotover TOP 10 can be found on the other side of the Shotover River, about 6km from Queenstown on the road to Arrowtown.

So just depending on where you want to spend most of your holiday, take your pick of these two different locations and the range of accommodation options from campsites to fully equipped motel rooms to suit your budget and your style.

Adventure

Taking a ride on the Shotover Jet is a great way to start your Queenstown holiday – if you have kids who love rollercoaster rides and don’t mind getting wet, that is!

A slightly more sedate ride is the Skyline gondola to the top of Ben Lomond. At the top you can enjoy the views from the restaurant while you have a meal, or take a more adventurous turn with a jump off the AJ Hackett Ledge Bungy. And if your kids are keen on finding a different way down the mountain, you can each hop in your own three wheeler cart and head down the mountain on the luge – choose the Scenic track or the Advanced track, depending on your comfort level.

The AJ Hackett team has also been expanding their offering, with the new Kawarau Bungy Trampoline being a great, affordable option for adults and children. It’s one of Queenstown’s newest attractions and is open to anyone over the age of two and between 10kg and 90kgs. The Kawarau Bungy Trampoline is on SH6 in the Gibbston Valley, just a 20 minute drive from Queenstown.

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Hot Pools

Other family fun activities you can explore during your stay include the Onsen Hot Pools high on the cliffs overlooking the Shotover River Canyon – a different hot pool experience, with private cedar hot pools equipped with retractable roof and walls so you can soak up the stars or the alpine views.

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Fun in the Snow

If you’re visiting on a winter break, of course there are the usual fun activities up at Coronet Peak and the Remarkables, but for something different, you can go on a guided snowshoeing trip.

On a full or half day trip, you can experience some of Queenstown’s most beautiful wide open spaces, far from the hectic ski fields. Walk across unbroken snow, without sinking up to your waist, wearing the modern version of snowshoes – and no they don’t look like old tennis rackets anymore!

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Movie Locations

The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy is one of the things New Zealand is most famous for in recent years, and much of the footage was filmed in this part of the world. Take the family out on a unique Lord of the Rings 4WD tour with Paradise Safaris – taking you through Glenorchy into beautiful Paradise Valley.

You’ll see movie locations including Isengard, Lothlorien Forest, Ithlien Camp, Amon Hen and the Misty Mountains. You’ll also see locations from X-Men Origins: Wolverine, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Water Horse, Willow and more.

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Free Time, Golf, Wine, Food and Movies

Any family holiday needs a good mix of “paid” adventures, alongside some cheaper days out, and the Queenstown area is the perfect place to simply head out with water bottles and a picnic lunch to go walking, mountain biking, swimming, and enjoying the great outdoors.

Mum and dad might also want to indulge in a few rounds of golf, some wine tasting at the many local vineyards and of course, some great shopping, interspersed with excellent coffee.

Cafés and restaurants abound in Queenstown itself, and nearby Arrowtown makes for a great day trip, experiencing some of this historic gold rush era town – again, the shops, cafes, museum and the fabulous Arrowtown movie theatre, Dorothy Browns.

One thing we can guarantee is that a week or two of holiday time in Queenstown will have you coming back for more.

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Famous for the growling sound they make, as much as for their gleaming good looks, Harley Davidson motorbikes have become an icon of freedom and the open road for owners around the world.

The Harley bike has captured the imagination of middle-class professionals like no other motorcycle or vehicle, representing the lure of the open road and the sense of community that Harley riders share with each other.

This month TOP 10 Holiday Parks around the country will enjoy some of that rumbling growl, as Harley owners take part in the Rolling Thunder Freedom Tour.

The tour wends its way south to Dunedin for the 2012 HOG nationals from Feb 10 – 16 and riders will be dropping into TOP 10 parks down the country to pick up tickets and stay the night.

HOG group members are encouraged to pick up tickets from each TOP 10 as they travel, and the more tickets they collect the greater their chances of winning prizes at the party hosted by Rolling Thunder on Thursday.

