About Nelson Marlborough

The best way to describe Nelson Tasman is 'lifestyle'. It often tops New Zealand’s sunshine hours and boasts golden beaches and productive tourism, wine, horticulture and fishing industries.

The region takes up the north western corner of the South Island. The main centre, Nelson city (population 46,000) is a 5-hour drive from Christchurch. By air, Nelson is just 30 minutes from Wellington, 40 minutes from Christchurch, and about 1½ hours from Auckland.

There are many unique aspects to this region. Nowhere else in the world, for example, will you find three very distinctive national parks in a relatively small area, offering glistening waters, golden sands, spectacular native forests, lakes and mountain ranges, easily accessible year-round.

Nelson’s coast is notable for two huge, shallow bays - Tasman Bay and Golden Bay. The interior is hilly and mountainous with attractive lakes and areas of limestone and marble which feature deep caves and sinkholes.

With an ideal growing climate, Nelson produces all of New Zealand’s commercial hops and has consequently become the country’s craft brewing capital with 11 craft breweries, while the region’s 25 boutique wineries excel at producing aromatic wines and chardonnay. Other horticultural stand-outs include apples and berries, while the ocean’s produce has made Port Nelson the largest fishing port in Australasia.

Nelson Tasman is welcoming to outsiders. From the eight iwi of Te Tau Ihu, to past and recent internationals, people have always found a home here. With one in five people born overseas, Nelson Tasman has 48 different cultures living in its environs.

Within the Region:

• Abel Tasman National Park. The sheltered bays of the Park are perfect for sailing and sea kayaking, also offering opportunities to see the seals and dolphins who regularly play in these coastal waters. If you prefer to explore by land, the Abel Tasman Coast Track follows the coastline through native bush, beside limestone cliffs and along golden beaches.
• The Queen Charlotte Track. Stretches 70km from Ship Cove to Anakiwa and is an intermediate to advanced grade. The whole track can be completed in 5 days on foot, or 3 days on a mountain bike with luggage transfers available by water-taxi.
• Farewell Spit. The 30km long spit is home to a vast bird sanctuary and is considered a Wetland of international importance.
• Art. There are over 300 artists in Nelson Tasman, and every type of art is represented from painters, sculptors, ceramic artists, potters, glass blowers, jewellers, performance artists, writers and creators.
• National WOW Museum and Nelson Classic Car Collection. Displays pieces from the annual World of Wearable Art event. The collection is updated twice a year. The Classic Cars Gallery is adjoining, where you can view one of Australasia’s largest private collection of classic cars.
• Craft Beer. Nelson Tasman is the home of all New Zealand's hops, due to the perfect growing conditions. There are also 11 craft breweries stretching from Founders Heritage Park to Onekaka in Golden Bay.
• Wineries. More than 30 cellar doors within the Marlbrough region.
• Marlborough Sounds.  Only accessible by boat. Explore with a scenic cruise that provides opportunities to meet the wildlife that live in and around the Sounds: fur seals, little blue penguins, dolphins the rare Rowi kiwi, tuatara and weka.
• Dolphins. Spot from the shore, the boat, or take a dip into the water for a personal encounter.
• Te Waikoropupu (Pupu) Springs. Said to produce the clearest fresh water in the world and is part of the southern hemisphere’s deepest known cave system.