Nelson Travel Guide: Travel and tourist information, things to do and see in Nelson

Nelson is recognised as one of the finest parts of New Zealand, enjoying more sunshine than any other province in New Zealand. The city is very attractive, flanked by the sea, golden beaches and hills. Nelson city was founded in the 1840's and achieved city status early on because of its cathedral. It is also well endowed with educational and artistic amenities, with the Suter Art Gallery holding a fine collection of local art.

Nelson is home to dozens of expert craftspeople - glassblowers, potters, weavers and carvers, who have congregated here, drawn by the high quality raw materials and balmy climate. Nearby Nelson are several boutique wineries, often with cafes which are open for lunches. As well, there is a wide range of quality restaurants in Nelson city, which are well recommended.

Nelson is also the walkway capital of New Zealand with over 40 walks available within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of Nelson city alone. For the more serious trampers (hikers), the Abel Tasman National Park and the Nelson Lakes National Park testify to the grandeur and beauty of the Nelson region. Day cruises and short easy walks are also available in the Abel Tasman National Park. The calm warm waters of the area provide safe swimming and sea kayaking.

Abel Tasman National Park Experiences offer cruising, beach walks, and sea kayaking through the spectacular Abel Tasman National Park. Many of the places visited are inaccessible by road and there is the option of staying in beachfront lodges. The base for these adventures is situated in Motueka.

The Marlborough Sounds is a tranquil lush green world of 600 miles (960 kilometers) of beautiful coastline and sheltered bays. This idyllic area provides an unspoilt playground for hunting, camping, tramping (hiking), fishing, diving and boating enthusiasts.

Nestled at the head of Queen Charlotte Sound is Picton which serves as the southern terminus for the Interislander ferries. A golden sandy beach is backed by London Quay which occupies much of the town's tourist activity. This port town is surrounded by steep hills and opens to a superb view of forested mountains rising from the sea.

Blenheim is Marlborough's largest town situated on the historic Wairau Plain, which in 1843 was the scene of bloody warfare between the Maori leader, Te Rauparaha and early settlers over the purchase of land.

By 1858, settlers named the region, Marlborough and the settlement, Blenheim, in honour of the first Duke of Marlborough and his most famous victory at Blenheim in 1704. Riverland's Cob Cottage, a few kilometers south of Blenheim, is a restored pioneer cottage typical of the colonial era with mud walls and shingle roof.

Today, orchards, vineyards and horticultural products benefit from the sunny climate. The country's most extensive area of grapes is planted in the Wairau Valley and has earned international acclaim.

The wine trail is now established linking the various wineries and is a popular attraction. The Marlborough Wine and Food Festival is held in February each year and attracts many visitors to sample Marlborough's produce while enjoying music and entertainment.

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Population: 4.035.500
Languages: English, Maori (both official)
Currency: New Zealand dollar
Currency code: NZD
Local Times:
New Zealand - Auckland

New Zealand - Chatham Island

New Zealand - Wellington

Country Dialling Code: +64
Voltage: 240V 50Hz
Electrical plugs:
Flat prongs, inverted 'V' positioned with earth connector

Flat prongs, inverted 'V' positioned with earth connector

It's been Middle Earth and Narnia in the movies but New Zealand's beautiful landscapes are no fantasy.

With a varied and dramatic landscape, a long and significant cultural heritage, and some of the world's rarest and most fascinating plant and animal species, New Zealand is an ideal adventure travel destination. Take a trip here and discover why New Zealand has it all - from flightless birds to breaching whales and breathtaking fjords to erupting geysers.

New Zealand comes with a reputation as a unique land packed with magnificent, raw scenery : craggy coastlines, sweeping beaches, primeval forests, snow-capped alpine mountains, bubbling volcanic pools, fast-flowing rivers and glacier-fed lakes, all beneath a brilliant blue sky. The far north is a subtropical haven of unspoilt beaches, citrus fruits and hibiscus flowers, while volcanic mud pools and geysers feature in the central part of North Island. The South Island boasts whale watching, ice glaciers and rugged snow-covered Alps. And yes, there are many wide-open spaces.

What's more, everything is easily accessible, packed into a land area little larger than Britain and with a population of just 3.8 million, over half of it tucked away in the three largest cities : Auckland, the capital Wellington, and the South Island's Christchurch. Elsewhere, you can travel miles through steep-hilled farmland and rarely see a soul, and there are even remote spots which, it's reliably contended, no human has ever visited.

Geologically, New Zealand split off from the super-continent of Gondwanaland early, developing a unique ecosystem in which birds adapted to fill the role normally held by mammals, many becoming flightless through lack of predators.

Only in the last couple of decades has New Zealand come of age and developed a true national self-confidence, something partly forced on it by Britain severing the colonial apron strings in the early 1970s, and partly by the resurgence of Maori identity. Maori demands have been nurtured by a willingness on the part of most pakeha to redress the wrongs perpetrated over the last century and a half, as long as it doesn't impinge on their high standard of living or overall feeling of control. More recently, integration has been replaced with a policy of promoting two cultures alongside each other, but with maximum interaction. In this way New Zealand is set to forge through the new century with considerable dignity and a good deal of uncertainty.

The British represent the second largest group of visitors to New Zealand - after neighbouring Australia. But at 12,000 miles away from the UK it's a once-in-a-lifetime destination for many and takes a bit of planning.

Most British travellers either tack New Zealand on to the end of an Australian holiday and regret not having enough time, or take two or three weeks and race around like mad to see the whole country. While New Zealand is small enough to 'do' in that time, a more enjoyable option is to spend longer at just a few places - and then you have an excuse to go back!

Nelson Travel Guide

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