The national event itself happens over the weekend of February 17 – 19 and will draw around 1250 people and over a thousand bikes from all over New Zealand down to Dunedin. One of the highlights of the leadup to the weekend will be the Rolling Thunder ride from Palmerston into Dunedin on Friday the 16th.

“We are expecting at least 200 bikes to be making the ride into the city, which is always a great sight – and sound, for those nearby,” says Rolling Thunder organiser, Chris Ells.

“Lots of riders will be stopping off at the TOP 10 parks as they travel, which is something we are happy to encourage. There are TOP 10 parks all over the country and they all offer the same great experience, so we suggest our members make the most of what’s on offer – and get the chance to win some great prizes at the same time.”

If you’re a bike lover, or just enjoy a spectacle, keep an eye on the roads next week and give the HOGs a wave as they head south.

There’s nothing like a bit of show business razzle dazzle to brighten up your holiday break, so TOP 10 was happy to help the actors and directors behind 100% kiwi western movie Netherwood with their country-wide launch tour.

View the movie trailer.

Having locations all over New Zealand makes this a perfect match, and TOP 10 Holiday Parks were keen to accommodate the stars of this movie as they rolled it out around the country, in typical kiwi fashion.

The faces will be familiar to Shortland Street fans: Will Hall as the bad guy Mex (you’ll remember him as Kip Denton from Shorties) and the hero of the piece, Owen Black as Stan (Owen was Shortland St baddie Ethan Pierce). You’ll also recognise plenty of other familiar kiwi actors in the movie itself, including Miriama Smith and Peter Rowley.

And if you hail from North Canterbury, you’ll probably also recognise plenty of Waipara locals among the extras.

Netherwood is a fully independent 90 minute feature film homegrown in North Canterbury, a movie that never takes itself too seriously, and that’s the idea behind the roadshow as well.

Owen Hall’s vision for the regional screenings was of sausage sizzles, sheep, a green carpet made of astro turf. live band and plenty of sponsors beverages. He says each event will be a mini-premiere. The guys are wetting ticket holders whistles with a free Jim Beam, plus Brights’ bangers and burgers in each location.

Check out the listing below for all the dates Netherwood’s stars in the black King of Shaves Hummer – and the movie, will be in each location and keep track through the TOP 10 Facebook page for updates, comments from the stars, giveaways and more.

Tour Dates and Locations

Follow the Netherwood Movie

Offical website:
netherwoodmovie.wordpress.com

Netherwood movie on Facebook:
facebook.com/pages/Netherwood/184595964778

Netherwood movie on Twitter:
twitter.com/#!/Netherwoodmovie

Flicks movie review:
flicks.co.nz/movie/netherwood/

TOP 10 Holiday Parks on Facebook:
facebook.com/Top10HolidayParks

When it comes to the sorts of events you plan for as a holiday park owner, dealing with containers washing up on your beach is not normally high on the list, says Waihi Beach TOP 10 holiday resort owner, Ian Smith.

The sinking of the Rena has presented a unique set of challenges for one of the region’s most popular beaches and the tourism businesses that depend on it, but Ian says visitors have still been having a great holiday at the resort.

“We are set up for all weathers and all events here – with plenty of indoor activities, and our own swimming pool and spa area for when the beach is not at its usual standards and the Kids Club helping to keep the children occupied.

“Having those options has served us and our guests very well this summer.”

Ian says the debris washing ashore from the Rena has now been fully cleared from the beach and is hopeful that it will be less of a problem going forward.

“Local volunteers have been amazing at helping the authorities to clear the beach.

“Everyone here values the beachside environment and we do our best to protect it.”

Over the last few days, all the debris has been cleared, the sun has been shining as usual in the beautiful Bay of Plenty and the beach has been really busy with holidaymakers.

The resort has plenty of capacity for anyone still to take their summer holidays, and the best, most settled summer months are still stretching out ahead.

Check out availability at Waihi Beach TOP 10 .

