Hotels

People come to Blenheim (pronounced bleh-num by the locals) for the wine. Dozens of wineries are around this town, and Blenheim is developing fast, though it still has a small-town veneer, with narrow streets, paved crossings, and low-slung buildings. Food and wine festivals celebrate the region's success in suitable style. Don't bury your nose in a tasting glass entirely, though; the landscape shouldn't be overlooked. The vineyards sprawl across the large alluvial plains around the Wairau River, ringed by high mountains. On clear days you can see Mt. Tapuaenuku, which, at 10,000 feet, is the tallest South Island mountain north of Mt. Cook.