Dunedin, New Zealand

The "Edinburgh of the South", DUNEDIN (pronounced Dun-EEdin), takes its name from the Gaelic translation of its Scottish counterpart, with which it also shares street and suburb names (and rain). Founded by Scottish settlers, its heyday arrived when it became the commercial centre for the gold-rush towns of nearby Central Otago, leaving an enduring legacy of imposing Gothic Revival architecture fashioned from volcanic bluestone and creamy limestone, including grand villas that climb the hills around the town. Although its population of around 115,000 spreads beyond the hills and surf beaches, Dunedin's compact and manageable city centre is graced with flower-filled parks and gardens.

Some 25,000 students from the 1871-established University of Otago – New Zealand's oldest tertiary institution – contribute to a strong arts scene, as well as vibrant nightlife (during term time, at least).