Facing extreme weather events is the last thing any park owner wants, and unfortunately Brent and Del at Pohara TOP 10 have had more than their fair share in the lead up to Christmas – normally their busiest time of the year.

The good news is that over the last few weeks, the sun has been doing what it usually does best in this part of the world, and campers have been appreciating a long awaited break, especially those arriving from Christchurch.

Pohara is also a great example of how events like the recent flooding and heavy rains can really bring a community together, with the efforts of the locals who helped with removing silt and debris, and local Fonterra tanker drivers, who have been trucking fresh water to the park five to six times each day, making it possible for the park to keep running.

Pohara’s campers themselves have also done a brilliant job, by conserving fresh water to make sure there is enough to go round.

Park owner Brent says the saving has been impressive, going from the usual 200 litres per camper, down to just 73 litres per camper per day – which is pretty good in the middle of summer.

“These Cantabrians really know how to save water. The Fonterra drivers told us we would be surprised at how little Cantabrians can get by on after their experiences with the quakes, and we have been blown away.”

The two main water conservation measures have been removing the boat wash, with boat owners allowed to flush their engines only, and reducing shower times from 6 minutes to 4 minutes.

“We are saving 15,000 litres a day with the shower measure alone. Parents have been great at supervising their kids more in the showers, and people have been really good at self policing – even letting us know when they spotted water leaks in the park and helping us to fix them,” Brent said.

Still, summer goes on, with the very best Golden Bay has to offer being just as good as ever – namely awesome swimming and fishing in one of the most beautiful parts of New Zealand.

Canny holidaymakers often choose February when the weather is more settled to take their time off, so Pohara is looking forward to welcoming plenty more visitors over the next month or two, with the best of summer still ahead.

Brent says there is plenty of room in the park at the moment and still loads of great fishing to be had!

If you are thinking about escaping for the last weeks of the school holidays, or into February and March, you can easily check availability at Pohara Beach TOP 10 .

Many regular guests may have been disappointed at the prospect of not being able to enjoy their holidays in Golden Bay because of the recent flooding.

Great news from the team at Pohara TOP 10. The park has been completely cleaned up and looks fantastic. They hope to be ‘open for business as usual’ on Saturday, December 24th. Please check here for ongoing updates.

Brent and Del are looking forward to welcoming all their guests.

One of the most popular tourist routes around New Zealand’s South Island takes visitors down to the Southern Lakes – Wanaka and Wakatipu – two of the most beautiful parts of the country.

Wanaka has become a busy tourist town over the last 20 years or so, taking a lot of the holiday overflow as Queenstown has become more and more the commercial tourist resort with a focus on adventure activities.

The township of Wanaka has a slightly more laid back vibe than Queenstown, with a lot more holiday homes and fewer high priced eating and drinking establishments.

Ski Treble Cone and Cardrona

Over the winter season, and into early spring, the local skifields of Cardrona and Treble Cone are a huge drawcard, as is the Snowpark up the Cardrona Valley.

Over the warmer months (October to April) the Adventure Farm is perfect for anyone who loves the sound (and experience) of monster trucks and 4WD bikes going across country.

Venture into Puzzling World

If you have a family, they will love Puzzling World just outside Wanaka, where you can get lost in the maze, as you try to collect all the flags, or get completely confused in the Illusion Rooms, Tilted House and Ames Forced Perspective Room, where you get an insight into how the different sized characters were shot in Lord of the Rings.

Lake Wanaka

And of course, if you love to get out on the water, Lake Wanaka is perfect for boating, fishing and swimming. For the less adventurous, there are paddle boats for hire close to the shore.

There are plenty of arts and craft studios to discover, and of course you could spend your whole trip visiting and sampling the best vintages at the cellar doors of various local wineries.

Lake Hawea

Beautiful day trips abound, and it is worthwhile heading to nearby Lake Hawea, which many consider to be even more stunning, especially in Autumn with the changing colours of the trees and the alpine backdrop.

