Nelson

New Zealand

Nelson is on the the shores of Tasman Bay at the top of the South Island. Established in 1841, it is the oldest city in the South Island and second-oldest city in New Zealand. The city is a magnet for creative people as it is well known for its thriving arts and crafts scene. The annual Wearable Art Awards began near here.

Nelson is in the sunniest region in the country with an annual average of over 2400 hours of sunshine.

What to see and do in Nelson

Nelson Cathedral:
Once the site of a Maori pa, the early settlers based their buildings on this hill. The cathedral was completed in 1965.

South Street:
Working-class cottages were built on South Street between 1863 and 1867 and some are available for tourists to rent. South Street Gallery is good to get an idea of the type of pottery created in Nelson

Tahunanui Beach:
This beautiful sandy beach has attracted holiday-makers for over a century. The beach is safe for swimming and popular with sunseekers and joggers. There is a statue of Abel Tasman that overlooks the beach (the first European explorer to visit NZ back in 1642).

The Suter Art Gallery:
Nelson's regional art museum is alongside the Queens Gardens on Bridge Street. Bishop Suter (1830-1895) had a wish to present an art gallery to the people of Nelson. After is death, his wife began to make his wish come true and it was opened in 1899. More details about exhibitions and current opening hours here: thesuter.org.nz

The Nelson Market:
There is a market in Montgomery Square every Saturday morning from 8am to 1pm with everything being made locally (no imported goods are permitted).

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