A historic convent, the Old St Mary’s Convent B&B in Blenheim, New Zealand, will reopen as The Marlborough Lodge, a luxury property by Marlborough Tour Company, which also operates luxury wine touring and cruising in the region.
Made primarily of native timbers including Rimu and Kauri, the Victorian-style convent has stood since 1901 when it was built for the Sisters of Mercy in Blenheim. In more recent years, it was used as a bed and breakfast and a wedding venue.
A refurbishment begins in May to increase room capacity from five to 10 rooms and will offer evening dining with a special in-house chef team, along with a new dining area. It is a 10-minute drive from Blenheim and is built on 6.5 hectares of parklands and vineyards.
The lodge will reopen on 1 October 2016. marlboroughtourcompany.co.nz