Nelson is a popular destination for New Zealanders and overseas visitors alike. Its sunny climate and huge variety of attractions make it an ideal location from which to explore many of the best that New Zealand has to offer.
The Nelson lifestyle is very relaxed. There is a very strong café culture and people can often be seen enjoying the sunshine over a coffee. Arts and crafts are rife, especially outside of the main city centres and it can take several days to explore the small galleries that can be found all through the region.
Two of the main industries are fishing and horticulture and many restaurants promote the use of local produce. When the season is right, menus will typically include shellfish, such as scallops or mussels, and fresh berries and citrus and pip fruit. Olives are commonly grown, as are hops and Nelson is the home of no less than four breweries. There is a plethora of wineries and it is possible to taste a variety of local wines during your travels.
Nelson’s attractions are not restricted to man-made activities. It is a particularly spectacular region boasting alpine mountain and lakes areas, sweeping sandy beaches, wild coastlines, native bush areas and fascinating rock formations. Everywhere you go the scenery is worthy of mention, and it is possible to see huge contrasts in landscape during just one day.
Visitors to the Nelson region are often the first to recommend it to their family and friends. Our Tour Gallery pages show some of the sights there are to see, and some of the people who have enjoyed them.
For more information about Nelson and New Zealand, see our
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