The Marlborough

Built in 1901 for the Sisters of Mercy, the building that is now The Marlborough spent most of a century as a convent before being restored as a country hotel. It stands on sixteen acres of mature parkland and working vines, ten minutes from Blenheim airport and fifteen from the town, in the middle of the district that made New Zealand sauvignon blanc famous.

Ten suites are spread over two floors, all with large ensuites and balcony access; the Premium Suites are the most generous. The original architecture has been kept - high ceilings, timber, deep sash windows - without the interiors feeling like a museum.

Evenings start with canapes and drinks around the outdoor fireplace and move to the Harvest Restaurant, which cooks with Marlborough produce and pours from cellar doors you could walk to. A seasonal outdoor pool sits in the gardens. Cloudy Bay, Framingham and dozens of other wineries are within a short drive, and the Marlborough Sounds are an hour north.