Located on New Zealand's South Island, this calm harbor town is home to many local art galleries, walking paths and the World of Wearable Art Museum.
Nelson, New Zealand's second-oldest settled city, sits at the top of the South Island between three national parks. You can walk the 51-kilometer Abel Tasman Coast Track to Anchorage Beach, swim at Tahunanui Beach, or browse handmade jewelry and fresh produce at the Saturday Market in Montgomery Square. Local artists work in more than 350 studios throughout the city - you'll find glassblowers shaping sculptures at Höglund Art Glass and jewelers crafting rings at Jens Hansen's workshop. With 2,500 hours of sunshine each year, you can explore Nelson's beaches and hiking trails in any season.
Getting to Nelson
You can reach Nelson by driving two hours from Picton or six hours from Christchurch. Take SH1 through Kaikoura or choose SH6 over Lewis Pass and through Murchison to see snow-capped peaks and clear mountain streams. While you can walk across the city center in 30 minutes, you'll need a car to explore the national parks and surrounding regions.
Weather and When to Visit
Nelson gets more than 2,500 hours of sunshine annually - the highest in New Zealand. Summer temperatures (December to February) reach 23°C with little rain. Winter days stay mild, rarely falling below 4°C, though rain becomes more common from June through August.
Arts and Local Culture
More than 350 working artists call Nelson home. At Höglund Art Glass Studio, you can watch artisans transform molten glass into delicate vessels and sculptures. Step into Jens Hansen's workshop to see craftspeople making jewelry, including replicas of the One Ring from Lord of the Rings. Each October, the Nelson Arts Festival brings live music and theater to venues throughout the city.
Markets and Food
Every Saturday from 8 AM to 1 PM, 200+ vendors fill Montgomery Square Market. Local farmers bring organic produce from the Moutere Hills, while fishing boats deliver fresh salmon to market stalls each morning. The region's hop farms supply Nelson's craft breweries, which gather at Founders Heritage Park during MarchFest each autumn.
National Parks
Three national parks border Nelson. Drive one hour to Abel Tasman National Park, where the coastal track leads to secluded coves like Anchorage Beach and past granite cliffs. In Nelson Lakes National Park, walk through beech forest around Lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa. The 78-kilometer Heaphy Track in Kahurangi National Park takes you through nikau palm forests and along rugged coastline.
Day Trips
You can reach Marlborough's wine region in 90 minutes, where flat cycling paths connect more than 30 wineries. Rent a bike - rental shops include maps and will pick you up afterward. From Picton, two hours away, catch a boat tour through Marlborough Sounds, where forested hills meet deep blue water. Walk sections of the Queen Charlotte Track for panoramic views of the bays and inlets below.