Cromwell and Lake Dunstan

If you are in the Southern Lakes area over summer, you might also want to spend some time based in Cromwell, close to the shores of Lake Dunstan and one of New Zealand’s best known areas for growing stonefruit – apricots, peaches and cherries in particular.

There are plenty of roadside stalls to buy your freshly picked fruit, as well as juices, and delicious dried fruit you can take home with you – if you can resist that long!

This is a historic part of New Zealand, tracking its settlement back to gold-rush days in Central Otago, so there are plenty of old gold mining remnants to be discovered, trails to hike and bike along and stories to be heard over a few pints of the local beer.

Where to Stay

And of course, there is the hospitality. Choose from quality Wanaka accommodation at the Wanaka TOP 10 Holiday Park or Cromwell TOP 10 Holiday Park and enjoy the best this beautiful part of the country has to offer.

The beautiful Hanmer Springs is located 65 kilometres southwest of Kaikoura (135 km by car). The township is built around a hot mineral spring which was created by a fractured rock bed along the Hanmer fault. It’s an increasingly popular tourist destination and is famous for its mountain views, relaxing hot pools and outdoor activities.

If you are traveling through the South Island, definitely pencil these 5 top Hanmer Springs attractions into your itinerary.

1. The Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa

Whether you are traveling as a family, couple or solo there is something to suit everyone at the famous Hanmer Springs thermal pools. Enjoy the healing properties of the rock and sulphur mineral pools which are renowned for soothing away aches and pains and creating the ultimate stress-free and relaxing experience.

There’s an extensive family area, complete with activities for the kids and adventurous water-slides, and the complex has recently been expanded to include more public and private pool options.

The complex also include the world class Hanmer Spa where you can indulge in luxurious massages, skin therapy or just about any beauty treatment you can think of.

2. Mountain biking

For a slightly more adventurous day out have a go at the scenic mountain biking tours through the Hanmer Forest. Jacks and Jollies Passes offer around 25 km of riding and are suitable for beginners.

The trip should take between 3.5 – 5.5 hours depending on your speed and the track is a mixture of uphill, downhill, sealed and unsealed tracks. The scenery is remarkable so don’t forget your camera!

3. Hanmer Forest Park walking tracks

If you feel your co-ordination isn’t up to mountain biking standards, a walk through Hanmer Forest Park could be a better option. The tracks are suitable from beginner levels and take around 2.5 hours for a return trip.

Depending on the track you choose there are waterfalls, astounding plantations and perfect spots for picnics. If you are walking with children, stick to the Conical Hill-Majuba-Woodland Walk, it is a short looped track of an easy grade and has several beautiful areas to stop and rest, as well as a great view of the Hanmer basin from the top.

4. Hanmer Horses

For a down-to-earth and memorable experience, enjoy a trek with Hanmer Horses. Located just 10 minutes from the Thermal Pools, Hanmer Horses offers a huge selection of treks through forestry, farm land and mountain streams. The horses are well trained and are matched to your experience and ability.

The treks themselves operate daily and range between 1 – 2.5 hours in length depending on weather conditions and the route taken. Better yet, these rides are suitable for all abilities and children over 5. The treks really bring you closer to nature and the views are simply spectacular.

5. Wai Ariki Farm Park

A unique farm park that isn’t only for kids, Wai Ariki farm is set on a 14 acre lifestyle block looking out over majestic mountain views. Suitable for the whole family, there’s a cafe, craft gallery and even a horse drawn taxi providing rides around the complex.

Children’s horse trekking is also offered for children 2 years and over – a great experience that parents can have as much or as little involvement in as they choose. The farm animals cover over 2 acres of land and there is lots for children to do, including pony rides and animal feeding experiences. For a fun family day out visit Wai Ariki Farm Park.

Where to stay

If you are planning to take some time out in Hanmer, the Hanmer TOP 10 Holiday Park offers a great choice of tent sites, motel accommodation and cabins.