Steve and Jo Hill are the hosts at Hillsfield House, they provide  truly unique, boutique, luxury accommodation in the heart of the Wairau Valley in the Marlborough region.

The Courtyard Cottage has a  private entrance  all of its own so you can make yourselves at home and come and go as you please.   It also boasts a  cosy lounge and dining area on the ground floor, along with a country-styled kitchenette.

Upstairs, a romantic master bedroom  awaits you with a four poster bed  and its own bathroom, stocked with beautiful hand-made soaps and bath toiletries.

The Marlborough region is one where the finer things in life can be enjoyed at a wonderfully relaxed pace.

The first sight many have of the region is as they cruise through the Marlborough Sounds to Picton on the Inter-island ferry from  Wellington.  This is just a small taste of the beauty of the Sounds.

Created when the sea inundated and flooded an ancient river system, the Marlborough Sounds are a seemingly endless network of convoluted waterways, bays, coves and islands. Being sheltered from the open sea, the sounds are perfect for cruising and kayaking and the islands and headlands within them are crisscrossed by fabulously scenic and peaceful walking tracks such as the Nydia and the famous Queen Charlotte.

To reward you after your kayaking and walking exertions, you are perfectly placed in New Zealand’s largest wine producing area to relax with a refreshing glass of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, which is now regarded throughout the world as the benchmark for this varietal and is mainly produced in the Marlborough region along with Chardonnay, Riesling and Methode Champenoise.

There are more than 50 wineries in the area around Blenheim and Renwick and, as many are located in close proximity to one another along the back roads, they are ideal for cycle touring and creating your own tasting trail. You may need to walk home afterwards though!