The Marlborough - Boutique Hotel & Vineyard

When we arrived we were looked after carefully by Vee who also introduced us to her manager Macey and we had a feeling then that we were not in for a “usual” hotel experience This boutique hotel only has 10 bedrooms but oooooozes quality both in facilities and also service. Arriving tired after journeying down from Lake Taupo we were told that we must go to the “Chapel” after we had showered and freshened up before dinner - for pre-dinner drinks This used to be a nuns convent - so going for “Prinks” in the Chapel I knew would be interesting Sure enough - the drinks menu included “the confession” , “the sinner” , “communion” etc etc So naturally I had to start with a “sinner” before sitting down outside in front of the roaring fire with other guests before we went to dinner, which was (needless to say) amazing And so it was for the rest of our stay - amazing with another manager Loren making sure the heated pool was ready for our morning exercise before our sumptuous breakfast

This hotel is an experience. The grounds are stunning. Everywhere you look is beauty. Don’t miss the hydranga walking trail. The rooms are large with luxury appointments. The staff are 10 star and what makes this place so exceptional. The food is delicate and exquisite. And of course, the wine is plentiful and delish.

Such wonderful service! From the moment we checked in we were met on a first name basis , treated as family the entire stay and greeted with smiles at every turn. Both the day and night managers were genuinely happy to be there and enjoyed not only their jobs but meeting guests. We also had the privilege of spending time getting to know the owner, Angela, who is very hands on and it shows in the minor details. Our room was lovely and quiet , we enjoyed the wines in our rooms and the evening canapés/cocktails. The outdoor fireplace was lovely and Kareem, the night manager was more than happy to keep the fires burning. The breakfast crew with Lea was so attentive and the food was delicious , both breakfast and dinner. It was nice to have the heated pool available , and the convenience to town was another plus. A lovely venue with wonderful people working there , we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. This was also the first place we have stayed with a secret passage for guests.

My husband and I treated ourselves to the Marlborough Boutique Hotel during our honeymoon, and it was absolutely worth it. The exceptional experience started even before we arrived, with the staff going above and beyond to help us arrange tours and transfers—even last-minute ones! The bike tour they booked for us was so much fun, and the fact that they have a helipad on-site made it easy to combine a helicopter tour and transfer to our next hotel. When we arrived, the service was next-level. Our luggage was delivered straight to our room, we were greeted with prosecco, and they gave us a quick but thoughtful tour of the property. It was the perfect welcome. We loved the daily happy hour, where we got to mingle with other guests over drinks and hors d'oeuvres. With just 10 rooms, the hotel felt so intimate, and the personalized service really shone. Breakfast was delicious, and dinner at their restaurant was equally impressive. The room itself was stunning—by far the largest and most luxurious of our three-week New Zealand trip. We especially loved the wines provided in-room, which were made from the Marlborough vineyard and only available on-site (either in your room or at the restaurant). The housekeeping team did a fantastic job, and the evening turndown service added to the luxury. Marlborough Boutique Hotel really knows how to make you feel spoiled. Whether it’s the little details or the big ones like helicopter transfers, everything was perfect. This place is 10/10—we’d recommend it in a heartbeat and can’t wait to go back someday!

This was by far the most expensive stop on our trip but sadly didn’t live up to expectations. Just off the main road so the undoubtedly lovely surroundings were spoiled by traffic noise. Charming but inexperienced staff didn’t leave great impression on arrival. We so wanted to love it, but came away disappointed.