Nelson, New Zealand. What's it like?

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sairaber

On my gap year in 2003 I lived in Nelson for 5 months and had quite possibly the best time of my life so far. I worked in an apple packing factory and met loads of people from around the world. Nelson itself is a really nice town. I don't know where you are from but if you're British then it's very similar to a 1950's Britain. Although I was there 3 years ago (so I dont know if it's changed) I found it to be a very friendly, clean place. The main town centre has good shops, cinemas etc and the outskirts of town have nice beaches like Tahunanui (sp?) and places like the nearby Abel Tasman national park are absolutely gorgeous!

Hope this helps.

xxx

red

it's a cute little town, you can walk to the centre of new zealand there!!! i remember this tiny little cinema which was more like someone's living room, the a movie theatre! and the hostel i was staying at was at the top of a very steap hill. it was lovely

Orange Slice

There's little I could add to the above enthusiastic endorsements for Nelson other than suggest you visit www.stuff.co.nz which is the umbrella site for many regional NZ newspapers - click on "The Nelson Mail" (listed on the right-hand side of the web page) - useful to check out what's going on around the area.

skycat

For our 21st season, New Zealand Travelers continues to offer non-commercial, non-touristy, tasteful, small-group tours for discerning, nature-loving walkers. You will enjoy beautiful accommodations, fine cuisine served by candlelight, and the leadership of university-educated host, Alan Riegelman, who founded NZT in 1986. (See photo, top left.)

AN ADOPTIVE SON OF NZ SHOWS YOU THE BEST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND
Founder/Director Alan Riegelman traveled to the South Island in 1984 to fish for trout, and then spent an entire year roaming and backpacking in the backcountry before becoming a NZ citizen and founding NZT. Right from the start, he determined that NZT tours should be like family outings to off-the-beaten path locations and not simply unimaginative coach tours to the same old, tired tourist attractions. For example, among other fascinating places, we'll take you to our secret Fiordland Crested Penguin bay and a hidden mountain forest of towering trees that are more than 1,000 years old.

GOOD FOOD AND TASTEFUL ACCOMMODATIONS
ARE CRUCIAL
Alan is a professional cook, and he prepares most evening meals. NZT menus feature fresh fish, rack of lamb, thick steaks, and the South Islandâ€™s fantastic fresh veggies. Your first NZT dinner is at Alanâ€™s beautiful home on the Teal River in Nelson, where you can walk through the gardens and feed the trout. (See photo to the left.) We stay in B&Bs and beach-front motels, most of which have hosted NZT groups for many years. For three nights we have an entire ski lodge to ourselves, hot tub and all.

bambam

It's a lovely place, if i remember correctly Nelson is the only real "built up" area around - if you've lived in NZ i think you'll know what i mean?

http://www.nelsonnz.com/

Gives you loads of info, and has an events calendar.

Enjoy your Xmas!!

Phil

I stayed there for 3 nights, but spent one complete day kayaking the the Abel Tasman NP and the other was Easter Sunday! It seemed like a nice enough place, but I didn't really have much time to find out...

rehad

Absolutely stunning, lived there for 5 years

anchorpot

nice place like the rest of the country but as you know not many places are hugely populated so its not like the city.

kiwi_guy1980

very pretty i hear a population of about the same as Napier or P.north, and in front of Napier as being NZs sunniest city

Behhar B

Well summer in NZ is nice, no matter where you are so the Nelson area is going to be quite appealing. I've been there a dozen times or so in the summer and had a great time visiting Motueka and the Tasman Bay/Moutere area, both within easy distance. Apple and other fruit picking, horse riding, beaches, I think from memory the nightclubs weren't bad either. Mostly I stayed on a friends farm and we went joy riding and drinking beer lol. It's a nice laid back place to spend Christmas with BBQs and still having the feeling of a city to it.

Recko

Only spent 2 nights there and found it a bit dull but a couple of the bars were ok.

ccinnz

Amazing... statistically the sunniest town in New Zealand. Mountains on one side, Sounds/Fjords on the other. Very arty, festivals in the summer. ifyou're going to the South island you should definitely stop there.

drblonde

Its fantastic! I used to live in NZ, albeit in Napier, N. Island, but have travelled all over. Nelson is one place I would consider moving to permanently - pretty much guaranteed blue skies and hot hot hot, near the fab beaches of Abel Tasman (you have to do a sea-kayaking trip, and stay overnight on a boat in Anchorage Bay) and near mountains inland and the beautiful Marlborough Sounds. Nelson is a really nice town as well. Very laid-back and lots nice cafes and restaurants. Sorry for ranting but I love it!!

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