 For centuries, Marlborough has drawn visitors from around the globe. In the late 1700s, Captain James Cook was a frequent guest of the native Maori people in this sheltered area of New Zealand s South Island. Today s traveler is lured by the promise of abundant sunshine and plenty of outdoor adventure! In the southern Wairau Valley, some of the world s finest Sauvignon Blanc is being crafted, and host Chris Turner saddles up his road bike to tour this New World wine region. Heading north, Chris then ventures to the Marlborough Sounds - three sunken river valleys that form a twisted maze of hidden coves. In these pristine waters, Chris finds some of the finest seafood harvests in the country: green-lipped mussels are a regional delicacy, and farm-raised salmon is at hand. At the mouth of Queen Charlotte Sound is tiny, isolated Motuara Island. Amid the melodic trills of native bellbirds, Chris treks through this sanctuary where Captain Cook once planted the Union Jack to claim the islands for the Crown of England. The Bay of Many Coves Resort, a luxury retreat that can only be reached by boat or helicopter, boasts one of the finest restaurants in the Sounds, and Chris drops in to see what s cooking!