"Nelson - New Zealand's Sunniest City" Top 5 Page for this destination Nelson/Tasman by M0B1US

Nelson has New Zealand's sunniest climate and is the geographical centre of the country. It has a real laid back and new agey feel to it and this is borne out by the fact that there are more than 350 full-time artists and craftspeople active throughout the Nelson region. These include World reknowned glass-blowers, ceramic artists, sculptors, painters, designers, woodworkers, jewellers and textile artists...

With its proximity to a wealth of natural attractions as well, Nelson is a fantastic place to base yourself and recharge your batteries whilst you relax in its idyllic surroundings.

Looking out to Rabbit Island

Reknowned for its sunny weather, Nelson is a real gourmet's paradise with a number of extensive wine, food and craft trails to suit your tastes.

The centre of town is small, pleasant and compact with a number of good bars, cafes and restaurants to sample.

Other attractions include:

Beer Tasting and Tours of the Mac's Gold Brewery in nearby Stoke, as described in my tip of the same name.

Also, you cannot come to Nelson without visiting the nearby Abel Tasman National Park, at least to sample the beaches of Kaiteriteri and take a quick ride in the water taxi. If you have the time, you simply must go kayaking in one of New Zealand's most popular and beautiful National Parks.

The Nelson region is also home to the Kahurangi National Park, which was extensively used for locations in Lord of the Rings and the nearby Nelson Lakes, which also has a ski resort.

There are some fantastic beaches past the Abel Tasman National Park at Golden Bay and the famous Bird Sanctuary of Cape Farewell Spit by Collingwood, which can be toured by 4WD.

Apple Rock, Abel Tasman National Park

By Car is far and away the easiest way to get around the Nelson region to see all the out of the way nooks and crannies, as well as the main attractions.

You can also fly into Nelson, or take the Intercity bus but you will still have the problem of getting around when you get there. There are coach tours around the wine and craft trails of the Nelson region (a must if you're going to do any serious wine tasting!), and also a choice of the Kiwi Experience...

A brilliant way to see and get around the Abel Tasman National Park is by the excellent Water Taxi service out of Kaiteriteri.

• Pros:A Gourmet's Paradise!
• Cons:Slightly off the beaten track