At the northern end of Aotearoa’s Te Waipounamu / South Island, sheltered from the harsh southerlies by a range of mountains to the south and the tranquil waters of Tasman Bay to the North, Nelson City is the main centre of the Nelson Tasman region. It’s sometimes referred to as the ‘Top of the South’, meaning the top of the South Island.
Driving, Nelson is in the middle of New Zealand, access is easy. On a road trip, Nelson, is on State Highway 6. Starting in Blenheim (see previous blogs about Marlborough here ) State Highway 6 runs west to Nelson, then south down the West Coast, inland to adventure capital Queenstown and ends in New Zealand’s southern most city, Invercargill. There’s a whole itinerary for a State Highway 6 road trip – get in touch and allow 3 weeks to do it well!
Image credit Luke Marshall
Nelson has a swish new Airport with direct flights to/from New Zealand’s main cities of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. There are regional flights that connect Nelson with Takaka and Karamea (perfect for hikers on one of New Zealand’s “Great Walks”, the Heaphy Track), North Island regional cities of Hamilton and Palmerston North and Paraparaumu, located an hour north of Wellington.
Trafalgar Street Nelson, Image credit Barry Peck
The Nelson Tasman region, of which Nelson is the centre, has it all; climate, wine, art, art trails, beaches, scenery, national parks, cycling and hiking trails and so much more! It’s also a favourite holiday destination for many Kiwis, it must be good!
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Pic’s is a great Kiwi success story. From making peanut butter in a modified cement mixer in his garage to a smart airy building that is Pic’s Peanut Butter world today. Located in the suburb of Stoke, a 15 minute drive from the centre of town, go for brunch (granola with their boysenberry jelly is really good – and so is the story of sourcing the boysenberries) and stay for the free tour and tastings. It’s really fun! Pic’s now helping other local foodie entrepreneurs on their journey at nearby The Food Factory
It might seem odd to include a milk company in a blog about the food in Nelson but Oaklands are unique. Glass milk bottles are a distant memory for most of us these days, most kids have never seen them. In Nelson locals refill their glass milk bottles at one of the designated vending machines provided by local dairy farm Oaklands Milk . Oaklands milk, in bottles, supply local cafes (above at Sublime Cafe on Haven Road) and their milk is used in making the ridiculously delicious Appleby Farms ice cream. I think milk tastes better when it comes in a bottle!
When it’s dinner time you’ll likely find somewhere to suit at the top of Nelson’s ‘main street’, Trafalgar Street. Here you’ll find relaxed Harry’s Hawker House (above) , Hopgoods , showcasing the best of seasonal and local foods and The Vic Pub , delicious food and great beer.
Or, for a meal with a view head along Wakefield Quay (5 minutes from town) to The Styx or The Boathouse
Just 15 minutes from Nelson’s city centre is Tahunanui, Nelson’s Beach. That’s the beach at the top of the blog, a winter shot with the snowy mountains in the background! At any time of day there’ll be locals walking, paddling, swimming, fishing or maybe fossicking in the rock pools. It’s a beautiful, safe, sandy beach and the perfect spot to enjoy fish’n’chips on the beach from The Sands Fish’n’chip shop, an institution in Nelson!
Tahunanui Beach is a great place to spend an hour, or all day. At low tide there are rock pools for the kids to explore, it’s a great spot for a swim or hire a kayak or SUP to explore the nearby ‘boulder bank’. Behind the sand dunes there’s more adventuring to be had with a beach volleyball court, hydroslide, model railway and more.
The Nelson region is the only place in New Zealand that grows hops commercially, which has earned it the nickname of the Craft Beer capital of New Zealand. In Nelson, maybe visit McCashins for a tour or call in to The Free House where you can sample locally brewed beer, cider, wine AND food!
Two of New Zealand’s best Beer and Cider Festivals are held in Nelson. The annual Marchfest – New Zealand’s “big little beer festival” encourages brewers to create beers specially for tasting at Marchfest!
The Cider Festival is a biennial event, alternating with Hawkes Bay, where cider producers from around New Zealand gather to showcase over 80 varieties of cider!
I suggest you start or end your visit to Nelson at the Saturday market. Every Saturday locals and visitors mingle for coffee or brunch, pick up a loaf of freshly baked sourdough or maybe some local artwork. The Nelson Market is where Nelson’s community meets, there’ll be local buskers or a community choir to entertain, metal artwork, goats milk cheese, cushion covers, wall art, honey, ceramics and more. Sometimes you don’t know what you need to buy – until you see it at the Nelson Market, and it’s all local!
Maybe Nelson has the largest artist community in New Zealand. Artisans thrive here and there always seems to be an exhibition, festival or open studio to enjoy. Start at The Suter in the heart of town, New Zealand’s oldest gallery move on to the Nelson Museum or maybe New Zealand’s best known landscape photographer, Craig Potton’s gallery .
Image credit Amber Smith
There is alot of great art (and artisans) to love in Nelson! Amber Smith (pictured above) is one of them, based in Nelson, don’t you love these lamp bases! You can see Amber’s work at Origin on Hardy , visit her at Kiln Studio or follow her on Insta (like I do) @ambersmith.nz I’m working on an Art & Artisan themed itinerary to visit the Nelson Tasman region, when we can. If you’d like to visit the Art Studios and meet the Artists on your Nelson holiday or join me there (when the border’s open), contact me here
Centre of New Zealand. Image credit Nelson City Council
On the edge of the city, a ten minute walk from the centre of town, is Botanical Hill. The top of the hill was used by the Chief Surveyor of Nelson, John Spence Browning, in the 1870s to map the region. Wander up the hill through the poplars and native bush for the best views. My tip: wear flat shoes, it’s a gravel pathway up the hill!
Just past Tahunanui is the Nelson Classic Car Museum , a private collection of fabulous cars from the 20th century. A sight to behold with over 150 bright, shiny classic cars like Studebakers and Cadillac’s. The standout for me was the cute, slightly odd looking, Messerschmitt KR201. Maybe they modelled this on one of their aircraft. The car seats two people, in tandem seating, and has two wheels in the front with one at the back! This model is one of only 200 made. My photo’s an odd angle, but you get the picture and the Classic Car Museum is definitely worth a visit. There’s a great little cafe there too!
I was a guest at The Rutherford , one of two 4* Hotels in Nelson. Both The Rutherford and Trailways Hotel are centrally located in the heart of the city. I’ve stayed at several Hotels and self contained properties in Nelson – when it’s time to start planning your Nelson getaway get in touch!
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