Everything you need to know about the WHV in Nelson

The Tasman region is full of beautiful places; you could easily spend a few months here and still not have time to discover it all. However, here is a selection of places you can’t miss during your stay in Nelson.

National parks

Abel Tasman National Park

This is undoubtedly the most famous national park in the region. Abel Tasman is located around an hour’s drive east of Nelson, in the protected Tasman Bay. With its 25,000 hectares, it is the smallest national park in New Zealand. Despite its small size, Abel Tasman is world-renowned for golden sand beaches, granite cliffs, kayaking and breathtaking views of Tasman Bay. It’s also home to the famous Abel Tasman Coast Track, one of the country’s Great Walks.

Nelson Lakes National Park

This 102,000 hectare park is located approximately a 75-minute drive away from Nelson. It is a must-see for its two lakes surrounded by the Southern Alps. To get there, take State Highway 63 directly to the small village of Saint Arnaud for the first lake, Lake Rotoiti. To reach the second lake, Lake Rotoroa, you will have to drive for another 30 minutes. Enjoy pure mountain air, hiking, camping, mountain biking, swimming and kayaking. You can also go skiing in winter.

Kahurangi National Park

Kahurangi National Park is the second largest national park in the country at 452,000 hectares. Here, you will find the longest of the Great Walks, the Heaphy Track. If you want to experience a new landscape away from the beaches, head to Mount Arthur in the Motueka Valley. The views from the top of the mountain are spectactular.

Motueka

The drive to Motueka offers some amazing views and you will pass alongside Tahunanui Beach and the coast. Along the way, you can visit Rabbit Island, Mapua, Ruby Bay and Tasman, before finishing your day at one of Motueka’s many beaches.

If you love cycling, the Tasman’s Great Taste Trail will take you from Nelson to Kaiteriteri via various stopping points, including Wakefield and Motueka. This is a great way to explore the local area and try some of the local produce (including wine!) along the way. The climate around Nelson is conducive to growing grapes and hops, so it’s no surprise that there are plenty of options for wine and beer tasting.

Kaiteriteri and Marahau

You can take a water taxi from Kaiteriteri or Marahau to Abel Tasman National Park. Kaiteriteri is still worth a visit for its golden sand beach, which feels similar to the Côte d’Azur. Marahau is much quieter but a pleasant village worth visiting for peaceful swimming, kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding. You can also explore the Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park.

Takaka and Golden Bay

Takaka is the gateway to Golden Bay, a small, quirky town where the main street is full of colourful buildings and murals. The road to Takaka passes through Takaka Hill, which offers incredible panoramic views. Takaka is only an hour’s drive away from Nelson. Once there, you can find plenty of things to do in Golden Bay to fill a day out:

• Wharariki Beach: if the tide is out, you might be lucky enough to see sea lions.
• Farewell Spit: a 26km long sandbar where you can walk amongst the sand dunes.
• Wainui Falls: an easy walk to the waterfall (it takes less than 30 minutes).
• Rahiwiti Cave: a 2-hour return hike to explore the caves.
• Te Waikoropupu Springs: New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, containing some of the clearest water in the world.

Finally, for more ideas, check out New Zealand South Island road trip: Our itineraries.