Everything you need to know about the WHV in Nelson

Buying food in Nelson

There are the usual supermarket chains in Nelson (New World, Countdown, FreshChoice, etc.). In addition to these large chains, you will find independent stores that are more specialised:

• Bin Inn: bulk sale specialty items like dried fruits, seeds, spices, ecological cleaning products, etc. Useful for buying in bulk for lower prices, or if you want to cut down on plastic packaging.
• Organic Foods Nelson: same principle as Bin Inn but their products are 100% organic.
• Prego Mediterranean Foods: mainly Italian products.
• Asian Food Store: affordable Asian grocery store.
• Ebonlon Asia Food Market: another option for affordable Asian supplies.

It’s better to avoid buying fruit and veg at the supermarkets. This is partly because it’s more expensive but also because Nelson is an agricultural region. You will have lots of options for local and seasonal produce at a better quality:

• The Farmer’s Market: every Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. 100% fresh, 100% local!
• The Nelson Market: every Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Benge & Co: fruit and vegetables are generally cheaper than in the supermarket but not always local.
• Road stalls: farmers or even individuals sell produce from their fields/gardens via an honesty box system. You won’t find any in the centre of Nelson, of course, but you will see the stalls if you go on road trips outside of the city.

Buying alcohol in Nelson

You will find liquor stores like Liquorland or Super Liquor almost everywhere. Wine and beer can be sold in supermarkets but you’ll need to go to the liquor store for hard spirits. Remember to take some form of ID because age checks are regularly enforced in New Zealand.

Nelson is surrounded by vineyards and you can buy wine on site when you go for a wine tasting. If wine isn’t your thing, the region also has some local breweries. Finally, Nelson has previously been voted the “cider city” of the world. Head to the famous Sprig & Fern to sample some world-famous cider. There is also a cider festival every summer!

Buying clothes in Nelson

The main shopping streets are located in the CBD, between Rutherford, Halifax, Collingwood and Nile streets. You will find a mix of national chains and independent stores. The shops are usually open from around 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, closing earlier on Saturdays and usually closed on Sundays.

The only shopping centre in Nelson is Morrison Square. Not far from Nelson is the Richmond Shopping Mall, which is open all week. This mall is better because you also have the PakNSave supermarket, Kmart and The Warehouse on site, which allows you to get everything you need in the same place.

If you need specific outdoor/hiking/camping clothing or equipment, you can look in stores like Kathmandu, Macpac, Mountain Warehouse and Hunting & Fishing. They have good quality equipment but can be more expensive. You can find camping equipment at a discount at The Warehouse or Kmart but these will be of lower quality.

For good deals, try shopping for your clothes in a charity shop, known in New Zealand as Op Shops (“Opportunity Shop”). They also sell second-hand books, shoes, toys, furniture, etc. There are lots of options in Nelson, including the SPCA, Salvation Army, Vinnies and the Hospice Shop.

Buying electronics in Nelson

If you need to get a new phone, computer, camera, iPad, etc., try Noel Leeming or Harvey Norman. To have your device repaired or if you need to buy more technical parts, you can find specialist stores in the city centre, such as Call a Geek or SouthTec NZ.

Buying a vehicle in Nelson

If you need to buy a car/van in Nelson, start by reading Buying a car or a van in New Zealand.

“For sale” ads for vehicles are mainly found on Trade Me and Facebook pages like Nelson Buy + Sell Vehicles. You might also find ads in hostels or on supermarket notice boards.

Another solution is to go to a car dealer. The main pro of using a car dealer is that you can “try before you buy”. Another advantage is that dealers often include a one-year warranty, which is reassuring when buying an older car or a car with high mileage. The dealer must also sell the car to you with a new WOF. The main con of using a car dealer is that prices are higher than buying directly from a private individual.

You can go to the Stoke area where you will find a large number of cars for sale parked along Main Road. If you are interested in a car, call the individual who is selling it for details. If you want to utilise a dealer, take a look at The Car Company or Value Vehicles.