The Jolly Poacher Retreat — Hotel in South Island

Nearby Marlborough NZ is wine and fishing country. It is so beautiful and deserves some time to explore. The big town nearby is Blenheim, but we spent no time there. We stayed at the Jolly Poacher Retreat which was fantastic. Our own cabin, breakfast and kitchen. The grounds and owners (Helen & Dave) are so great. If you have the time, fish and drink for a few days. It is a big-time trout area, and the wines are fantastic (think Kim Crawford wine). Helen & Dave suggested we rent bikes at Bike Hire Marlborough and visit wineries, which we did. Try not to fall off your bike. Bike Hire Marlborough they sent us to would follow up and pick up our wines that we purchased at the wineries and drop the booze off at the Jolly Poacher. Incredible service. Our favorite winery was a small family winery called Bladen Wines 83 Conders Bend Road, Renwick 7275, New Zealand where we loved every wine we tried. The family is great & funny, and they also have a great lunch. This place was hard to leave. We really felt at home. The prices are very fair. If you can get one of the Jolly Poacher Retreat cabins go for it. Helen and Dave are so welcoming and friendly. It really is better...

Down an unassuming road, off of the main road and across a narrow bridge, you arrive at a thoughtfully crafted cottage that is The Jolly Poacher. We booked last minute without any expectations and we were completely blown away with our experience. The cottages are modern, warm, impeccably clean, cosy, and have every thoughtful touch that you could possibly desire. The property is an unexpected Kiwi oasis - complete with sheep, Cheryl the cow, butterflies, tuis, and lovingly maintained gardens. Our kids loved the swing and learning all about bugs from Helen. Helen and Dave are the kind of hosts who genuinely care about the happiness of each guest and going the extra mile. My husband was running in the the St Clair half marathon and they offered to let us stay past check out time and for my husband to come back after his run for a shower, before we headed home to Nelson. We found this offer incredibly thoughtful and we took them up on it! The location was a short five minute drive to all of the best vineyards in the area and we hope to come back again in the future. Thank you for a...

We spent four nights at the Jolly Poacher Retreat. The cabins have been very well designed for a comfortable and cosy stay. The decor is fishy, but in a good way! The bed was extremely comfortable and the shower hot. There are two cabins on Dave and Helen's property with views over the Helen's beautiful flower beds in one direction and a field of sheep in the other. We could not fault the hospitality shown by Dave and Helen, they went out of their way to ensure we made the best of our stay, including cooking up a bag of green lipped mussels we bought and sharing them with us. Breakfast was a treat, delivered on a tray with a vase of freshly picked flowers. Scrambled eggs from their own chickens were golden and delicious. Juice and toast with marmalade, raspberry jam or honey followed. Perfect way to start the day. Having access to a washing machine was a huge benefit on a long break. We can’t recommend this place highly enough. Close to Blenheim but far enough away to enjoy peace and quiet. Thank you Dave & Helen, we look forward to...