Blenheim

Blenheim/Waiharakeke has an abundance of great cafés, restaurants, shops and galleries both in the central business area and along the Taylor River Reserve. The township is an area that is easiest to explore by walking. There are beautiful areas for picnics, Pollard Park being a world-class botanical garden with a playground, golf course and exercise trail (and mushrooms at times during the year!). Despite the small population (28,700) and large number of supermarkets, Blenheim has a well supported greengrocer that sells local produce, a small fish market, a whole-carcass butcher who only deals in free-range animals, a wild game company servicing chefs up and down the country and several organic stores in the central area. The Marlborough Farmers' Market is held at the A&P Showgrounds every Sunday morning all year round. The Marlborough Artisan Market is on every Saturday over summer. Several times over summer, central Blenheim is partially closed off to create large festive markets for the different events in the calendar year.