Sun, sand, the arts and easy hiking. The area around Nelson is a multi-faceted gem. The town is a thriving arts community home to many galleries and to the Wearable Art and Classic Car Museum (yes, it’s just one place).
Up the road is Abel Tasman National Park. There, you can kayak calm waters with seals bobbing alongside. You can take scenic boat trips or hike multiple days along pristine beaches, sleeping each night in luxury. Farther afield is the magnificent Golden Bay. Off the beaten path even for Kiwis, it boasts great beaches and a spectacular cliff-side horseback ride over looking Farewell Spit that Fodors named the top horse trek in all of New Zealand.
NZ – Nelson and Surrounds – Top Activities:
Kayak with seals at Abel Tasman National Park
Horseback ride through fields and along cliffs overlooking the endless sea
Visiting a quirky local art gallery