South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷
Nelson
Gateway Vibes, But Worth a Stop
Nelson is probably not the reason you've come this far south, but it earns its time. The vibe around the Cathedral and down to historic South Street is the city at its best. Wander that stretch, get a feel for the place, and you'll understand why people like it here. There's a good creative energy, a few galleries, and Queens Gardens is a decent park if you need to stretch your legs.
Sort Yourself Out on the Food Front
The two food stops in town are genuinely among the best in NZ and that's not me being generous. Falafel Gourmet does fresh batch-cooked falafel and medium rare lamb to order. Right next door is Salvito's, one of my favourite pizza spots anywhere. Eat here before you head west because the options get thinner and pricier the further out you go. The holiday parks in Nelson are well set up for campervans and a solid base if you need a night before pushing on.
One Nature Thing Worth Making Time For
Brook Waimarama Sanctuary is only 10 minutes from town and it's getting better every year. South Island's largest fenced area for endangered wildlife, and kiwi have been added recently. If you want some proper nature without driving an hour, this is the one. The RANKERS promo code gets you a discount on sea kayaking out of Nelson too, if you want to ease into the water stuff before hitting Abel Tasman.
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101 items with the highest ranking score first, showing page 1 of 6.
Outside the Square
Watersports
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Dump Station
DOC Centres
Playgrounds
Group Tours
Winery and Brewery Tours
Basic Camping
Cycling
Camping NZ App
All the great camping sites on your iPhone™, iPad™ or Android™ phone or tablet. Avoid camping penalties using this council approved app. Featuring offline maps.
Scenic Flights
Helicopter Flights
Milk
Gliding
Water Taxis
Fresh Water Fishing