Photo courtesy of Vangelis F.
Photo courtesy of Johanna julien
Photo courtesy of Vangelis F.
CLEOPATRA'S POOLS - Able Tasman National Park
Cleopatras' Pool is situated between Torrent Bay and Anchorage Bay in the Abel Tasman National Park. Here you'll find a beautiful rock pool complete with a natural
waterslide. The walk will take you about an 1hr from either Torrent Bay or Anchorage. The high tide track will ensure you reach the pool at its best.
Access it from the Abel Tasman Track or utilise the water taxi to either Torrent Bay or Anchorage Bay, visit the link below for a map of the track and area.
Location: Abel Tasman National Park, between Torrent Bay & Anchorage.
Hours: 24
Price: free
ABEL TASMAN COAST TRACK
- Able Tasman National Park
The Abel Tasman Coast Track is a Great Walk which extends for 54.4 km. All streams within the walk are bridged but there are tidal crossings which can only be crossed within a few hours either side of low tide. The track will take you an average of three to five days and can be walked from either end of the track. There are huts and campsites available for a fee. Bookings required. Day walks have no charge. Access can be found from the roadend carparks, you can also catch water taxis to beaches along the track or kayak along the coast.
Location: Four Points - Marahau | Wainui | Totaranui | Awaroa - see website for details
Hours: 24
Price: free for day walks, extended walks please enquire below.
Photo courtesy of Tourism New Zealand
CABLE BAY - Nelson
Cable Bay offers a beautiful spot only 25 minutes drive from Nelson city. There is a cafe which is open various hours in the summer as well as a walkway for you to enjoy the scenery, be sure to check if it's open, it's open hours vary. The beach itself offers a mix of rocky areas and sand, the beach is good for swimming and snorkeling.
Location: Take Trafalgar St toward Ajax Ave, at the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto State Highway 6 to Blenheim/Picton. Turn left onto Cable Bay Rd.
Hours: 24
Price: free
Web:
Photo courtesy of Pseudopanax, English Wikipedia
MAITAI RIVER SWIMMING HOLES - Nelson
The Maitai river which runs through Nelson & settles in the Maitai Valley offers a variety of swimming holes for those game enough to search. The most popular is Black Hole situated on the eastern side of Botanical Hill toward Branford Park.
Lovely swimming hole, can get a bit crowded on those hot days.
Location: Maitai Valley, Nelson.
Price: free.
Hours: 24
Web:
Photo courtesy of NZ Govt, The Prow.
VINEYARDS
There are a selection of vineyards throughout Nelson/ Tasman where you can taste their selections of wines.
Always an enjoyable day out, spend your day relaxing in the Tasman climate whilst sipping many a delectable option of wine, just be sure to either choose a tour guide or find an alternative option to driving.
The best way to find winery tour service providers is to visit the local information centre.
MIYAZU JAPANESE GARDEN - Nelson
The Miyazu Japanese Garden provides a serene environment for you to relax in the Nelson climate. The garden houses a variety of sculptures, lanterns and decks with ponds laced with ducks. Take some bread with you when you visit, sit and feed the ducks and enjoy the environment.
Location: Atawhai Dr, Nelson.
Hours: 24
Price: free
Web:
Photo courtesy of Harlequin nz
CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL - Nelson
The Christ Church Cathedral creates a presence in Nelson. Situated in Trafalgar square, work began in 1925 with final completion in 1965. The church is the principal church of the Nelson Diocese. The Maori name for the hill on which the Cathedral stands is Pikimai, which means “come up hither”
Location: Trafalgar Square, Nelson.
Price: free, donations accepted.
Hours: Sunday services: 8am Holy Communion | 10am Choral Eucharist Children's Church | 5pm Evensong/Compline | 7pm Word & Worship @ 7
Photo courtesy of Nelson City Council
THE SUTER - Nelson
The Suter is Nelsons' public art gallery and is situated adjacent to Queen’s Gardens. The gallery offers changing exhibitions, musical performances, floor talks, theatrical performances and films.
