Nelson offers a huge range of visitor
experiences. The following is intended to give you some idea of what to
do and where to go.
Arts and Craft
Nelson is noted as a centre for the arts
and crafts. The region is home to over 300 full-time artists who work in
many different mediums like pottery, ceramics, glass blowing, woodturning,
fibre, sculpture and painting. You can experience the arts and crafts by
exploring one of the 16 art and craft trails around the region.
National Parks
Nelson Region has three National Parks
with a variety of landscapes and vegetation. There is the golden sand beaches
and bush walks of the Abel
Tasman National Park, the alpine passes and glacial lakes of Nelson
Lakes National Park and the alpine flora, limestone formations, table
lands and wilderness walking tracks of New Zealand's newest National Park,
Kahurangi
National Park.
Swimming and Relaxation
Relax at Nelson city's famous beach
which is only a few minutes walking from Beachside Villas. It is excellent
for swimming and also popular with walkers, joggers, windsurfers and sunseekers.
Amenities include the Lions Playground, Natureland, roller skating rink,
Hydroslide and Bumpa-boats, the model railway, puplic tennis courts, mini-golf
and a cafe.
At Nelson city's backdoor, the Matai Valley
is a picturesque valley and popular recreational area. The Matai river
is warm and there are many picnic and swimming spots.
Just 21km north of Nelson off SH6, Cable
Bay has a stony beach with an unusual coastal landscape. There is good
swimming as well as historical interest and the start of the Cable Bay
Walkway.
Adventure
For the more adventurous there is tandem
skydiving, sea kayaking, horse trekking, mountain biking, whitewater river
rafting, 4X4 motorbiking, caving, sea-fishing and rock climbing.
Nelson Flea Market
A visit to Nelson on any Saturday would
not be complete without a few hours spent wandering around the Nelson Fleamarket.
An open-air affair set up in Montgomery
square, this vast and lively market features the fresh food, organic produce
and craft of local artists. There is home-made bread and almost anything
you'd like to put on, clothes and rustic jewellery, organically grown fruit
and vegetables, garden furniture and plants, tools and toys, old ware and
new fads. There is also an abundance of delicious food of multi-national
flavours. The square is buzzing with activity from 8am till 1pm.
Eating out
Nelson has many and varied restaurants
and cafes in the city, along the waterfront and in the beach area - in
walking distance from Beachside Villas.
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