Nelson / Abel Tasman
National Parks & Golden Beaches
Looking out over Nelson Haven and the Tasman Bay to the Tasman Mountains, Nelson is the gateway to the beautiful Abel Tasman, Kahurangi and Nelson Lakes National Parks.
Nelson has a central location just 2 hours from Picton and is known for its apples and hops, with passionate locals producing craft beer, cider and wine.
Cruising, hiking and kayaking are on offer all year round in the spectacular Abel Tasman National Park. Enjoy cycling on Tasman’s Great Taste Trail and see the wealth of creative energy local artisans share at their studios, galleries and popular markets.
Experience Nelson Tasman
- Enjoy a day walking or kayaking in the Abel Tasman National Park
- Ride a quad bike at Happy Valley Adventures and ride the Skywire
- Tour the Hoglund International Glass Centre
- Shop in the numerous craft galleries
- Try wine tasting at the many boutique wineries in the area
- Buy fruit fresh from the orchards
- Relax on the glorious beach
- Cycle the regions great rides
Here is a small selection of the accommodation available in the Nelson Tasman Region but we have many alternative Hotels, Apartments, B&Bs, Motels and Lodges to suit all tastes and budgets.
Rutherford Nelson – a Heritage Hotel
Capturing a unique blend of the local charm and cosmopolitan sophistication, Nelson’s only 24-hour fully serviced hotel is conveniently located in the centre of the city, just a stone’s throw away from Nelson’s many galleries and City attractions. On-site dining options include two highly-regarded restaurants, Oceano offering breakfast and an à la carte dinner menu, and Miyazu serving Japanese cuisine. Additionally, Atom café offers a wide range of freshly-baked delicacies, seasonal favourites, Mille-feuille teas, and a range of coffees for breakfast, morning tea, lunch of afternoon tea.
Premium Rooms
These stylish and well-appointed rooms come with en-suite bathrooms (shower over bath), bathrobes, WiFi, Sky TV, mini fridge and tea and coffee-making facilities. All rooms have a view of the harbour, city, historic South Street or Nelson’s beautiful cathedral.
Shelborne Villa B&B, Nelson
Shelbourne Villa has one of the best locations in Nelson City – elevated with sunny views over the City and Tasman Bay, very quiet, but also only five minutes on foot to downtown shopping, restaurants and galleries. All guest rooms are equipped with TV’s, writing desks, hairdryers, refrigerators, air-conditioning and tea and coffee-making facilities.
Newby Suite
Enjoy views across the front garden toward Nelson Cathedral from this sunny room. It has a King bed, en-suite bathroom with bath and shower, writing nook and plenty of space for your luggage.
Master Suite
This large, luxury suite is ideal if you want plenty of space to unpack. It has a King bed, comfortable lounge chairs, an open fire and an en-suite bathroom with twin vanities, a spa bath and shower.
Te Koi – The Lodge on Bronte, Mapua
This elegant, luxury lodge offers exclusive accommodation in a tranquil, natural setting. Nestled on the edge of the Waimea Estuary on Nelson’s historic Bronte Peninsula, the property is set in beautiful established gardens and surrounded by water. The four Suites and Villas are separate from the main lodge and located in the surrounding gardens with private entrances and furnished decks overlooking the estuary.
The Lodges are warmly decorated and provide a spacious living-room where guests can relax, fine- dining in the evenings, gourmet breakfast in the sunny mornings and aperitifs on the outdoor deck at sunset.
Enjoy the heated swimming pool and full-size tennis court. Play pétanque or book a cycle tour around the countryside, visiting internationally-renowned art galleries, cafés and award-winning vineyards.
The lodge is central to the Nelson region, a 30-minute drive from the city and 25 minutes from the Abel Tasman National Park.
Suite
These luxuriously refurbished suites are situated just three metres from the shoreline. They offer Super King/Twin beds, a spacious lounge area, air-conditioning, tea and coffee-making facilities and an en-suite bathroom with shower and bath.
Villas
Recently refurbished inside and out with a design that welcomes the beauty of the surrounding landscape and gardens into the living environment, the Te Koi Villas offer the very highest standards of comfort and luxury. They have Super King beds with a Twin option, spacious lounge area, air-conditioning, tea and coffee-making facilities, dressing room and an en-suite with walk-in shower.