The gallery gives you the opportunity to purchase art through the art store or relax in the popular in-house cafe.
Location: 208 Bridge St, Nelson.
Hours: 10.30am – 4.30pm, daily.
Price: free.
Web: www.thesuter.org.nz
Photo courtesy of The Suter Art Galllery.
SOUTH ST WORKERS COTTAGES - Nelson
The workers cottages are located Just west of the Christ Church Cathedral in Nelson. South Street contains a row of quaint workers’ cottages which were built between 1863 and 1867: The cottages combined are said to be the oldest fully intact street in NZ.
Accommodation is available in some of the cottages.
Location: South St, Nelson.
Hours: 24
Price: free
Web: http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/28989/south-street-cottages
Photo courtesy of TEARA.
BOTANICAL HILL WALK - Nelson
The Botanical Reserve in Nelson offers one of Nelsons' best walking tracks which ascends from Botanical Hill, a spire proclaims it New Zealand's centre. The track starts at the Botanical Reserve, end of Hardy Street. The walk takes you to the Centre of New Zealand and will take 20-60 minutes, depending on your age, speed and fitness. The main track caters for sturdy push-chairs and buggies. The top offers stunning views of Nelsons' geography with information panels provided.
Location: Cnr Milton & Hardy Street East, Nelson City.
Hours: 24
Price: free.
Web: http://www.wonderwalkers.co.nz/default,1877,botanical-garden-reserve.sm
Photo courtesy of Markus Koljonen.
NELSON PROVINCIAL MUSEUM - Nelson
The Nelson Provincial Museum offers a modern museum space filled with regional cultural heritage and natural history exhibits. There are regular touring exhibitions available (admission price varies).
Location: cnr Hardy & Trafalgar Sts, Nelson.
Hours: 10:00am - 5:00pm weekdays10:00am - 4:30pm weekends / public holidays.
Prices: Adults $7, Child $3
Photo courtesy of NZ Museums
Nelson/ Tasman Sights
Nelson, Richmond, Motueka
Abel Tasman National Park, Collingwood, Takaka, Brightwater, Murchison, Mapua
Ian Trafford
Home_South Island_Nelson/Tasman Region_Nelson/ Tasman Sights
Nelson & Tasman's surrounding sea provides some of New Zealand's finest seafood, while it's sunny coastal climate produces fabulous grapes for wine, fresh fruit and produce.
The earliest known contact between Māori & Europeans was in 1642 with dutch explorer, Abel Janszoon Tasman’s 1642 voyage of discovery.
The meeting resulted in the tragic death of four sailors and Tasman's departure. A memorial in Golden Bay marks the tragic meeting while the region is named after Abel Janszoon Tasman.
Tonga Island Marine Reserve (Abel Tasman National Park) - offers visitors the opportunity to visit a New Zealand fur seal colony and swim with the seals in their natural environment. The area is also home to the world’s longest natural sandbar (Farewell Spit) which stretches 35km from the tip of the South Island.
Known for its beauty the area is home to over 95 species of birds. Farewell Spit is a long established wildlife sanctuary with New Zealand’s highest conservation protection.
The Rotoiti Nature Recovery Project is a major restoration programme - at Lake Rotoiti in Nelson Lakes National Park. The project consists of a 5000ha forest of beech endeavouring to return native birdlife to the area. Here you'll find bush walks that weave through trees while information panels tell stories of the project and the local flora and fauna.
One of the regions favourite activities is sea kayaking in Abel Tasman National Park. The national park was established in 1942 and is renowned for its golden beaches and clear water. Here kayakers are able to hire kayaks and take guided tours to visit otherwise inaccessible sheltered coves.
The region is renowned for its walks in the many national parks. One of the great walks of New Zealand, the coastal Abel Tasman track, is located in the Abel Tasman National Park. The walk is 52km in length and takes three to five days to complete with huts and campsites available along the way.
"offers the opportunity to visit a New Zealand fur seal colony and swim with the seals in their natural environment"