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Before you go
Your trip to Nelson.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Nelson – Nelson Destination Nelson and Abel Tasman Capital
How to get there
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Aeroporto de Nelson (NSN) 6 km
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Terminal de ônibus de Nelson (Bridge Street) 1 km
Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.
Nelson Airport, about 6 km from the centre, has flights from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Long-distance buses arrive from Picton in about 2 hours, and from Christchurch via State Highway 6 and the Lewis Pass. Urban buses link Nelson with Richmond and Motueka.
How many days
One day for the centre, the cathedral, the museum, the gallery and Botanical Hill. With two days, add Tāhunanui Beach and Founders Heritage Park. Allow at least one day for Abel Tasman.
When to go
There is plenty of sunshine year-round. Summer, from December to February, is the beach and festival season. In autumn, from March to May, days are mild. In winter, mornings are cold with frost and afternoons are often clear.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
Not needed for the centre, which is walkable. There are urban buses to Tāhunanui Beach and Founders Park. A car is useful for Abel Tasman, the region’s wineries and Golden Bay.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Nelson
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Morning
Cathedral and center
Climb the granite stairway up to Nelson Cathedral and walk down Trafalgar Street to the Nelson Provincial Museum. On Saturdays, stop by the market at Montgomery Square.
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Afternoon
The Suter and Botanical Hill
Visit The Suter gallery, beside Queens Gardens, and walk to the Botanical Reserve. Climb the trail to the Centre of New Zealand monument for views over the town and the bay.
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Late afternoon
Tāhunanui Beach
Take a bus or drive to Tāhunanui Beach, about 5 km from the centre, to walk on the sand and watch the sunset over Tasman Bay.
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Evening
Dinner in the center
Return to the centre for dinner near Trafalgar Street. The region produces wine, hops and beer, and many bars serve local labels.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
What to do in Nelson?
Visit the cathedral, the Nelson Provincial Museum and The Suter gallery, climb to the Centre of New Zealand monument, go to Tāhunanui Beach and Founders Heritage Park. The town is also a base for Abel Tasman National Park.
Is Nelson far from Abel Tasman?
About an hour by car to Kaiteriteri or Mārahau, the park entrances, roughly 60 km. In season there are buses, and some boat tours include transport from Nelson.
How do you go from Picton to Nelson?
By car it takes about 2 hours via State Highway 6, through Havelock, or a little longer via Queen Charlotte Drive. There are long-distance buses between the two towns.
Does the Centre of New Zealand monument actually mark the country’s centre?
Not exactly. The point atop Botanical Hill was used as the zero mark for the country’s first geodetic surveys in the 19th century, and it gained that name. The climb takes about 20 minutes from Queens Gardens.