Named after Admiral Nelson, this coastal city is New Zealand's oldest & its Botanical Reserve marks the country's geographical centre. Nelson is an area of great beauty lying between the northern edge of the Southern Alps & a great sweep of beaches.

The Nelson region covers five distinct geographic areas:

• alpine lakes & rivers around Murchison & St. Arnaud & in Nelson Lakes National Park

• the heart of the parks, Golden Bay between Kahurangi & Abel Tasman National Parks

• the idyllic coastline of the Abel Tasman National Park

• highways of Tasman Bay, through the horticultural land surrounding Motueka

• the urban centres of Nelson city and Richmond

The Nelson region enjoys a mild Mediterranean-type climate with long summers, mild winters & plentiful all-year-round sunshine. With more than 2,400 hours of sunshine a year it rates as New Zealand’s sunniest spot! January & February are the warmest months of the year & July is generally the coldest. 

Nelson Regional Airport has regular direct flights to & from Auckland, Wellington & Christchurch & a range of provincial towns.

There are frequent ferry services between Wellington in the North Island, & Picton in the Marlborough Sounds, with regular bus connections to Nelson.

Nelson and Richmond are set in lovely river valleys with picnic spots & nature walks. Tahunanui Beach offers an excellent children’s playground, a zoological park, a modellers’ pond & mini railway, minigolf, rollerskating & hydroslide.

Nelson makes a great base camp for a range of adventures. Operators will pick up & drop off at your accommodation & there are regular bus services to all three national parks – all within 90 minutes of the city. There is also a range of air services, from sightseeing flights over the bays & hills to helicopter drop-offs deep in the back country.