Nelson

Nelson => is a city in the top northwest corner of South Island, New Zealand.

Together with Richmond, it has a population of around 50,000 ranking it as New Zealand’s 10th most populous city and the geographical centre of New Zealand.

Understand

Nelson is named after the famous British Admiral Nelson and is New Zealand's second oldest city, being settled in 1841.

Nelson is New Zealand's sunniest city with over 2,500 sunshine hours per year. It also experiences a winter smog problem that exceeds WHO recommended guidelines.

Surrounding Nelson, the countryside supports orchards and horticulture, with plantation forestry in the back country. While the surrounding sea supports scallop shellfish industry, marine mussel farms and deep sea fishing using factory ships.

==Get in==

By plane

Nelson airport is the 4th busiest in New Zealand. It is serviced by Origin Pacific and Air New Zealand. There are regular flights to and from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

By boat

Frequent ferry services between Wellington and Picton with bus connections to Nelson.

By car

Two hours driving from Picton and six hours driving from Christchurch.

See

WOW The World of Wearable Art and Collectable Cars, is a museum dedicated to the fashion show that was held in Trafalgar Centre over seven nights in September each year until 2004. (The shows are now held in Wellington, but the museum remains in Nelson.) Thousands of people come from all over the world to see the most amazing (and sometimes bizarre) fashions made out of all kinds of materials. There is literally no limit to the designer's imagination
Suter Art Gallery, has a large collection with emphasis on works by such 19th century artists as Gully, Lindauer and Van der Velden
Miyazu Japanese Garden, inspired by Nelson's sister city Miyazu in Japan, is a traditional Japanese stroll garden creating a tranquil environment. Look out for the cherry blossoms in spring
Natureland, a zoological park with wallabies, monkeys, meerkats and many others and featuring a walk through aviary

Do

Nelson Wineries, visit and taste 17 wineries located around the district
Over 22 walks around Nelson and the surrounding district

Sleep

Awaroa Lodge & Cafe (http://www.awaroalodge.co.nz/) is a beautiful lodge inside the Abel Tasman Park. It offers amazing food in a very beautiful place, accessible via the Abel Tasman trail system, or by water taxi from Nelson or Takaka.

Harbourside Motor Lodge (http://www.harbourside.co.nz), marina views from most of our units. Continental or cooked breakfast avaiable. Close to restaurants, cafes, galleries, shopping.

Get out

Nelson is close (90 minutes drive) to the Abel Tasman National Park which offers sea kayaking and the 51km Abel Tasman Coast Track (one of NZ's Great Walks - also see Tramping in New Zealand)
Visit the district museums in Collingwood, Motueka, Takaka and Murchison.