The largest town on the Wairau Plains is Blenheim. Paved streets and tree-lined pavements invite visitors to stay a while and explore the compact, yet comprehensive, central business district.
Beyond the town is a thriving art and craft trail. Visitors could take home a bone carving or some fresh country preserves, a pot or painting from one of Marlborough's talented artistic community.
In Picton, gateway to the province through the Marlborough Sounds, shoppers will delight in the open, market-place atmosphere of the port's shopping centre, which has a fine selection of arts, crafts, souvenirs and clothing stores.
At the head of the adjoining Pelorus Sound is Havelock. The quaint colonial buildings in the main street are now equipped to provide the traveller with a very real experience of all the good things of 20th century living.
Follow State Highway One south of Blenheim towards the Awatere region, where more crafts folk await with wares to tempt. Then, as visitors head further down the coast towards Kaikoura, they could stop at Kekerengu to sip a cup of coffee or admire sophisticated arts and crafts while taking in the grandeur of the Pacific Coast.