Best Things To Do in Nelson, New Zealand

Are you looking for what to do in Nelson?

Nelson prides itself on its fresh and organic produce and its seafood. Shop for your edibles at the Montgomery Square Saturday Markets if you want. Regardless, the restaurants themselves offer good stuff.  Make sure you try the Golden Bell Thai Restaurant, the Relish Waterfront Dining and the ever-popular Boat Shed Café.

There’s no shortage of bars with their own breweries, so feel free to hit them up one by one and sample beers from all over town.

Below we have a list of things to do in Nelson and the places where you want to spend the best moments of your trip. At the same time, the city offers you the best neighborhoods to explore and new foods to try.

This list should help you in deciding and prioritizing what you should plan on your Nelson getaway. Find a mix of must-see tourist spots, underrated local hangouts, and maybe even a few new experiences you can try out.

Make the most of your trip to Nelson with confidence.

Tourist Attractions in Nelson

Here is the list of things to do in Nelson and tourist attractions in city.

  1. World Of Wearable Art And Classic Cars Museum

    Automobile Museum

    You were not expecting to find something like this in this sleepy looking town. These two very distinct exhibits are nevertheless treated as a single entity. The first section (Wearable Art) showcases the garments of the Wellington World of WearableArt Awards, a show famed for its celebration of creative freedom. The displays are set on moving mannequins that then model the outrageous and imagi...Read more
  2. Harwoods Hole Walk

    Outdoors, Cave, Hiking Trail, Adventure

    A little over an hour’s drive away from Nelson lies this spelunker’s delight. A long rugged walk once you’re off the highway leads you past stunning marble formations and old riverbeds till at the end of it, you stand at the entrance to Harwood’s Hole. This is no place for amateurs; the area is surrounded by sharp limestone formations and the hole (which you cannot see i...Read more
  3. Christ Church Cathedral

    4.5 (1354 Votes)
    Christ Church Cathedral

    Religious Site, Architecture , Cathedral

    The Anglican Church looms over Nelson from the top of the hill in the middle of the city. It was finished in 1965. I’s unusual colour comes from the marble that went into it’s making, from Pakikiruna near Takaka Hill. It’s not large, not is it particularly grand; rather, it’s beaut lies in the serenity it imparts to every visitor. Visit during the service, and you’...Read more
  4. Wharariki Beach

    4.8 (1114 Votes)
    Wharariki Beach

    Beach, Walking Area, Leisure

    On the northern most tip of New Zealand’s South Island, lies this spectacular, gigantic beach. You want to visit at low tide, when a four hour timeframe will be enough to cover most of the beauties this beach has to offer. If you’re lucky, you see some adorable sea lions. If you’re staying away from the water, th old hiking trail is a perfect place from where to catch the suns...Read more
  5. Abel Tasman National Park

    4.8 (554 Votes)
    Abel Tasman National Park

    National Park, Water Body, Hiking Trail, Nature

    The national park is located on the South Island of New Zealand, and is named after its founder Abel Tasman who was one of the first Europeans to see the New Zealand islands. The park is best known for its beautiful beaches which is dominated with its distinctive granite and marble formations. This park is the perfect escape for nature lovers and is the ideal location for everyone who needs to ...Read more
  6. Broadgreen Historic House

    4.5 (2359 Votes)
    Broadgreen Historic House

    Garden

    This is one of Nelson’s oldest dwellings. Today it’s mostly used as an exhibition house and a place to host events. The Samuel Rose Garden, holding about 3000 beautiful plants over 560 varieties is housed here. It’s also a spot from where some of Nelson’s heritage walks can be started. These include the Rose Walk, Saunter in the Stoke, Settlement in Stoke, and the Isel P...Read more
  7. Nelson And Monty Market

    Market, Street Market, Arts And Crafts

    Every Saturday morning, about 200 hundred stalls suddenly appear in Montgomery Square to create one of the word’s most charming markets. Hand crafted jewellery, designer clothing, locally made condiments, artwork, toiletries, organic foodstuffs, and excellent coffee stalls… you can find nearly everything here. The emphasis is usually on food, whether regional or seasonal, and most ...Read more
  8. Founders Park

    4.4 (727 Votes)
    Founders Park

    Park, Leisure

    The Founder’s Park is Nelson’s tribute to it’s own history. It’s preserved the way Nelson looked in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The beautiful streets and tranquil gardens are the result of an effort by Nelson citizens in the 1970’s, who even donation over 20000 historic artefacts to the Park. Of the things to do, there’s a plane that kids...Read more
  9. Gardens Of The World

    4.4 (1736 Votes)
    Gardens Of The World

    Garden, Leisure

    Perhaps you’d like to get away from the bustle of the town on a hot day (not that Nelson is ever noisy). Maybe you’d like to set up an easel and paint in peace. Or simply come out with our family for a lively picnic. This is the place to go. There ponds and ducks in those ponds. There’s an elephant (we’ve no idea why).  There’s an obelisk, and lots beautiful g...Read more
  10. Miyazu Japanese Gardens

    4.3 (1337 Votes)
    Miyazu Japanese Gardens

    Garden, Walking Area, Leisure

    Believe it or not, Nelson is the sister city to Miyazu, Japan. The purpose of sister cities is usually to establish and then develop commercial and cultural ties between the two. Here, this effort is no more beautifully apparent than in the exquisite Miyazu Japanese Gardens. It’s wonderful for a contemplative stroll, and immediately upn entering, the noise of the rest of the world dies aw...Read more
  11. Kaiteriteri Beach

    Beach, Walking Area

    Some ways north of Abel these are basically two lovely little beaches separated by a headland. The southern beach is the quiter one, as the northern beach is the main docking point for boats here. There isn’t that much of a difference though. The sand is golden at both; the water is a lovely colour at both. It’s possible to catch a water taxi from here to the Abel Tasman National Pa...Read more
  12. Nelson Airport Image
    ©
    Nelson Airport (IATA: NSN, ICAO: NZNS) is an airport located in Nelson, New Zealand. It is the second busiest airport in the South Island of New Zealand, after Christchurch International Airport. The airport is owned and operated by the Nelson City Council.Nelson Airport was established in 1929, making it one of the oldest airports in New Zealand. It was originally used as a training base for t...Read more
  13. The Centre Of New Zealand
    The centre is reachable from the Botanic garden and is just a short walk up a hill. The view from the top is simply panoramic. The walk through the exotic and native vegetation is quite therapeutic and gets one to the Trigonometrical Point and Marker at the top. 
  14. Suter Art Gallery
    This gallery offers the finest collection of art by the 19thcentury artists who include Gully, Lindauer and Van der Velden amongst others. A stroll in the gallery can open a visitor to a whole new world of spectacular works of art. Phone Number :- +64 3-548 4699
  15. The Shark Cub
    The club offers lots of American pool tables and billiard tables for its patrons to enjoy as they pass the night away slowly. Music is mostly played from the jukebox but do come occasionally to  do some spins.  Phone Number :- +64 3-546 6630