Kaiteriteri Reserve Apartments
Kaiteriteri is the perfect place to visit throughout the year if you are seeking world class walking tracks, boat trips, sailing, kayaking, mountain biking or, if you just want to relax on the beach and put your feet up. Kaiteriteri Reserve Apartments are literally on the beachfront, ensuring you get the most out of everything on offer. Dine in the summer sun at Shoreline restaurant right alongside the Apartments, and you will have spectacular views of the sea, beach, natural forests and alpine backdrop all at once. The well-stocked Kaiteriteri Store and a petrol station is on-site making it a perfect stop on a self-drive holiday.
One- and Two-Bedroom Apartments
These are fully self-contained and decorated in a contemporary style showcasing local artwork and photography. They are accessible by stairs or lift and feature Queen or split King beds, kitchen, dining area, lounge room, bathroom with shower, Sky TV, free WiFi and partial sea views.
Awaroa Lodge, Abel Tasman National Park
Awaroa Lodge is set amid the Abel Tasman National Park, and is the sole provider of luxury accommodation within the middle of the park. Discover a perfect balance of natural comfort and contemporary style, welcoming hospitality, and creative organic cuisine. The Lodge has 26 villa rooms, a large restaurant, a fully-licensed bar, and a conference venue surrounded by native bush, a short walk from the famous Awaroa beach.
Awaroa Lodge is not accessible by road. Access is by water taxi from Marahau or Kaiteriteri; light plane or helicopter from Nelson, Motueka, Blenheim or Picton; or by foot via Abel Tasman National Park.
Standard Plus Room
The Standard Plus Room is larger than the normal standard room with an additional ranch slider and balcony. Features include a native bush outlook, a bar fridge, en-suite bathroom with hairdryer and tea and coffee-making facilities.
Superior Suite
The Superior Suites feature a private outdoor deck overlooking the native bush or wetland area. They also include a bar-fridge and tea and coffee-making facilities.
Some of the experiences available in the Nelson Tasman region are outlined below, but there are many, many more, so please ask for details of any other activity you would like to include during your stay.
Abel Tasman Cruise and Walk – Open Day Pass, Kaiteriteri
No visit to the Nelson Tasman Region is complete without visiting the world-famous Abel Tasman National Park. Explore golden beaches fringed by native bush, wander down trails accompanied by birdsong, swim in azure-blue waters with seals and penguins, or kayak past islands inhabited by native birds only. The “Open Day Pass” offers you the maximum flexibility to choose your cruise from Kaiteriteri into the Park, and how much walking you do to experience this beautiful coastline in a day. Just call Wilson’s the day before travel to discuss the best option for you.
Duration: 1 Day
Abel Tasman Cruise
Cruise in comfort along the spectacular coast of the Abel Tasman National Park on the Vista Cruise, which has three sailings per day so you can choose to spend the full day, or just a morning or afternoon in the Park. With onboard licensed café and the best views from comfortable seating on upper and lower viewing decks, stay on board or choose a beach stop with walking options from 10 minutes to 6 hours.
Duration: 3 to 8 Hours
Te Harinui – Luxury Sailing
Choose from an exclusive day celebration or a multi-day live aboard sailing holiday on this luxury this 14.1m/46ft Robertson and Caine Leopard sailing catamaran, Te Harinui. With four master Queen cabins, each with en-suite bathroom, large indoor dining-area and outside cockpit dining areas. There’s ample room on the foredeck for relaxing and there are paddle boards, fishing and snorkelling gear plus a dinghy and outboard.
Duration: 1 to 6 days
Tasman’s Great Taste Cycle Trail
Tasman’s Great Taste Trail is a network of cycleways threaded inland and along the coast, linking Nelson, Wakefield, Richmond, Motueka and Kaiteriteri. The full circuit is 174km, but this trail lends itself to tailored-guided or self-guided day-rides allowing plenty of time for enjoying the sights. Multiple access points and loop options, bike hire depots and shuttle services make it easy, as do luggage transfers for those wishing to spread out their overnight stops.
The Richmond to Mapua leg makes a great one-day ride. Winding initially along the bird-filled Waimea Inlet, it reaches the fragrant pine forest and sandy beaches of Rabbit Island where it’s possible to catch a ferry across to Mapua for art, ice cream, beer, fish and chips and more.
Another enjoyable day trip starts from Motueka, heading along country lanes, past fruit stalls and through orchards, to the entrance of the Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park. Riders of average fitness (including children) will enjoy the wide, smooth tracks leading over the hill to Kaiteriteri, one of Tasman Bay’s most stunning beaches.
Some inland sections of the Great Taste Trail follow temporary routes or are under construction, but it is still possible to complete the full loop riding on mostly quiet backroads.
Duration: 1 – 6 Days
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