Blenheim
Seymour Square
Only two minutes walk from Blenheim's town centre, the premier park, Seymour Square, is a picturesque park of carefully tended floral gardens, a 15 m high historic stone clock tower and a memorial fountain, which offers a spectacular multi-coloured display at night. Subtle lighting of significant features and soft bollard lighting of pathways enhance the picturesque nature of the square. Whether picnicking, strolling or taking time out, Seymour Square offers an ideal setting.
Location: Blenheim
Access: Seymour Street, Alfred Street, Henry Street or High Street.
Major event bookings required.
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Pollard Park
In easy walking distance from Seymour Square via a marked walkway, Blenheim's premier Pollard Park is Marlborough's showcase. Floral gardens, rose displays and native rockeries border an attractive stream, which meanders through 24.6 ha of wooded parkland and golf course. Walkways, a fitness trail, casual seating and an extensive playground all add to visitors' enjoyment of this attractive urban park.
It also boasts a great lighting display which highlights trees and special features from November to April each year. Also available to use for free are two electric BBQ hot plates - please be mindful of others wanting to use these facilities.
Location: Blenheim
Access: Parker Street or McLauchlan Street
Croquet
Situated within Pollard Park with access off Parker Street, the courts are west of the flower gardens and main park entrance. Played mainly as a summer sport and managed by the Blenheim Croquet Club, the courts host competitions and enjoy social games on four grass courts. If you want to play a game a contact number can be found on the front door of the Pavilion building.
Location: Blenheim
Access: Parker Street
Blenheim Golf Course - Pollard Park
Surrounded by mature English oaks and plane trees, the Blenheim Golf Course is one of Marlborough's attractive nine hole courses. Being located in the centre of the Blenheim urban area and of level terrain, this course caters for golfers of all ages and abilities.
Location: Blenheim.
Access: Parker Street.
Sports and events bookings required.
Tennis
Fifteen courts situated within Pollard Park and next to the croquet courts with car park access off Parker street. Two courts are sand based artificial grass and 13 are painted asphalt. There is a green fee charge and arrangements are required to collect a key. Check the notice board on the entrance gate.
Location: Blenheim
Access: Parker Street
Bocce
Four crushed lime chip Bocce courts can be found beside the Tennis courts. The public is welcome to turn up with their bocce (balls) at any time of year to play free of charge.
Location: Blenheim
Access: Parker Street
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Wither Hills Farm Park
A working sheep and cattle farm covering 1,100 ha, the premier Wither Hills Farm Park extends the full length of the southern boundary of the Blenheim urban area, offering a magnificent recreational opportunity for locals and visitors alike. The park boasts an extensive network of walkways and tracks including a 3.8 km mountain bike park that guides you to a variety of tree-lined valleys and breathtaking hill-top vantage points overlooking Blenheim, Wairau basin and lagoons, and the North Island.
Location: Wither Hills, Blenheim
Access: Taylor Pass Road, Rifle Range Place, Forest Hills Drive, Solway Drive, Weld Street, Redwood Street, Dry Hills Lane or Cob Cottage Road.
Emergency locator coordinates have been placed around the Wither Hills Farm Park.
Major event bookings required.
Track Upgrade and Improvements
Wither Hills Farm Park and Taylor River Track users are advised that upgrade and improvements are underway.
Mountain Bike Park
New sections of track have been constructed with the assistance of Simon Bowers and Mark Gibbon from the Mountain Bike Club.
The Rifle Range Mountain Bike Track has been extended. This track can now be ridden from Rifle Range carpark through to almost Redwood Street.
For further information contact the Reserves Section on Ph: 520 7400.
Wither Hills Walking/Bike Tracks Map (1,670 Kb)
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Ballinger Park in the heart of Riversdale, is a reserve planted for and by the community. These plantings are now well established providing a great frame for this reserve. The park includes the longest and highest slide in Blenheim plus wooden structures linking two large soil mounds.
Its neighbours include Nelson-Marlborough Institute of Technology, Marlborough Community Gardens and Nga Puawai Te Kohanga Reo.
Location: Blenheim.
Access: Ballinger Drive off Budge Street.
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Large historic trees create a wonderful ambience for playing or picnicking in this peaceful reserve.
Location: Burleigh Blenheim.
Access: Burleigh Road.
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This small park allows access to the Opawa River and walkway. The park includes four protected mature walnut trees.
Location: Blenheim.
Access: Endeavour Street.
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This reserve is home to four impressive large trees, with a small playground and the Provincial Guides hut.
Location: Blenheim.
Access: Eltham Road.
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This large park is being developed using a Japanese park theme. It also provides open space for play and picnicking and walking access to the Wither Hills Farm Park.
Location: Blenheim.
Access: Howick Road.
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Henderson Street Reserve
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This small park allows access to the Opawa River and walkway. The park includes a swing set and seat beneath a mature tree.
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An old plum orchard bounded by Murphys Creek on one side and by walnut trees on the other three. The orchard has been under-planted with a large collection of daffodils.
Location: Blenheim.
Access: Orchard Lane, Aston Street or Ward Street.
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Sheps' Park
The consultation phase of this exciting project has now been completed by Pocock Environmental.
From the consultation Pocock Environmental have drawn up a development plan for the park.
Links have been provided below.
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Floodplain land, long in length, giving ramp and wharf access to the Opawa River.
Location: Riverlands.
Access: State Highway 1.
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This small, tree-studded historic park is located beside a meandering stream.
Location: Blenheim.
Access: Corner of Middle Renwick Road and Battys Road.
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This reserve runs from the base of the Wither Hills Farm Park (Redwood Street) to Whitehead Park (Brooklyn Drive) and provides a walk/bike link between these parks. It is also a designated dog exercise area and a flood control catchment area in times of heavy rain, meaning the reserve will be inaccessible when in flood.
Location: Blenheim.
Access: Redwood Street, Brooklyn Drive and Alabama Road.
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Built in 1965 to control flooding within Blenheim, the dam reserve has become a sanctuary for teal, black swan, pukeko and duck. This attractive setting is an excellent place to picnic, play or walk.
Location: Blenheim.
Access: Taylor Pass Road.
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Approximately 4.6 km of concrete paths snake their way on both sides of the Taylor River providing walking/biking access from Brayshaw Park/New Renwick Road to Purkiss Street, Nelson Street and Hutcheson Street. It provides a safe off-road connection to Springlands and the CBD. The path system then connects into Riverside Park giving further walk/bike access to the lower Taylor River and onwards. The river itself can be canoed or kayaked and it is a designated dog exercise area with doggy bag stations provided at most car parks.
The Taylor River Trail, (south of Brayshaw Park/new Renwick Road) is a chip path, ideal for mountain bikers, walkers and runners and continues another 5 km south down to the Taylor Dam Reserve.
Location: Blenheim.
Access: Numerous access points in Blenheim, including Henry Street, Monro Street or Beaver Road.
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A lovely layby beside SH 1 just north of the Tuamarina township. This is also the site of a bloody confrontation between Te Rauparaha and settlers over ownership and surveyance of this area of land.
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