The Marlborough (also known as The Marlborough Lodge) is a small luxury hotel set on a 16-acre estate of gardens and working vineyard at 776 Rapaura Road, Rapaura, in the heart of the Marlborough wine region near Blenheim. With just ten rooms and an on-site restaurant, it is a boutique country-estate property suited to high-end leisure stays, small executive retreats, incentive groups and exclusive-use gatherings rather than large conferences.
The main building is a Victorian convent originally built in 1901 for the Sisters of Mercy. It was later relocated to its present site at Rapaura and has been preserved to retain its original character. The property was renovated to create the current ten-suite luxury lodge, combining the heritage building with contemporary interiors.
The hotel offers ten contemporary luxury rooms, each with a spacious ensuite and balcony access, and views over the gardens and vineyard. Rooms differ in decor and layout. Check-in is from 2pm and check-out is at 11am.
Dining is at Harvest, the on-site restaurant, which focuses on seasonal gourmet produce from the Marlborough region and beyond. A distinguishing feature of the kitchen is its Mibrasa charcoal oven, and the hotel states a commitment to sustainability and locally sourced ingredients, including produce from its own garden. There is also a bar on site — the former chapel space — which opens out to a large outdoor fireplace, giving the property a natural gathering point for pre-dinner drinks and evening functions.
The hotel displays a Qualmark 5 Star Gold Sustainable Tourism Business Award and a Cuisine Good Food Guide 2025 One-Hatted badge for its restaurant.
The estate is roughly 10 minutes from Blenheim Airport and 15 minutes from Blenheim township, with easy access to State Highway 1 towards Christchurch and State Highway 6 towards Nelson. Nearby attractions promoted by the hotel include Marlborough vineyard visits and wine tastings, cruises in the Marlborough Sounds, the Queen Charlotte Track and the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre.
The Marlborough does not publish dedicated conference rooms or delegate capacities. Its relevance to the business events market is as a small-scale exclusive-use property: ten rooms, a restaurant, a bar with outdoor fireplace and 16 acres of private grounds make it a natural fit for board retreats, senior leadership offsites, incentive rewards for small groups, and private dinners built around Marlborough food and wine experiences. Organisers planning anything of scale should confirm meeting-space arrangements, exclusive-use terms and group catering directly with the property.
Capacity
No spaces listed for this property yet.