Everything you need to know about the WHV in Nelson

Sporting activities

If you like sports, you’ll enjoy the hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and swimming opportunities in Nelson and the surrounding region. You can check out the options for more than 50 different walks on the Nelson city council website. Cycle paths are less common but there are a few available, as well as the mountain biking trails. Find the full list here.

As for swimming, you can choose from one of the two swimming pools in Nelson or the large aquatic centre in Richmond (about 15 minutes’ drive from Nelson).

If you prefer to swim at the beach, the beaches closest to the city centre are the Monaco Peninsula and Tahunanui Beach. A little further away (but accessible by bus) is Boulder Bank Reserve Beach, which is another popular swimming spot. Activities like kitesurfing and other water sports are also available at many of the beaches.

The largest sports centre in Nelson is the Saxton Field Sports Complex in the Stoke district. Here, you will find all the usual sports (basketball, netball, cricket, athletics, etc.). This is also where you can join a social sports club such as volleyball, tennis or badminton. There are other smaller fitness clubs spread across the different districts of Nelson if you don’t want to travel too far to work out.

Cultural life

Live music

It’s unlikely that any big musician will come to play in Nelson, but you can find local acts in the small pubs in Motueka and Riwaka or in restaurants/pubs throughout the city.

In Nelson, the main music venues are:

• Trafalgar Centre: the largest multi-purpose events arena in Nelson that hosts major events and exhibitions.
• Theatre Royal Nelson: hosts singers, dancers, theatre shows, magicians, etc.
• Fairfield House: historic house that has concerts, shows and classes throughout the year (when the venue is not booked for private events).

Cinemas and theatres

Your main option for movies is the State Cinema, which shows all the new releases. Visit on Super Tuesdays for a discounted price. There is also a small independent cinema in Motueka called the Gecko, which shows smaller independent and international films.

Theatre performances mainly take place at the Theatre Royal Nelson. The Nelson Musical Theatre is one of the oldest Musical Theatre Societies in New Zealand and regularly runs auditions if you want to take part in their upcoming shows.

Museums and art galleries

Although Nelson is a small city, it’s full of artists and galleries. It’s known as the art capital of the country! With over 300 artists living in Nelson, including painters, sculptors, potters, glassblowers and more, you’ll be spoilt for choice. For Lord of the Rings fans, the creator of the One Ring, Jens Hansen, owns a jewellery shop in Nelson.

The World Of Wearable Art (WOW) and Classic Car Museum bring together an exhibition of classic cars and creations from popular fashion shows that take place in Wellington (but first started in Nelson). The outfits are made out of wood, plastic, paper and even rubber tyres! The collection is renewed twice a year.

The Nelson Provincial Museum is free for local residents and NZ$7 for tourists. The exhibitions cover the history of the Tasman Bay and the Golden Bay regions.

If you want to observe the artisans at work, head to Founders Heritage Park. You can buy their artwork from the mill shop. You can make a day trip of it by visiting the Founders Brewery Bar & Cafe, the Hop & Beer museum, and the Railway Museum.

There are two art walks to help you discover the city’s works of art: The Street Art Walk to discover street art, and The Quay Art Walk to see sculptures in different materials and commemorative monuments along the waterfront.

To find out more about what’s on in Nelson and the surrounding area, check out the official tourism website or Event Finda.