Blenheim.

Riverlea Racecourse, Blenheim. A very popular Pop over camp

Today we took the opportunity to take a good look around Blenheim instead of the usual fleeting glance as you pass on the way south. The town is at the heart of the Marlborough District Wine Trail where there are 44 wineries specialising in all sorts of different wines. A wine connoisseurs mecca with tours, restaurants and accommodation thrown in for good measure.

The Vines complex, Blenheim. A group of specialised boutique shops.

An Oriental Quilt on sale at $999.

We visited the Vines shopping centre where we sampled locally produced Fudge and purchased small amounts of nougat fudge and Baileys flavoured fudge plus some pear drops, yum. Another speciality shop selling everything for Quilters was a draw card with some finished Quilts on sale from $500 up to $1200. The one we liked had an Oriental flavour with 2 Manchurian Cranes and flowers and was priced at $999. We will have to win something on Lotto to afford that but it was beautiful.

Carved bears out of solid tree trunks. Very realistic.

Marlborough War Memorial, Blenheim. Closed off due to earthquake risks.

Marlborough River Queen. Out of action due to gearbox failure.

River Taylor passing through the centre of Blenheim.