4 minute read
Nelson – a place to brighten any day
Nestled comfortably with the Tasman Bay to the north and mountain ranges to the east, south and west, Nelson Tasman serves as a gateway to the riches the South Island has to offer.
Sitting at the top north-west corner of the South Island, it is consistently rated the sunniest region in the country with a geography which boasts everything from long golden beaches to untouched forests and rugged mountains. Nelson city serves as a gateway to the three national parks on its doorstep and has firmly established itself as a popular ecotourism and adventure tourism town. Many areas within the greater Nelson Tasman region boast beaches, forests, pristine bodies of water and magnificent cave systems. Nelson truly is the best of both worlds. It’s large enough to offer all the services and amenities of a large city, but at the same time it is small enough to be welcoming and friendly. Nelson is New Zealand’s largest fishing port and the gateway to a major forestry and horticulture industry. There is the attraction of fine foods, great wines, an innovative craft industry, spectacular scenery and traditional Kiwi hospitality and the combination makes Nelson Tasman a place holiday-makers flock to all year round. The beautiful coastline from Nelson to Golden Bay and the Abel Tasman National Park is famous for its clear blue waters and pristine golden sand beaches. The park itself can be explored by guided walks, sea kayak, cruise boat, water taxi or freedom walking, allowing you to see penguins, seals, dolphins and native birds, all set in lush native forest and beautiful beaches. Inland Nelson Tasman is equally as exciting, in a wonderland of water adventure, including kayaking, rafting and boating. If frozen water is a preference, skiing and even ice skating make the Nelson Lakes National Park a popular winter destination, well served by some exquisite luxury lodges hidden away among mountains, lakes and exotic native bush settings. Nelson Tasman is very family friendly. There are three national parks and the Abel Tasman should be a number one must do on everyone’s list. It is one of the country’s sunshine capitals and is also earning a title as the creative arts capital with more than 250 local artists, including traditional, contemporary and Maori.
Shapeshifter Landscapes LTD
• Qualified Landscaper • Hard/Soft Landscapes • Decks/Fences • Stone work • Irrigation • Paving • Retaining walls • Garden maintenance • MTB/Walking Trails
027 334 3156
Worried about a loved one?
Are they unable to drive anymore? Living on their own or require assistance to get out?
We are a safe, friendly and reliable companion driving service.
Call Driving Miss Daisy Nelson West:
We meet our clients at their door, check them in at reception for appointments and get them safely back inside at home. We have a small and friendly team that clients get to know, especially when they book a companion drive for accompanied shopping, sightseeing or out for a nice coffee. We are a pre-booked and pre-quoted service.
We go over and above to get your loved one out and about. Call Tracey & Rob McConnachie: Ph: 03 541 0020 Mob: 021 504 856 nelsonwest@drivingmissdaisy.co.nz www.drivingmissdaisy.co.nz
Along with a plethora of wineries, Nelson is also emerging as a culinary destination with an abundance of local flavours. Local restaurants can tempt the most discerning palate with their superb seafood including mussels, scallops, oysters, seasonal whitebait, and many fish varieties. The Taste Nelson festival is held each year to celebrate these culinary delights.
Farewell Spit
At 35km, Farewell Spit is New Zealand’s longest sand spit and a bird sanctuary and wetland of international importance. With more than 90 bird species recorded in the area, thousands of wading birds from the northern hemisphere arrive every spring and penguins also breed in the area. Seals breed at Wharariki Beach and its caves, islands and arches are among the most dramatic in the country, with constantly shifting dunes and a series of lakes and swamps in the background.
TeWaikoropupu Springs
One of the clearest water ever measured can be found at TeWaikoropupu Springs, near the Golden Bay township of Takaka. Set in a reserve that protects gold workings, regenerating forest and a fine patch of mature bush, the area is a taonga or treasure and a waahitapu, a place held in high cultural and spiritual regard for Maori. Nelson, blessed by nature as a destination which offers almost everything, is not to be missed in any tour of New Zealand. The region is easily accessible, being one and a half hour’s drive from Picton, the gateway to the South Island via Cook Strait, or five hours from Christchurch, and is served by regular flights from all over New Zealand.
Nelson Tasman Tourism PO Box 788 Nelson T (03) 546 6228 info@NelsonNZ.com www.nelsonnz.com
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