Visiting Cloudy Bay in New Zealand’s Wine Region

With all this time on my hands (ahem, you know what I’m talking about,) I’ve been spending a lot of it revisiting old travel photos. Photos of better days, more adventurous days, days often spent with a glass of wine in one hand and a generous serving of cheese in the other. Days I spent visiting Cloudy Bay in New Zealand’s iconic Marlborough.

This region is renowned the world over for being the heart of sauvignon blanc, with too many awards and accolades to list here. So I thought I would share with you all more about my journey to Cloudy Bay to hopefully inspire your own wine-enthusiast escape.

If you find yourself in need of an adventure when the borders open, why not consider New Zealand?

Checking In: The Shack at Cloudy Bay

I was fortunate enough to visit Cloudy Bay last year as a hosted guest. The vineyard was celebrating the start of the summer season in October, flying in a handful of guests from Australia, China and Hong Kong.

I spent three nights here at the shack with endless activities at the many vineyards. We spent time with local producers of goat’s cheese, pine nuts and local honey, understanding first hand the farm-to-table approach that New Zealand is so celebrated for.

Price: you can book The Shack for a two-night exclusive use package. This includes all meals, vineyard inspections and on-site activities for $4,900 NZD per person.

Activities at Cloudy Bay, New Zealand

There’s plenty to see and do here in Marlborough, so it is no surprise this has become a hot spot for international travellers. At Cloudy Bay the experience centres around wine, of course! So be sure to put your best foot forward and be prepared for endless food and drinks.

Epicurean experiences start at $290 NZD per person. A vineyard tour by car will set you back $250 NZD, which explores the neighbouring vines. Alternatively, you can join a regular wine tasting tour for $150 NZD.

If you’re desperate for an escape but staying put during these uncertain times, Cloudy Bay has created this spotify playlist. The playlist will give you the same atmosphere as the vineyards, transporting you to the unforgettable landscape of Central Otago.

Come Sail Away

Perhaps the most luxurious experience of all is to board the Cloudy Bay yacht and explore the fjords of Marlborough. For $3,900 NZD you can enjoy exclusive use of the yacht for the entire day. This includes a generous lunch and of course matching Cloudy Bay wines.

Read more:

The 20 Best Places to visit in New Zealand

Your complete guide to Marlborough

The Best luxury lodges in New Zealand

I visited Cloudy Bay as a guest of the vineyard and can’t tell you how unforgettable this experience was. A humble thank you to the team for hosting me at The Shack, the yacht, and surrounding vineyard experiences.