It's a small, funky port city at the top of NZ's South Island, bubbling with free-spirits, an artsy lot, good vibes, and Pinot Noir with legs. Just head down to the town center and you'll see, for there you can people-watch and art-browse in hole-in-the-wall galleries and one-off cafés hung with local art, maybe even stop by the Suter Gallery to admire portraits of Maori chieftains. Or, pop over to the bustling Saturday Outdoor Market to poke around in handcrafted-jewelry and arts-and-crafts stalls and nibble on grilled prawns and other seafood street-fare as you sip a crisp Sauvignon Blanc from the adjacent Marlborough region. And yeah, if you come during summer, say around Feb/March, you can splash on one of the beaches there, white-sand and all, and catch a few sets of soulful jazz and busker music at the summertime music fests. Oh, one more thing: splurge a bit on that hotel room and you'll be treated to fab ocean views that are nothing short of postcard-worthy! Yep.