Top Oz Tours offers a great range of Nelson tours and experiences. You can browse the options here.
The Nelson Tasman region is one of New Zealand’s most popular destinations with domestic travellers, but it’s not one that Australians know well.
Located on Tasman Bay at the top of the South Island (just 25 minutes by air from Wellington or five hours’ drive from Christchurch), the city of Nelson is the region’s administrative centre and has a lovely arty vibe. It makes a great base for exploring the surrounding characterful towns and villages, stunning national parks, and shimmering coastline.
Nelson Tasman officially benefits from more hours of sunshine than anywhere else in Aotearoa New Zealand! Although many holidaymakers visit in the warmer months to enjoy the bayside setting, Nelson is a year-round destination. Spring and autumn are particularly beautiful times to visit.
This Nelson city guide is packed with ideas for things to see and do. Enjoy your visit.
Watch our video of ten top things to do on a South Island road trip:
Ten Amazing Things to Do on a South Island Road Trip, New Zealand – The Big Bus
Welcome to The Big Bus tour and travel guide’s YouTube channel. In this video, we bring you ten amazing things to do on a road trip around New Zealand’s stun…
Top cultural activities in Nelson
Nelson prides itself on its creative energy and is home to a large community of talented artists.
There are independent galleries and studios scattered across the city and beyond. Take the time to linger in the option of your choice and get to know the creative behind the art on display. Much of the time you’ll be able to watch them work, and hear details about their process and inspiration.
You may have heard of the World of Wearable Art — an annual international fashion event that celebrates wearable design. Well, it all began in rural Nelson over 30 years ago! As the event grew, it moved into the city and eventually to the New Zealand capital Wellington. Sadly, the World of Wearable Art Museum in Nelson closed in 2020, but I hope to see it reopen at some point. The city remains extremely proud of the event’s heritage.
The World of Wearable Art Museum’s old home now hosts the Classic Car Museum — a private collection of vintage vehicles, spanning more than one hundred years of motoring. You don’t have to be a car enthusiast to appreciate just how impressive these machines are. This is one of the largest collections of classic motoring bling in Australasia.
Nelson may be some way down the list of New Zealand’s largest cities (it comes in at number 12 or 13), but it’s the geographical centre of the entire country! Although there’s a network of tracks you can take to reach the centre on Botanical Hill, the easiest way is from the Botanic Sports Field (the site of New Zealand’s first ever rugby game in 1888). There is usually plenty of parking on Milton Street and Hardy Street East. The track entrance gives you two route options and it’s a good idea to go up one way and down the other. The track to the left will take you via a lone kauri tree, which is an unusual sight in the South Island (as kauri are mostly found in the upper North Island). It’s well worth the 20-minute uphill walk for the spectacular 360-degree-views.
Nelson for history lovers
The Māori first arrived in this region about 700 years ago, and Europeans, in the early 1840s.
Nelson (Whakatū in Māori) is the oldest city in the South Island. To learn more, pay a visit to the excellent Nelson Provincial Museum. It has a wonderful collection of historical artefacts and treasures from across the Nelson Tasman region, and offers a valuable insight into local history and identity.
You’ll find New Zealand’s oldest operating pub — The Moutere Inn — just outside the city in the village of Upper Moutere. Built by German Cordt Bensemann, it dates back to 1853. Drop in to taste-test a variety of local craft beers.
Ways to relax in Nelson
Ease of access to the great outdoors is what draws many visitors to the Nelson Tasman region.
Popular nature-based pursuits include hiking, kayaking, cycling, mountain biking, fishing, paddle boarding, rafting, skiing, and a range of adrenaline-spiking activities. In less than 90 minutes’ drive from Nelson, you can be in any one of three national parks — Abel Tasman National Park, Nelson Lakes National Park, and Kahurangi National Park — the second largest park in New Zealand. Not surprisingly, the Nelson Tasman region is a walker’s paradise and you’ll find two of New Zealand’s Great Walks here — the Abel Tasman Coast Track and Heaphy Track.
I mentioned all that extra annual sunshine: put it to good use by hitting the beach! From Cable Bay to Kaiteriteri Beach, and beyond to Golden Bay, the Nelson Tasman coastline boasts glorious stretches of sand. Tahunanui Beach is a favourite with Nelson residents (it’s located right on their back doorstep).
If bike riding and noshing are both activities you’re partial to, then you must pedal at least part of the Great Taste Trail during your stay in Nelson. Sip and sup along the way at cellar doors, breweries, cafes, restaurants, and artisanal food stores. The complete trail stretches for 174 kilometres, so do a section of it over the course of a few hours or turn it into a multi-day experience.
Wildlife lovers should make tracks to Natureland at Tahunanui Beach. This small zoo features a mix of native and exotic species, and given the modest entry fee, is well worth a visit — especially if you’re travelling with children. You can enjoy quality time with native birds like the cheeky kea, hand feed some of the animals, and listen to informative talks by keepers.
