Last December Portage experienced a major flood which went right through the main building, took out several rooms, damaged a lot of our wiring including main cables through the resort, took out our entire water supply system, scoured large holes out of the storm water drains and found leaks in roofs which we didn’t know existed.  Estimates place the rainfall at around 300 ml (that’s a foot!) in about 4 hours on the night of December 28.

We are now almost through the recovery process, for the last two weeks a team from Crafar Crouch Picton have been laying new cables, sorting out drains and fixing the water supply, as well as making major road repairs on the roads outside the resort.  These are the last major tasks which could only be attempted at a quiet time.  Fortunately the rains, which have been well above average, have stayed away during their time here.

We would like to thank our staff and the contract teams who have all worked to make the repairs, as well as our supportive insurance broker and insurers, for all the work they have done in getting Portage back on line.  To our guests we apologise that everything was not as tidy or as reliable as we would have liked, we tried to make up for it in the way we looked after you, and you have said great things about our team on TripAdvisor; you have been forgiving with the problems.

By mid-July everything will be back to normal, the gardens are looking great, the sun will be shining and we will be here to welcome you.  A new wharf will start construction late July, thanks to Marlborough District Council and it looks like a great summer.  Please, Come and join us.

Alison, Dain, and the entire Portage Resort Hotel team
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We recently came across an article from the Marlborough Express dated January 24 1906. As so many of it comments apply today, we would like to share it with you:

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The night we arrived it rained. We had been welcomed, registered and shown to our rooms. It was the expected 3Bs – Bedroom, Bathroom (spacious and modern) and Balcony. The balcony was also spacious, certainly enough room for a private breakfast or after dinner drinks. The wall separating the room from the balcony was all glass, increasing the feeling of space but also drawing you into the magnificent views of the sounds. At that point the view was a little restricted. The clouds had sunk onto the hills swallowing the trees and trying to return to the water. Inside it was bright and warm, the heating silent, easy to control and very efficient. The bed looked very inviting and the sound of rain on the roof was almost comforting. I knew I would sleep well and so it proved.

The next morning revealed the first rays of sunshine on distant hills that last night had seemed to huddle together like a pack of dark dogs but now, with the new warmth, had shaken off the water and gone for a roam. Hill after hill could be seen standing proudly behind each other. Solid green masses making it impossible to separate one from another. Was that just another ridge or a separate land mass? Was there another strip of sounds water between them or would it be possible to hike from one to another?

The drive to explore by land and water was almost irresistible, but I had other things to do – starting with breakfast. After all, an explorer needs a hearty meal to start the day.
The hotel offers a fine range of foods, a number of venues to eat and more views of the sounds. The waters edge is only metres away from the hotel buildings with a pier  providing easy access to visiting boats or tourist trips.

The Portage offers a true taste of early New Zealand with many native sounds and sights complimented by professional , friendly service. The staff all seem to care for their guests and handle enquires with knowledge and warmth.
This is not your traditional 5 star city hotel, and neither should it be. It is a comfortable lodge providing shelter and sustenance to the weary traveler with a few modern comforts. No video games room, no satellite T.V., just a chance to relax and recoup in a magnificent setting. Thanks to all concerned.

P.S. If you wonder why this is so verbose, I was part of a group attending a Writers Retreat and was so inspired I couldn’t stop writing. Otherwise I would have just said- “Having a great time. Wish you were here?”

Trevor Jones
May 2011
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Sunday 8^th May, 2011

Menu $35

Children free off Kids Menu or Half Price on Mother’s Day Menu

House made sour dough with virgin olive oil and dips

_________

Roast Chicken with parsley potatoes, roast vegetables and mushroom cream sauce

Pan Fried Warehou with fennel slaw, kumara and sauce remoulade

_________

Knickerbocker Glory
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Was your wedding better than theirs!?

In honor of tonights Royal Wedding…

The Portage Resort Hotel decrees that May will now officially be known as Wedding Celebration Month.

We are reaching out to Marlborough locals to send us their best wedding stories with the top three entries receiving some great prizes!  To enter the competition simply e-mail your wedding story to salesmanager@portage.co.nz and post on our facebook page http://fb.me/ThePortage

Bonus points will be awarded to people who include videos and/or photographs with their stories.  Additionally if you were married at The Portage that might help you get to the front of the line as well.

