Top Oz Tours offers a great range of Nelson tours and experiences. You can browse the options here.
Whakatu Nelson is one of New Zealand’s most popular destinations with domestic travellers, but it’s not a city 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), it’s the largest urban centre in the Nelson Tasman region but maintains a lovely vibe — thanks in no small part to the wealth of Victorian and Edwardian architecture. It makes a great base for exploring everything the surrounding area has to offer, including characterful towns and villages, spectacular national parks, and shimmering coastline.
Nelson has a stable maritime climate and is renowned for receiving more hours of sunshine than anywhere else in New Zealand! And while many holidaymakers visit in summer to make the most of the bayside setting, this is a year-round destination. The changing of the seasons, while subtle, is a joy to behold.
Here’s a checklist of our top ten things to do in Nelson on a first 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…
1. See some great art
Any artist would find Nelson an inspiring place to work, and indeed, there is a large community of talented creatives based here. Do some pre-holiday research and compile a list of those you would like to visit. It’s best to make contact in advance, as many studios are only open to the public by appointment. You’ll be able to watch the artist work, and hear details about their process and inspiration.
2. Visit the Classic Car Museum
Motoring enthusiasts will want to put the pedal to the metal and visit the Classic Car Museum — a private collection of vintage vehicles from the past century. This is one of the largest collections of classic motoring bling in Australasia, so it’s well worth taking the time to see.
3. Climb to the official centre of New Zealand
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! Situated on Botanical Hill, there are several tracks you can take to reach the monument marking the centre. I recommend starting your walk at the Botanic Sports Field (where NZ’s first ever rugby game was played in 1888). There’s usually plenty of parking on Milton Street and Hardy Street East.
The track entrance gives you a choice of two routes and it’s a good idea to go up one way and down the other. The track to the left will take you past a lone kauri tree — an unusual sight as kauri are mostly found in the upper North Island. The 360-degree views from the hilltop are spectacular.
4. Step back in time at Nelson Provincial Museum
Māori first arrived in this region about 700 years ago, while European settlement began in the early 1840s. Nelson is one of the oldest cities on the South Island, having been officially declared in 1858. To learn more, pay a visit to the excellent Nelson Provincial Museum. It has a wonderful collection of historical artefacts on display, and provides plenty of unexpected insights about the past.
5. Revel in the great outdoors
Ease of access to the great outdoors is what draws many visitors to the Nelson Tasman region. Popular nature-based pursuits include kayaking, mountain biking, fishing, rafting, and skiing. In less than 90 minutes’ drive from Nelson, you can be in any one of three grand national parks — Abel Tasman, Nelson Lakes, and Kahurangi — the second largest park in New Zealand. Pack your hiking boots because two of the country’s Great Walks are located here — the Abel Tasman Coast Track and Heaphy Track.
6. Go where the wild things are at Natureland
Wildlife lovers should make tracks to Natureland at Tahunanui Beach. This small zoo features a mix of native and exotic species, and is moderately priced — making it the ideal activity for families. You can enjoy quality time with native birds like the cheeky kea, hand feed some of the animals, and listen to informative presentations by keepers (which are included in the ticket price).
7. Do a wine tour
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, while The Hills tend towards a gravel threaded clay soil. Between the two, they produce fabulously aromatic pinot noir, chardonnay, riesling, and sauvignon blanc — and with over twenty cellar doors in operation, a guided wine tour with Wine, Art and Wilderness Tours takes away the guesswork around which venues to visit. What’s even better is that someone else does the driving!
8. Follow the Ale Trail
While other cities lay claim to being New Zealand’s ‘craft beer capital’, Nelson best deserves the title. It produces all of the country’s commercially grown hops and has a brewing history dating back to European settlement. Hit the New Zealand Ale Trail, which will lead you to eight boutique breweries of distinction — many of them right in the CBD — meaning you won’t need to travel too far to sample some top drops!
9. Shop at the markets
If you love a good holiday market browse, you’re in luck. The popular Nelson Market is held on Saturday mornings in Montgomery Square, and hosts rows of stalls stocked with everything from farm fresh produce to arts and crafts. This is also the perfect place to grab your morning brew and a casual bite to eat. Taking place on Sundays in the same location, Monty’s Market offers a trove of pre-loved treasures.
10. Tour Pic’s Peanut Butter Factory
And finally, Nelson is home to the wondrous Pic’s Peanut Butter Factory and Store — and it would be remiss not to join their popular free guided tour. Book online to ensure a spot (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 suggestions to add to our list of the top things to do in Nelson on a first visit? We would love to hear from you. Join the conversation on our Facebook page.
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.
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