Discover Nelson
Nelson, situated in Tasman Bay in the South Island, is an ideal destination for city exploration, with an easily walkable and interesting city centre. The city is also a gateway to Tasman Bay, Abel Tasman National Park, and Golden Bay to the northwest, as well as Nelson Lakes National Park to the south. This makes Nelson an ideal starting point for extended travel through the northwest part of the South Island.
Exploring Nelson's City Centre
The city centre is compact and easily navigable, bordered by Rutherford Street to the west, the Maitai River to the northeast, and Church Hill to the south. Nelson's town centre is appealing, featuring a variety of cafes, bars, and eateries known for their excellent coffee and cuisine. Every Saturday morning, Montgomery Square hosts a large and popular market, adding to the city's vibrant atmosphere.
A highlight of downtown Nelson is Church Hill, home to the distinctive Christ Church Cathedral. This cathedral is notable for its unique design and the surrounding Victorian-style garden filled with large exotic trees. Construction of the cathedral began in 1925 and was completed in 1965. Pre Europeans, the site was also a major pā site called Piki Mai, meaning “come up here”, reflected in the substantial welcoming entrance.
From Church Hill, you can easily walk to Queens Gardens, a lovely spot perfect for a stroll. Continuing along the Maitai River, you will reach Botanical Hill, offering more opportunities to enjoy Nelson's natural beauty.
Behind the city are 40 km of rugged hills and mountains, including the Richmond Range, that separates Tasman Bay from the Wairau Valley. There are multiple access points from Nelson into this region, including the Maitai Valley.
Gateway to the Tasman and Golden Bays
Nelson is perfectly positioned as the gateway to some of New Zealand’s most spectacular coastal and wilderness experiences. You can head northwest along Tasman Bay to historic Māpua and Motueka. From there, you can either access Abel Tasman National Park or drive over the winding, limestone landscapes of Takaka Hill, a scenic highlight in itself, on the way to Golden Bay.
Abel Tasman National Park, one of the country’s most popular and accessible national parks, provides a paradise of bush-fringed golden sand beaches, kayaking routes, and the famous coastal track.
Over the hill to the northwest, Golden Bay is a more remote, laid-back region with the charming towns of Takaka and Collingwood, beautiful, untouched beaches, and a strong artistic community. Cape Farewell marks the South Island’s most northerly point, with dramatic cliffs, and the nearby Farewell Spit is a vast sandbar teeming with birdlife.
Heading South to Nelson Lakes
Driving south from Nelson to Nelson Lakes National Park takes you on a scenic journey through rolling farmland, river valleys, and native forest. The route follows State Highway 6, winding alongside the Buller River and offering glimpses of the Richmond Ranges in the distance. As you head inland, the landscape shifts from coastal to alpine, with each kilometre bringing you closer to the dramatic beauty of the Southern Alps. The drive takes around 1.5 hours, ending at the charming alpine village of St Arnaud, the gateway to the park. Here, Lake Rotoiti stretches out beneath snow-dusted peaks, offering stunning views and access to hiking trails, birdlife, and peaceful moments by the water’s edge.
The Origins of Nelson
Nelson, known to Māori as Whakatū, meaning "to establish" or "to place", was long a significant site for Māori, due to the region's abundant resources, sheltered bay, and strategic location. In 1841, the New Zealand Company, driven by Edward Wakefield, chose the area as the site for its second settlement, after Wellington in 1840. Arthur Wakefield, his brother, led the local effort and oversaw the arrival of settlers eager to acquire farmland in Nelson and the wider Marlborough region. Some of his practices, and those of the NZ Company in acquiring land from Māori, were less than honorable, resulting in the Wairau Affray in 1843 and the death of Arthur Wakefield and over 20 other armed men from Nelson.
The incident shocked the Nelson settlement, halted inland expansion, and exposed serious flaws in the New Zealand Company’s approach to land acquisition. However, the disruption was temporary, and ultimately Nelson boomed as farming, and later tourism, developed across Tasman Bay.
How to Get There
You can fly into Nelson, drive in from the northeast or south on State Highway 6. From Picton, it is a 139 km, 115-minute drive. From Christchurch, it is 409 km and takes 5 hours.