We will be accepting entires from Friday April 29 to Friday May 27 with the winners being announced on May 31st on our blog and facebook pages!

Here are the prizes that are up for grabs:

First place:  One Dinner, Bed, And Breakfast package with two nights accommodation in a Kowhai room and dinner and breakfast daily

Second place:  One nights accommodation in a Kenepuru Spa Suite room

Third Place:  a $100 gift voucher good for use at The Portage Resort Hotel

What are you waiting for?  Get your best wedding story together and send them over to us!

This contest is by royal decree!

Francis Kulaga and The Portage Resort Hotel team

PS:  If you have not been married yet, don’t worry!  Here at The Portage Resort Hotel we have a superb in house wedding coordinator who can help you plan out your special day and make it more magical than the royal wedding. Just e-mail Kaye Richards with your inquiry and we will take care of all of the hard work for you.  We can’t guarantee that you will become a princess, but we can guarantee that you will feel like one.
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It’s been a crazy week out here in Marlborough and the sounds!  Winds of up to 140km/h have been ripping their way through the area for the last 3 days but things are finally starting to calm down!

The Queen Charlotte Track is drying out and their are plenty of boats out in Picton and Waikawa today.

So since you have been trapped inside under blankets for the past few days why not make a public appearance this weekend at The Portage Resort Hotel?  It’s supposed to be a beautiful and sunny weekend out in the sounds so why not do a spot of fishing or go out on a kayak?

We’ll be waiting for you!
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'Sounds' Like Easter

To Celebrate Easter Sunday (April, 24th, 2011) here at The Portage we have a pretty EPIC day planned

The fun will start at 11:00am and go all afternoon until 4:00pm.

Here is the schedule of events:

11:00am until 4:00pm – Live music all day

11:00am – Face painting and egg decorating competitions

12:30pm – EPIC Easter Egg hunt with puzzles and prizes!

1:30PM – Our “infamous sounds BBQ” ($15 per person)

2:30PM – More kids games and more fabulous prizes

We also have some special deals available for families that want to celebrate the Easter Holiday with us!

Children go free – Saturday night accommodation Pre-Pay special of only $189 for 2 adults and 2 kids in a hillside sea view multi-share room!  That’s only $47.25 per person! Use Rate Code EAST to book 0800-762-442 or enquiries@portage.co.nz

Additionally a family of four day visit pass can be had for only $44 per person.  This includes a round trip boat transfer courtesy of Cougar Line and the BBQ lunch for 2 adults and 2 children.  Or $58 for an adult day pass per person.  For day passes, please book directly with Cougar Line on 0800 762442.

Check out our facebook page for more events, specials, and deals!

Cheers! and see you on Sunday!

Francis Kulaga and The Portage Resort Hotel team
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Some big news to talk about in this edition of our blog!

The Marlborough Mancation May promotion which was a sounds collective marketing idea launched by Destination Marlborough and three local sounds businesses (Sounds connection, Cougar Line, and The Portage Resort Hotel) has been a huge success.

The auction for a manly getaway in May received 15,000 views and nearly 100 bids and sold for $1,710.01

To celebrate we have made a limited number of Marlborough Mancations available to book online for May.  These will be sold first come, first served, and are extremely limited.  So….If you feel like you need an ultimate boys weekend, look no further.  The Marlborough Mancation is available on several dates in May from the following sites.

http://www.portage.co.nz http://www.lovemarlborough.co.nz and http://www.travelbug.co.nz

If you are lucky, maybe you can bag a fish as big as this guy!

In other news, the Seafood and Sauvignon long lunch is quickly approaching.  If you missed it last year, you know that you CAN”T miss it this year!  Spend a beautiful, sunny (hopefully!) afternoon at a long Italian style table, dining al fresco and eating the freshest Marlborough seafood, whilst drinking the freshest and most delicious Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from Forrest Estate!

The Seafood and Sauvignon Long Lunch will be held at The Portage Resort Hotel on Saturday the 30th of April for only $49 per person!  Special lunch and accommodation deals will also be available as well as discounted boat transfers for just $49 P/P return from Cougar Line.

Seafood & Savvy Flyer2 – Check out the flyer for the event right here!

Well, that’s it for today.  As always…sign up for our newsletter or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to stay up to date with all the latest Portage Resort hotel news.

With warm regards,

Francis Kulaga and The Portage Resort Hotel team
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