Great places to eat in Nelson
Nelson Tasman has a fabulous dining scene, and the best place to start your gourmet exploration is in the city centre.
At the bottom of the Christ Church stairs — along both sides of Trafalgar Street — you’ll find a wide variety of restaurants, cafes, and bars. If fresh seafood floats your boat Mama Cod is a great choice, as is Hopgood’s & Co for an emphasis on the finest local produce. Fast food aficionados will love Burger Culture, and just around the corner on Church Street is the very popular vegan eatery East Street. For authentic Indigenous dishes, head to award-winning Kiwi Kai.
For a relaxed, family-friendly dining option, you can’t go wrong at the whimsical Jester House Café in Tasman. Not only is the food amazing, but the enchanting gardens and friendly eels (which you can hand feed!) add to the experience. You can even stay over in The Boot B&B — a quirky couple’s retreat. Owners Judy and Steve (‘The Imagineer’) have created a truly magical place for all ages, and it’s no surprise that the Jester House has previously been named New Zealand’s best cafe.
Wine, cider and craft beer
The renowned Nelson Tasman wine region is divided into two areas — The Plains (Waimea Plains) and The Hills (Moutere Hills). The Plains are characterised by stony soils (which are great for producing aromatic whites), while The Hills have a gravel threaded clay soil — ideal for the production of wines of richness and texture. Pinot noir, chardonnay, and sauvignon blanc are all grown here. With over twenty cellar doors in operation, a hop-on-hop-off wine tour is a fun and flexible way to explore.
While other cities lay claim to being the country’s ‘craft beer capital’, Nelson is probably the most deserving of the title. The surrounding region produces all of New Zealand’s commercially grown hops and has a brewing history dating back to European settlement. Hit the Nelson Craft Beer Trail, which takes in boutique breweries between Nelson city and Golden Bay. However, with six stops right in central Nelson, you won’t need to travel too far to sample something amazing.
Wine and beer are not the only Nelson nectars of note; some of New Zealand’s best ciders are also produced here. For the ultimate cider experience, time your visit to coincide with the New Zealand Cider Festival (held annually in November). Given that it produces more than 60 percent of the country’s cider, Nelson is the perfect host city!
Where to shop in Nelson
Those in need of some holiday retail therapy should make haste to Morrison Square in the heart of the city.
Open seven days a week, this bustling retail mecca has a great selection of fashion and specialty stores. Alternatively, head out to the town of Richmond and go crazy with your card at Richmond Mall. For something more bespoke, visit Upper Moutere and shop for handcrafted wares from the fabulous Moutere Artisans.
If you love a good market, you’re in luck; Nelson has several! The most popular is The Nelson Market, held every Saturday morning in Montgomery Square. Meander along the rows of stalls selling everything from farm fresh produce to arts and crafts. This is also the perfect place to grab your morning coffee and a casual bite to eat.
Held on Sundays in the same location, Monty’s Market offers a trove of pre-loved treasures. Motueka’s popular Sunday Market also has stalls of second-hand goods, alongside those offering organic produce and gorgeous locally made homewares.
And finally, Nelson is the home of the Pic’s Peanut Butter Factory and Store, which offers a popular free guided tour. Book online to ensure your place (if you want to avoid large groups, choose the first tour of the day at 9am). Afterwards you can browse in the store for Pic’s products and themed merch. The onsite cafe serves great coffee and a range of delectable snacks.
Need a place to stay?
The Hotel Nelson
Located just a stone’s throw from the waterfront, The Hotel Nelson is a comfortable and affordable accommodation option. Choose from a great selection of room types, including studio units and multi-room apartments. All rooms are air-conditioned and serviced daily, and some have fully equipped kitchens and spa baths.
The hotel’s Flames on Forty Restaurant and Bar offers a mouth-watering menu of seasonal fare, and welcomes both guests and the general public. Get your day off to a great start with a continental breakfast or something more substantial from the a la carte menu. Flames on Forty is also the perfect place to relax and enjoy a meal after a hard day of sightseeing.
Other amenities at the hotel include complimentary Wi-Fi, a heated pool, free access to a local 24-hour gym, off-street parking, cable television, and laundry facilities. Take advantage of Nelson’s many sunny days and do some sizzling self-catering in the poolside BBQ area.
The writer travelled as a guest of The Hotel Nelson.
For more travel inspiration, visit www.nelsontasman.nz.
Browse our range of Nelson tours and experiences here.
Do you have any tips to add to our Nelson city guide? We would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.
Additional images: Depositphotos, Bigstock, and Envato
About the writer
Hailing from Aotearoa New Zealand, Karllie Clifton is an avid midlife traveller and blogger who loves an adventure. In 2015, Karllie left her teaching profession, sold her home, and spent the next three years travelling full time. It sparked a real passion for budget solo travel, which she now loves to inspire others to do. In recent years, Karllie has visited more than twenty countries across three continents. She loves hiking and anything to do with the ocean.
